Even Pecan And Pumpkin Couldn't Beat Cracker Barrel's Best Holiday Pie Flavor

Cracker Barrel is one of those places people go to for comfort food. The old-school chain is known for its retro interiors and hearty, Southern-style dishes, and the entire concept is modeled on nostalgia. The food is pretty good too, especially the scratch-made pies. If you're heading there around the holidays, though, there's a flavor better than pecan or pumpkin: apple streusel.

A Tasting Table expert sampled every Cracker Barrel holiday pie and ranked them from worst to best, and the apple streusel landed firmly at the top of the list. Our tester felt that the pumpkin was a solid backup to a homemade pumpkin pie, while the pecan failed to impress. The apple streusel, on the other hand, really blew them away.

The filling was perfectly balanced, allowing the natural flavor of the apples to shine through. The buttery, slightly salty crust enhanced this further, and the topping was crunchy yet creamy, giving every forkful a well-rounded, flavorful bite. The rustic pie looked and tasted handmade, and Tasting Table's taste tester only paid $5.49 for their slice.

The apple streusel pie is a recurring Cracker Barrel seasonal specialty, and it has won over many customers over the years. People enjoy the fact that the restaurant leaves the skins on the apples, creating a timeless feel, and they have repeatedly praised the crumble-like topping. The filling also reminds frequent customers of another fan-favorite Cracker Barrel dessert: the fried apples.

As a Facebook user put it, "It tastes very similar to their baked apples. If you've ever had them you know they're amazing." A pair of YouTubers highlighted the warm flavor, tender filling, and "excellent" crust, saying, "That tastes like an old school rustic apple pie ... Like your grandma made ... You would take that to Meemaw's house for Thanksgiving and just serve it, everybody's going to be happy."

You can order a slice of the pie in the restaurant or to-go and full versions are also available to take home for $14.49. Reviewers recommend serving it warm for the most in-depth flavor.  As one Instagram user concluded, "How to end the perfect road day: warm cinnamon apple streusel pie at Cracker Barrel. What calories?" If you can't get to a Cracker Barrel you can always try out Tasting Table's classic apple crisp or simple apple strudel recipe.