How This Mock Apple Pie Actually Tastes Like Real Apple Pie
If you’ve never tried Mock Apple Pie made with zucchini prepare yourself to be shocked, beacause this one tastes exactly like apple pie. I made this recipe on a whim(I had zucchini I needed to use up), fully expecting it be weird, but it turned into one of the BEST pies I’ve ever baked.
Another great dessert to try is Strawberry Ice Cream Bread
In fact, I accidentally forgot to add the brown sugar… and it STILL tasted amazing. My daughter even said it was one of her favorite pies — and she had no idea it was zucchini!
If you’re looking for a frugal dessert, a fun twist on a classic, or a recipe that will fool anyone who thinks they hate zucchini, this is the one.
How to Make Mock Apple Pie (step by step)
Mock Apple Pie (Zucchini Apple Pie)
Ingredients
Method
2. In a skillet, melt 1/4 cup butter over medium heat. Add the sliced zucchini.
3. Add the sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, lemon juice, pinch of salt, and vanilla extract.
(Optional: add 2 tablespoons flour if you want a thicker filling.)
4. Cook for 10–12 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the zucchini becomes tender
and looks like cooked apple slices.
5. Preheat your oven to 400°F. Place the bottom pie crust into a 9-inch pie dish.
6. Pour the zucchini “apple” filling into the crust and dot the top with 1 tablespoon butter.
7. Place the top crust over the pie, trim and crimp the edges, and cut 3–4 small slits
on top for venting. Brush with egg wash if you want a shiny crust.
8. Bake for 40–45 minutes, or until the crust is golden brown and the filling is bubbling
up through the slits.
9. Let the pie cool for at least 1 hour before slicing so the filling can set.
Notes
• I actually forgot to add the brown sugar the first time I made this — and it STILL tasted amazing.
• My daughter said it was one of her favorite pies and never guessed it was zucchini.
• If you want a deeper caramel flavor, add the optional brown sugar.
• If your zucchini gives off a lot of moisture, add the optional flour to thicken the filling.
• Tastes exactly like real apple pie — nobody will guess the secret ingredient!
Storage & Reheating
Store leftover pie covered in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Honest Opinion
I’ll be honest — I did not expect this pie to turn out as good as it did. I mean… zucchini pretending to be apples? It sounded weird, even for me. But once it baked, the texture and flavor were so close to real apple pie that I had to double-check myself.
Here’s the funny part:
I actually forgot to add the brown sugar the first time I made it. I was sure it was going to ruin the pie, but it STILL tasted amazing. The cinnamon, butter, and lemon completely carried it. My daughter even told me it was one of her favorite pies — and she didn’t know it was zucchini until I told her.
“For convenience, I used a store-bought crust from Pillsbury™ Pie Crust, which worked perfectly for this mock apple pie.”
If you love surprising desserts like this Mock Apple Pie, you should also try my Strawberry Ice Cream Bread
Fork Rating
🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴This pie fooled every single person who tried it — including me. The texture was spot-on apple, the flavor was warm and cozy, and even without the brown sugar, it still tasted amazing. If a recipe can survive me forgetting an ingredient and STILL impress my daughter… it earns all five forks.
Fork Fact
Zucchini is over 90% water with almost no flavor — which is exactly why it works so perfectly in this pie. When you simmer it with butter, cinnamon, sugar, and lemon juice, it soaks up all that flavor just like apples do. That’s why so many old-fashioned farm recipes used zucchini as a cheaper “apple” substitute when apples weren’t in season.