How do I make caramel apple pie?

Caramel Apple Pie: A Delicious Fall Treat

This recipe combines the classic flavors of apple pie with a rich, buttery caramel topping. Get ready to enjoy the warm and comforting taste of autumn in every bite!

Ingredients:

For the Crust:

* 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

* 1/2 teaspoon salt

* 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, chilled and cut into small pieces

* 1/4 cup ice water

For the Filling:

* 6 medium apples (such as Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, or Fuji), peeled, cored, and sliced

* 1/2 cup granulated sugar

* 1/4 cup packed light brown sugar

* 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour

* 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

* 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

* 1/4 teaspoon salt

For the Caramel Topping:

* 1 cup granulated sugar

* 1/4 cup water

* 1/4 cup unsalted butter

* 1/2 cup heavy cream

* 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions:

Prepare the Crust:

1. Combine dry ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk together flour and salt.

2. Cut in butter: Add the chilled butter pieces and use a pastry blender or your fingers to cut the butter into the flour until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.

3. Add water: Gradually add ice water, one tablespoon at a time, mixing with a fork until the dough just comes together. Be careful not to overmix.

4. Chill the dough: Shape the dough into a disc, wrap in plastic wrap, and chill for at least 30 minutes.

5. Roll out the dough: Roll out the chilled dough on a lightly floured surface into a 12-inch circle. Transfer to a 9-inch pie plate. Trim and crimp the edges.

6. Chill the crust: Place the pie plate in the refrigerator for another 15 minutes.

Prepare the Filling:

1. Combine ingredients: In a large bowl, combine sliced apples, granulated sugar, brown sugar, flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. Toss to coat evenly.

Prepare the Caramel Topping:

1. Combine sugar and water: In a medium saucepan, combine sugar and water.

2. Cook the caramel: Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until the sugar dissolves and turns a light amber color. Don't stir too much as this could crystallize the sugar.

3. Add butter: Remove from heat and carefully stir in the butter. Be careful, it will bubble up.

4. Add cream and vanilla: Slowly whisk in the heavy cream, then stir in the vanilla extract.

Assemble and Bake:

1. Fill the crust: Pour the apple filling into the chilled pie crust.

2. Pour caramel: Pour the hot caramel topping over the apple filling.

3. Bake: Bake in a preheated oven at 375°F (190°C) for 50-60 minutes, or until the crust is golden brown and the filling is bubbly.

4. Cool and serve: Let the pie cool completely before serving. Enjoy with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or whipped cream.

Tips:

* To prevent the caramel from crystallizing, brush the sides of the saucepan with a wet pastry brush during cooking.

* If you're feeling adventurous, add a pinch of salt to the caramel topping for a salty-sweet contrast.

* For a shortcut, use store-bought pie crust instead of making your own.

* You can also use other fruits, like pears or cranberries, in this recipe.

This recipe will surely be a hit with your family and friends. So get ready to enjoy the deliciousness of caramel apple pie!