Baking for Autumn.

Well ladies and gents, it's almost officially autumn.  Of course, it won't feel like the fall until late November here in South Florida since it's still 506 degrees outside.  But since the rest of the country is enjoying lower temps and the changing leaves, I decided to make a dessert that was made for fall.  What is it about the fall that makes me want to curl up on the sofa in a blanket and eat warm, gooey treats? Winter means the holidays and that means the good stuff like pies and cakes, but fall brings pumpkins, apples, cinnamon, and nutmeg.

Well.  Almost all of those are in this dessert.  I know.  It is the goodness of fall wrapped up into a cake form.  It's a caramel apple pudding cake, and it is so. freaking. good. 

I found the recipe on the Better Homes and Gardens website and I knew I had to make it.  Of course, I tweaked it a bit for my tastes (Aka no nuts or raisins.  I don't know about you, but my feelings are that nuts have no business being in desserts of any kind.  Same goes for raisins.  Love both of them plain but not in stuff.  I am a strange gal.)

So you're going to need:
-3 Granny Smith apples
-3 tbs lemon juice
-1/2 teas cinnamon
-1/8 teas nutmeg
-1 cup flour
-3/4 brown sugar
-1 teas baking powder
-1/4 teas baking soda
-1/2 cup milk
-2 tbs butter, melted (no substitutes)
-1 teas vanilla
-3/4 cup caramel ice cream topping

-1/2 cup water
-1 tbs butter (no substitutes)

First you're going to peel the apples and then slice them thin.

Spread them evenly in the bottom of a 2 quart pan that you have pre-greased.  Mix the lemon juice, cinnamon, and nutmeg together.  Pour it over the apples in the pan.  Set those aside.  Try to show self control and don't eat too many.  Like I did.  In my mind.  Not so much in reality.

In a large bowl mix together the flour, sugar, baking powder, and baking soda.  Add in the milk, vanilla, and the two tbs of melted butter.  Spread it over the apples.  My "batter" was pretty thick so if you need to, add a little more milk so it's easier to pour over the top of the apples.  I had to work to cover all my apples evenly.

On your stove, combine the caramel, water, and 1 tbs of butter in a saucepan.  Bring to a boil and then pour over the top of your mixture.

Bake at 350 degrees for 35 minutes (or until it is firm in the center).  Spoon warm servings into dishes and put some of that oh-so-good-caramel sauce from the pan over the top.  Serve with vanilla ice cream.

Oh my.

This is living people.  Happy autumn y'all!