What’s your go-to Thanksgiving dessert? Chances are, it’s something along the lines of caramel apple crisp or pumpkin pie topped with ice cream. But Martha Stewart thinks it’s time for another vintage sweet treat to shine on the holiday table. According to the billionaire homemaker, a pandowdy is guaranteed to “be a hit in your home” this Thanksgiving.
If you’re wondering, what on earth is a pandowdy, and how do I make one? You’ve come to the right place. We’ve rounded up a few vegan pandowdy recipes below, but first, let’s look at where this cozy dessert came from (and what it actually is).
What is a pandowdy?
According to Stewart, a pandowdy is “a cross between an apple pie and an apple crisp.” And that’s pretty accurate. Think of it as a rustic mix between pie and pudding, and incredibly easy to make.
Martha Stewart
A pandowdy starts with an apple-based filling—Stewart’s version includes three pounds of peeled and sliced apples, lemon juice, sugar, molasses, flour, ground ginger, and cinnamon—poured into a square baking dish. A pie crust is then draped over the top, tucked into the sides, and baked until golden. That’s it.
Where did the pandowdy come from?
Making a pandowdy for Thanksgiving isn’t exactly a new idea, as the recipe dates back to the 19th century. In fact, one of the earliest recorded versions appeared in an 1869 cookbook called Mrs. Winslow’s Domestic Receipt Book. The “dowdy” part of the name likely refers to the slightly imperfect way the crust is sliced halfway through baking. In short, it’s not meant to be neat.
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Pandowdies are quick, forgiving, and endlessly adaptable. They’re a great alternative to homemade pies, which can be a little more labor-intensive. You can make them with apples or swap in whatever fruit you have on hand.
3 vegan pandowdy recipes
Need some pandowdy inspiration? Check out the recipes below.
Gimme Some Oven
1Easy Apple Pandowdy
Learn how to make a classic, cozy apple pandowdy with this recipe from Gimme Some Oven. It’s simple to veganize, just swap in vegan puff pastry and dairy-free butter. “It’s all exactly as delicious as you would imagine,” writes recipe developer Ali Martin, “and so much quicker and easier to make than apple pie.”
Get the recipe
The Vegan Test Kitchen
2Mango Pear Pandowdy
Not a fan of apples? No problem, you can make a pandowdy with whatever fruit you’re craving. This recipe from YouTuber The Vegan Test Kitchen, for example, uses mangoes and pears. It’s “ooey-gooey and easy to make.”
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Oat Milk and Cookies
3 Oat Milk Apple Pandowdy
This crumbly, indulgent pandowdy is made with easy plant-based ingredients, including apples, oat milk, and brown sugar. It’s based on an old recipe, so you know it’s going to taste authentic. “My husband reckons it’s the tastiest apple puddingy-thing I’ve ever made,” writes recipe developer Katy.
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Charlotte is a VegNews editor and writer based in sunny Southsea on England's southern coast.
