Step 1: Preheat your oven to 425°F (220°C). Prepare your pie crusts, placing one in a 9-inch pie plate. Crumble about 70-75 Ritz crackers (reserving about 10-15 for later if needed for gaps) and arrange them in a single layer over the bottom pie crust. They don't need to be perfectly flat, but ensure even coverage.
Step 2: In a medium saucepan, combine the 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar, cream of tartar, and 1 cup of water. Bring the mixture to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring constantly until the sugar and cream of tartar are fully dissolved. Reduce heat to low and simmer for 2-3 minutes until slightly thickened.
Step 3: Remove the saucepan from the heat. Stir in the fresh lemon juice, lemon zest, ground cinnamon, and ground nutmeg. This aromatic blend is crucial for mimicking the "apple" flavor of the Old-Fashioned Mock Apple Pie with Ritz Crackers.
Step 4: Carefully pour the hot sugar mixture evenly over the crumbled crackers in the pie crust. The crackers will begin to absorb the liquid and soften. Dot the top of the cracker mixture with the melted butter.
Step 5: Place the second pie crust over the filling. Trim the edges, leaving about a 1/2-inch overhang. Crimp the edges to seal the pie. Cut several slits in the top crust to allow steam to escape during baking. For a golden finish, brush the top crust with milk or cream and sprinkle with 1 tablespoon of granulated sugar.
Step 6: Bake in the preheated oven for 15 minutes at 425°F (220°C). After 15 minutes, reduce the oven temperature to 350°F (175°C) and continue baking for an additional 30-35 minutes, or until the crust is golden brown and the filling is bubbly. If the crust starts to brown too quickly, you can loosely cover the edges with aluminum foil.
Step 7: Once baked, remove the Old-Fashioned Mock Apple Pie with Ritz Crackers from the oven and place it on a wire rack to cool completely before slicing and serving. Cooling is important to allow the filling to set properly. This pie is wonderful served warm with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream.