In Vermont, they are serious about their apple pie.

Not only is it the official state pie. But in 1999, the state legislature passed an informal law that apple pie should be enjoyed in a very particular way — in a state where its dairy industry brings in over $2.5 billion in revenue a year.

“When serving apple pie in Vermont, a ‘good faith’ effort shall be made" to eat it with one or more of the following:

• A cold glass of milk;

• A large scoop of vanilla ice cream;

• A slice of cheddar cheese weighing at least 1/2 ounces.

Yes, you read that right. In Vermont, eating apple pie with cheddar cheese is a longstanding local tradition.

Some bake the cheddar cheese into the pie crust. Others add it to the filling. While others melt it on top of a slice of freshly baked apple pie.

Via this recipe inspired by Cabot Creamery, a cooperative of dairy farmers in Vermont, you can bake and savor an authentic Vermont apple cheddar pie, with cheddar cheese baked into the crust.

And if you're up for even more cheesy goodness, you can add grated cheese to the filling as well.

Ingredients

Crust

• 3 cups all-purpose flour

• 1 teaspoon salt

• 1 cup salted butter (cold)

• 2 eggs

• 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar

• 1 cup very cold water

• 4 ounces white cheddar cheese, grated (sharp or extra sharp)

• Olive oil cooking spray or parchment paper

• 1 tablespoon of water or milk

• 1 teaspoon sugar

Filling

• 4 cups thinly sliced apples

• ½ cup sugar

• ¼ cup maple syrup

• 1 teaspoon cinnamon

• 1 teaspoon nutmeg

• 1 teaspoon allspice

• Optional — 3 to 4 ounces, white cheddar cheese, thinly sliced

Directions

1. Preheat your oven to 375° Fahrenheit (190° Celsius). Adjust for altitude, if applicable.

2. Let's start with the crust... Mix the flour and salt in a large bowl. Cut the cold butter into the mixture until the dough becomes a crumb-like texture.

3. In a separate bowl, mix 1 egg; vinegar; and cold water together. Then pour it into the dough mix.

4. Sprinkle grated cheddar cheese into the dough. Gently fold it into the dough. (Be gentle, otherwise, the dough will toughen).

5. Divide the dough in half. Roll out each half with a rolling pin, on a smooth surface coated with flour.

6. Spray the inside of a pie pan with cooking spray, or line the pan with parchment paper. Then place the first rolled out dough into the pie pan. Gently pat into place.

7. Mix 1 egg with 1 tablespoon of water or milk to create an egg wash. Using a pastry brush, apply a light coat of the egg wash onto the bottom crust in the pie pan.

8. Now onto the filling... Mix the apples, sugar, maple syrup, and spices in a large bowl.

9. Pour the filling on top of the bottom crust.

10. Optional — For additional, cheesy goodness, add a layer of thinly sliced, white cheddar cheese on top of the filling.

11. Place the second rolled out pie crust on top. Trim, crimp and egg wash the top crust. Then sprinkle a teaspoon of sugar on top.

12. Bake for approximately 45 minutes. Remove from the oven when the crust is golden brown.

13. Enjoy. Yum!

Baker's Note:

If you don't feel like making the pie crust from scratch, you can buy ready-made pie crust at the store. Then just add cheddar cheese to the pie filling, as detailed in Step 10 above.