"ApplePie" news and stories

• The Holiday Cookie Bake-Off results are in! Which cookies made the top ten?
• Speaking of prize-winning, check out this apple pie. Breaking a few rules makes all the difference.
• For an entirely different pie experience, head to Beijing Pie House in Monterey Park. It's worth your while.
• Angelenos, looking to go out for your holiday meal? Here's a restaurant guide to who's working on Christmas and New Year's.

Whether you're running out of time or you just hate to bake, your dessert table doesn't have to be naked this holiday season. In addition to the fresh pies in your local bakery, there are tasty and budget-friendly options in the freezer section of your supermarket that, while probably not exactly rivaling a homemade version, come pretty close. But with so many brands to choose from, which one do you pick?

We tested six apple pies and three pumpkin pies, which we divided into four categories: Dutch apple, apple, pumpkin and an editor's pick. We chose our favorites, and tell you which ones are better left at the grocery store. All of these pies are available nationwide.

Unlike our Instant Stuffing Taste Test, no one brand dominated.

Cheese with that pie? It might taste good, but it's definitely not required by law in the Dairy State.

The Wisconsin State Journal debunked the myth that Wisconsin requires apple pie to be served with cheese at restaurants in the state. The paper asked Connie Von Der Heide at the Wisconsin State Law Library whether or not state law required cheese to accompany the pie after a reader inquired about it.

"It certainly sounds plausible since after all this is the Dairy State, but the answer is no," she said. "The 1935 Laws of Wis., ch. 106 came close; it required serving a small amount of cheese and butter with meals in restaurants (effective from June 1935 to March 1937)."

What crazy food laws have you heard of? Let us know in the comments below.

Photo: whitneyinchicago, Flickr.

Ever the apex of comfort, we love how this darling apple pie truly wears its heart on its sleeve. The rustic imperfections of a home-baked pie only add to the appeal, especially with efforts made so lovingly -- and rightfully so, to blogger/baker Whitney in Chicago, who put this together for her boyfriend on their anniversary. Because really, what could possibly be more comforting than gooey apple pie?

Although everyone enjoys a white-tablecloth dinner celebration now and then, we'd like to know what you prefer: a relaxed, home-cooked meal or dinner at the nearest fancy restaurant? Argue your case in the comments. We might be tempted to kick off our shoes and indulge in a night in, if presented with options as visually appealing as this one.

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Talk about a quickfire challenge!

Vimeo user Animi recently posted this short stop-motion movie on making an apple pie. The video certainly is fun, set to the music of Dave Brubeck. But what we found curious was the method for making pie crust.

Do you make a cylinder of dough to create the sides of your pie dough? Let us know in the comments below.

[Via Serious Eats]