i know...you had to check out this post. cause if the word caramel + apple crisp didn't lure you to my little world...the "firm apple bottom" surely caught your eye! well i am sharing again a highly hit post of mine...that of a tasty beyond words sensational dish i whipped up a couple years back already!
and why apple bottom?? well because a trip to the apple orchard the other day not only yielded {3} pecks of honey-crisp (no such thing as too many) but a LAUGH OUT LOUD apple that i have to share! we all know that the human body is often compared to the shapes of fruit...well i would have to say this here "fruit" {below} brings new meaning to the term apple bottom!
and now that i took my blog from a G rating to PG-13...i will share the re-post of a recipe that you really must try.
★ gooey good caramel apple crisp ★
there are {3} parts to this crisp & i took the long route. my dad once said i would be a terrible short order cook...i am now seeing why he may think that!
{PART 1} - APPLE FILLING.
5 large granny smith apples - peeled, cored & thinly sliced.
1/2 cup white sugar
1 tablespoon instant vanilla pudding
1 tablespoon cinnamon
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1/4 liquid of your liking...apple cider, juice or just plain ol H2O.
ok, here's the important part. grab yourself a big bowl then toss in all the above. or place it all in a large ziploc bag. you want to marinate the apple filling while you prepare the other parts. yep...marinate it! see {below}
{PART 2} - HOMEMADE CARAMEL SAUCE. or if i lost you at "homemade" a container of caramel sundae topping will work just super too! but it's really quite easy to make!
over medium high heat...put 1 cup of white sugar in heavy bottom saucepan. as it begins to melt whisk in 1 stick of butter cut up into pats. as the mixture caramelizes remove from heat & SLOWLY add in 1 cup of whipping cream. (buy a PINT...use the rest for whipped topping). continue to whisk til smooth. move to back burner and let sit to thicken. or if you're like me... proceed to lick every utensil that touched tasty caramel concoction {below} until clean. who needs a dishwasher?
snap back to task at hand...
{PART 3} - CRUMBLE TOPPING.
two regular size boxes of vanilla instant pudding (TRUST ME)
1/2 cup flour.
1 cup of brown sugar
1 cup quick cook/instant oats
1 cup of butter softened and cut up into pats
take another bowl and mix above said ingredients. if you have a pastry cutter...that works great here...or take two forks and "cut" the mix together. {shown below} it will be pretty dry.
oh yes! preheat your oven to 350 degrees. should have mentioned sooner...but i never do this first since my prep can be a bit lengthy!
assembly as follows
* marinated apple filling FIRST
* THEN a healthy drizzling of your caramel mixture (about half of prepared sauce).
* FINALLY the coating of "crumble". you may have to break up into nuggets.
i used an 9x9 stoneware baker...i think it would work in an 8x8 but might get a little high when cooking. a 9x13 could also be used but it won't be as thick & hearty. you decide! just be sure to grease your pan!
pop that honey into your preheated oven. middle rack. set timer for 45 minutes. pace around kitchen willing your stove to work faster so you can get you paws on the end result {below}. and let it cool a bit to "set-up". burning the roof of your mouth on scalding apples isn't much fun. just ask this impatient girl.
if you are feeling ambitious at this point - take your remaining whipping cream and pour into a tall sided bowl. have your way at it with a mixer and sprinkle in some sugar and vanilla extract. just play with it until you are happy with the flav. and don't forgot to top your masterpiece with the reserved caramel!
it didn't dawn on my to show a picture of the final plated product. who thinks of that when you dish up your first plate? certainly not i! so, here's what "round two" looked like {below}.
there you go! i hope that i have given your autumn sweet tooth some satisfaction with this recipe. it's a keeper. and @ the very least brought a little grin to your day with mother nature's sense of humor. she doesn't create something that funny without someone wanting to share!
smile often...laugh much!
