Carmel Apple Pie

With Thanksgiving around the corner, I always remember my friend Robyn's Carmel Apple Pie.  It was incredible and I am so glad she shared the recipe with me.  I plan to make it this weekend at a pie night I am hosting so we will see how it goes!  Robyn introduced me to Pie Nights in when we lived near each other.  It was a family tradition in her family to get everyone together the day before Thanksgiving just for pie since everyone was usually too full to eat it after being stuffed at Thanksgiving.  Each family brings one pie as their entrance ticket and then they get to try a wide variety of pies.  I am excited to host my first one!  




1 recipe pastry for single-pie-crust (or just buy a pie crust--that may be cheating, but it's what I usually do :)
1 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup quick-cooking rolled oats
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup granulated sugar
3 T all-purpose flour
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1/8 tsp salt
6 cups thinly sliced, peeled cooking apples
1/2 cup chopped pecans (optional)
1/4 cup caramel ice-cream topping
 
Directions:
1. Prepare pastry crust. On a lightly floured surface, roll out dough to a 12 inch circle. Transfer pastry to a 9-inch pie plate. Ease pastry into pie plate, being careful not to stretch pastry. Trim; crimp edge as desired
2. For crumb topping, stir together brown sugar, 1/2 cup flour, and the oats. Using a pastry blender, cut in butter until the topping resembles coarse crumbs. Set aside
3. In a large mixing bowl stir together the granulated sugar, 3 T flour, the cinnamon, and salt. Add apple slices and gently toss until coated. Transfer apple mixture to the pastry-lined pie plate. Sprinkle crumb topping over apple mixture.
4. To prevent overbrowning, cover edge of pie with foil. Bake in a 375 degree F oven for 25 minutes. Remove foil. Bake for 25-30 minutes more or until top is golden. Remove from oven; sprinkle pie with pecans (I never actually use the pecans since my family doesn't care for them), then drizzle with caramel topping. Cool on a wire rack.
 
 
Pastry for Single-crust pie:
In a bowl stir together 1-1/4 cups all-purpose flour and 1/4 tsp salt. Using a pastry blender, cut in 1/3 cup shortening until pieces are pea-size. Using 4-5T cold water total, sprinkle 1 T of water at a time over the flour mixture, tossing with a fork until all of the dough is moistened. Form dough into a ball.

Recipe Source: Robyn L.