Food and Recipes Desserts Pies Soda Cracker Pie 4.8 (10) 8 Reviews Soda cracker pie is a beloved "make-do pie" that dates back to the Great Depression. By Southern Living Test Kitchen Southern Living Test Kitchen The Southern Living Test Kitchen has been publishing recipes since 1970, four years after the first issue of Southern Living Magazine appeared on newsstands. The Southern Living Test Kitchen team includes a team of professionals with deep expertise in recipe development, from pastry chefs and grilling experts to nutritionists and dietitians. Together, the team tests and retests, produces, styles, and photographs thousands of recipes each year in the state-of-the-art test kitchen facility located in Birmingham, Alabama. Southern Living's editorial guidelines Updated on March 6, 2024 Rate PRINT Share Trending Videos Close this video player Photo: Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox Southerners can whip up something special from thin air, and this pretty little pie is here to prove it. The Soda Cracker Pie comes from a long line of desperation pies, also known as "make-do pies," that were designed to cope with dwindling supplies and limited ingredients during the Great Depression. You know them, you love them: Chess Pie, Southern Buttermilk Pie, Old-Fashioned Shoofly Pie, and Soda Cracker Pie. They first gained popularity during the Depression and World War II, but they've graced our tables ever since. This Soda Cracker Pie is built on a base of whipped egg whites and baking powder. Since this mixture forms the foundation of the pie and will give it much of its height, it's important to whip your egg whites until they reach completely stiff peaks. Then gradually beat in the sugar and fold in the secret ingredients: crushed crackers, nuts (we favor pecans, but you can use any nuts you have on hand), and a splash of vanilla. Who has time to fuss around with a crust? This pie has 12 crushed crackers mixed right into the pie itself. Soda Cracker Pie is a testament to Southerners' resourcefulness, and right now, it really hits the spot. Ingredients 3 egg whites + 1/2 tsp. baking powder 1 cup granulated sugar 12 crushed crackers 1 cup nuts 1 tsp. vanilla extract Butter Garnishes: Whipped cream and strawberries (optional) Directions Prepare oven: Preheat oven to 375°F. Make pie mixture: Beat egg whites and baking powder until stiff. Add sugar gradually until stiff. Add crushed crackers, nuts, and vanilla. Bake pie: Bake for 20 minutes in a buttered Pyrex pie plate. Garnish as desired. Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox Rate It Print