A Vermont Law Says You Have to Serve Apple Pie With Milk, Ice Cream, or Cheddar Cheese

When you think of Vermont, the first food that comes to mind may be maple syrup — but there’s another sweet treat this state takes very seriously: apple pie. In fact, Vermont cares so much about apple pie that there’s a law outlining some very specific guidelines for serving it.

I learned about the apple pie law on a recent trip to my boyfriend’s small hometown of Manchester — if you’re searching for a cute, quintessential Vermont town, this place fits the bill, complete with leaf peeping and a plant nursery that sells excellent apple cider doughnuts.

When someone asked if I was familiar with the pastry-related legislation over a family dinner, the answer was an obvious “no,” but I was intrigued. I learned that evening that Vermont law stipulates that apple pie must be served with either milk, cheddar cheese, or vanilla ice cream. 

Is this simply an urban legend? Is the law real? And if so, why was it passed? I set out to find answers to these burning questions and dove deep into the realms of the Vermont legal system and dairy industry.

The website for the Vermont General Assembly documents law 1 V.S.A. § 512 section one, which declares that the state pie is apple pie, while an old web page from the Vermont legislature includes what appears to be the full text of section two: “When serving apple pie in Vermont, a ‘good faith’ effort shall be made to meet one or more of the following conditions: (a) with a cold glass of milk, (b) with a slice of cheddar cheese weighing a minimum of 1/2 ounce, (c) with a large scoop of vanilla ice cream.”

Vermont’s Secretary of Agriculture, Food, and Markets Anson Tebbetts confirmed that this is a real law and clarified that it’s session law — an actual law that’s only published in a book at the end of a legislative session, instead of being written into statute. (As one Redditor helpfully explains, another good example is the state budget, which is session law “because it contains spending decisions that only apply to that fiscal year and don’t need to be reflected in the statutes.”)

In this case, the apple pie law is probably a session law because it’s not meant to be taken too seriously. No one is going to get arrested for failing to enjoy their pie with a scoop of ice cream — although in my opinion, that’s certainly a crime. The language of the law reflects this too, by only dictating that a “good faith effort” be made to serve the dessert with dairy. Tebbetts verified that this legislation “was surely intended to be fun — and probably also tongue-in-cheek — and it does not require anything.”

But why do Vermonters care so much about apple pie that they’d specify how to serve it? In reality, this law is more about the dairy than the apples. One of the 10 biggest industries in the state, the dairy sector generated about $1.6 billion in revenue in 2023. People take pride in Vermont’s dairy, even if they’re not directly involved in the industry. (I would know, my boyfriend talks about cheese regularly.)

“Farming and specifically dairy farming have shaped Vermont’s rural landscape, culture, and economy,” Corey Barrows, the manager for programs and public relations at Cabot Creamery, told Food & Wine. “Dairy farmers provide jobs, access to their land for recreation, and are often deeply involved in their local communities.” Cabot is a major dairy cooperative based in Vermont, whose products you’ve likely seen in grocery stores. The brand even has a shirt that commemorates the pie law, and of course, I now own one.

Hilary Walentuk, a registered dietitian and senior nutrition specialist with New England Dairy, explained the true scale of Vermont’s dairy industry and what its influence looks like within the state. Dairy contributes over 13,000 jobs in Vermont (for context, the total population was 647,064 in 2022), and the state is home to the most dairy farms in New England.

It’s not just a big dairy industry, it’s a quality one. “Vermont is home to over 40 different cheesemakers, and the state is known on the national and international stage,” Walentuk said.“In 2023, Vermont cheeses took home 142 domestic and international cheese awards.”

In spite of the influence that milk, cheese, and ice cream have over the Green Mountain State, the apple pie law isn’t some nefarious marketing tactic by the dairy industry. It’s simply a lighthearted piece of legislation that pays homage to the significance of the local agriculture.

So if you’re not able to visit Vermont for prime leaf-peeping season, you can at least eat like you’re in New England by serving a slice of apple pie with a scoop of ice cream — or some cheddar cheese if you want to taste how delicious this unexpected pairing can be.