Posts tagged caramel
caramel apple pie + whipped cream

i’ve been making apple pie longer than i’ve been making my own toast.

my earliest cooking memories are of making pies with my grandma evelyn for thanksgiving and christmas. we would always make two pies, ensuring that we had enough extra pie dough to sprinkle with cinnamon and sugar and bake into “cinnamon rolls.”

and when it came time to finally eat my slice of pie, i would DROWN it in whipped cream. straight up drown it.

well, apple season is coming in hot, and why wait for a holiday to indulge? it occurred to me as i was prepping this apple pie for it’s photo shoot that the salted caramel i had left over from the weekend might just take this already awesome pie to the next level.

and now i’m over here with a fat grin on my face, patting myself on the back. because basically, there is no turning back now. caramel apple pie is here to stay.

caramel apple pie + whipped cream

serves: 10-12

prep time: 20 minutes

active time: 10 minutes

bake time: 1 hour

total time: 1 hour 30 minutes

ingredients: 2 cups flour + a couple extra tbs for dusting the dough. .5 cup vegetable oil. .25 cup ice cold water. .25 tsp kosher salt. 6 large granny smith apples, peeled and sliced into wedges. .5 cup salted caramel. .75 cup sugar. 1 tbs cinnamon. .5 tsp nutmeg. 2 tbs cold butter. whipped cream for serving. plastic wrap. rolling pin. pie plate. baking sheet. wax paper, optional.

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start by preheating the oven to 425 degrees f. in a medium sized bowl, combine the flour, salt, oil and water.

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us a spoon to combine until you get a shaggy loose dough.

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use your hands to gently knead the dough until it comes into a ball.

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slice the ball in half and form each half into a disk. wrap each in plastic wrap and pop them in the freezer.

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then, combine the sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg well in a bowl.

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pour all but 2 tbs of the cinnamon and sugar mixture over the apples and toss well. set the apples aside.

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now, if you have wax paper, i like to rip two large square pieces and roll out my pie dough in between the wax paper so that there is no sticking while i’m rolling and it gives me a rough guide for how big i need my dough. if you don’t have any wax paper, lightly dust the surface you are working and the top of your dough disk with flour before you roll out your dough. roll the dough into a large enough circle to cover the bottom of you pie plate.

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when your dough is rolled thin and in a large circle, set the pie plate in the center and flip the dough into the plate. clean up any edges that are missing dough by cutting of parts that have too much dough and roughly patching it together. this dough is MUCH flakier than a butter or shortening dough, so it will be a bit shaggy. that is TOTALLY FINE!

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fill your pie filling with all the apples. cut up your butter into six small pieces and spread them evenly around the apples. drizzle the caramel evenly over the apples.

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set the pie bottom aside and roll out the second dough disk. gently place your second dough round over the top of the apples. use any excess dough to patch up any holes or cracks and then use your fingers to crimp the edges of your pie or use a fork to press the edges of the pie all the way around. slice a couple slits in the center of your pie so the steam can escape. sprinkle the top of your pie with the remaining 2 tbs of cinnamon sugar mixture. place the pie on a baking sheet to catch any sugar drips and place in the oven. bake the pie for 15 minutes at 425 degrees f. then reduce the temperature to 375 degrees f for 45 minutes.

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remove the pie from the oven and allow it to cool enough to serve. serve warm or at room temperature topped with a health helping of whipped cream. you can cover and reserve the pie in the refrigerator for up to 5 days, and let me tell you it is delicious cold with a cup of coffee for breakfast. you are welcome.

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xo, a

caramel apple pie + whipped cream

serves: 10-12

prep time: 20 minutes

active time: 10 minutes

bake time: 1 hour

total time: 1 hour 30 minutes

ingredients: 2 cups flour + a couple extra tbs for dusting the dough. .5 cup vegetable oil. .25 cup ice cold water. .25 tsp kosher salt. 6 large granny smith apples, peeled and sliced into wedges. .5 cup salted caramel. .75 cup sugar. 1 tbs cinnamon. .5 tsp nutmeg. 2 tbs cold butter. whipped cream for serving. plastic wrap. rolling pin. pie plate. baking sheet. wax paper, optional.

start by preheating the oven to 425 degrees f. in a medium sized bowl, combine the flour, salt, oil and water. us a spoon to combine until you get a shaggy loose dough. use your hands to gently knead the dough until it comes into a ball. slice the ball in half and form each half into a disk. wrap each in plastic wrap and pop them in the freezer. then, combine the sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg well in a bowl. pour all but 2 tbs of the cinnamon and sugar mixture over the apples and toss well. set the apples aside. now, if you have wax paper, i like to rip two large square pieces and roll out my pie dough in between the wax paper so that there is no sticking while i’m rolling and it gives me a rough guide for how big i need my dough. if you don’t have any wax paper, lightly dust the surface you are working and the top of your dough disk with flour before you roll out your dough. roll the dough into a large enough circle to cover the bottom of you pie plate. when your dough is rolled thin and in a large circle, set the pie plate in the center and flip the dough into the plate. clean up any edges that are missing dough by cutting of parts that have too much dough and roughly patching it together. this dough is MUCH flakier than a butter or shortening dough, so it will be a bit shaggy. that is TOTALLY FINE! fill your pie filling with all the apples. cut up your butter into six small pieces and spread them evenly around the apples. drizzle the caramel evenly over the apples. set the pie bottom aside and roll out the second dough disk. gently place your second dough round over the top of the apples. use any excess dough to patch up any holes or cracks and then use your fingers to crimp the edges of your pie or use a fork to press the edges of the pie all the way around. slice a couple slits in the center of your pie so the steam can escape. sprinkle the top of your pie with the remaining 2 tbs of cinnamon sugar mixture. place the pie on a baking sheet to catch any sugar drips and place in the oven. bake the pie for 15 minutes at 425 degrees f. then reduce the temperature to 375 degrees f for 45 minutes. remove the pie from the oven and allow it to cool enough to serve. serve warm or at room temperature topped with a health helping of whipped cream. you can cover and reserve the pie in the refrigerator for up to 5 days, and let me tell you it is delicious cold with a cup of coffee for breakfast. you are welcome.

date cake + salted caramel & b. toffee
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wooooohoooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!

i finally get to share with you one of the big projects that i have been cooking up in my teenie tiny kitchen!

it's crazy the difference between when you are TRYING to do what you love for work, and when you are ACTUALLY doing what you love for work. and it finally feels like i'm REALLY doing what i love for work. 

and lately, i've been working on a collaboration with b. toffee. a DELICIOUS and LOCAL toffee company sold in some amazing retailers nation wide. we just so happen to have a bunch of friends in common, so it was a natural fit for us to work together on something sweet in and out of the kitchen. 

not only is their toffee the PERFECT addition to this date cake + salted caramel, they were the perfect people to throw a little party to celebrate the upcoming event season with. so together, we are throwing a bash for creatives, small business owners and local influencers to eat, drink and mingle. 

planning has been zapping a bit of my time (hence why i am down to one post a week) but it is just the beginning of some very exciting things and i can't wait to share everything with you as it unfolds. 

date cake + salted caramel & b. toffee

prep time: 10 minutes

bake time: 25-30 minutes

total time: 40 minutes

ingredients: 12 oz pitted & chopped dates. 1 tsp baking powder. 1 cup water. .25 cup butter at room temperature, plus some for the pan. .25 cup sugar. 1 tsp orange zest. 2 eggs at room temperature. 1 tsp vanilla extract. 1.25 cups all purpose flour. 1 tsp kosher salt. 1.5 tbs baking soda. .5 cup salted caramel. b. toffee for garnish. 

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start by preheating your oven to 350 degrees f. in a large sauce pot, combine the water and dates. bring the liquid to a boil, breaking up the dates as you go. Simmer for 1 minute and then remove it from the heat.

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add in the baking powder.

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the mixture will bubble a bit. set the dates aside.

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in the bowl of a stand mixer with a paddle attachment or large bowl with a hand mixer, combine the butter, sugar and zest. mix together on a medium speed for a few minutes till light and fluffy.

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add in the eggs one at a time. then pour in the vanilla. your mix may look like it is not combined.

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combine the flour and salt and then add it in to the wet mixture a little at a time.

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push the batter down the sides of the bowl and with the mixer on slow, add in the date mixture one third at a time till everything is combined.

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add in the baking powder and mix till just combined. 

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you can make the cake in a 9 inch cake pan or some ramekins. make sure to butter them well.

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fill the bottom of what you use to bake your cake with some salted caramel, just so the bottom is lightly coated.

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if you are using ramekins, fill them .75% of the way up and bake the cake or cakes for 25-40 minutes (smaller cake pan, less time). just until a toothpick comes out of the center clean. allow the cakes to cool for a couple minutes then turn out.

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drizzle with salted caramel, top with b. toffee and enjoy warm. 

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xo, a

date cake + salted caramel & b. toffee

prep time: 10 minutes

bake time: 25-30 minutes

total time: 40 minutes

ingredients: 12 oz pitted & chopped dates. 1 tsp baking powder. 1 cup water. .25 cup butter at room temperature, plus some for the pan. .25 cup sugar. 1 tsp orange zest. 2 eggs at room temperature. 1 tsp vanilla extract. 1.25 cups all purpose flour. 1 tsp kosher salt. 1.5 tbs baking soda. .5 cup salted caramel. b. toffee for garnish. 

start by preheating your oven to 350 degrees f. in a large sauce pot, combine the water and dates. bring the liquid to a boil, breaking up the dates as you go. Simmer for 1 minute and then remove it from the heat. add in the baking powder. the mixture will bubble a bit. set the dates aside. in the bowl of a stand mixer with a paddle attachment or large bowl with a hand mixer, combine the butter, sugar and zest. mix together on a medium speed for a few minutes till light and fluffy. add in the eggs one at a time. then pour in the vanilla. your mix may look like it is not combined. combine the flour and salt and then add it in to the wet mixture a little at a time. push the batter down the sides of the bowl and with the mixer on slow, add in the date mixture one third at a time till everything is combined. add in the baking powder and mix till just combined. you can make the cake in a 9 inch cake pan or some ramekins. make sure to butter them well. fill the bottom of what you use to bake your cake with some salted caramel, just so the bottom is lightly coated. if you are using ramekins, fill them .75% of the way up and bake the cake or cakes for 25-40 minutes (smaller cake pan, less time). just until a toothpick comes out of the center clean. allow the cakes to cool for a couple minutes then turn out. drizzle with salted caramel, top with b. toffee and enjoy warm.