Apple Caramel Pie - From the Whispering Canyon Cafe!

If you have had the Apple-Caramel Pie at the Whispering Canyon then you know what a wonderful dessert this is! This recipe approximates it pretty close! Try it out and let me know what you think!

Apple-Carmel Pie
Like found at the Whispering Canyon Cafe

Wilderness Lodge Resort®

Serves 12

Ingredients:

CRUST
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
13 1/2 oz. package refrigerated sugar cookie dough at close to room temperature

FILLING
2 1/4 pounds Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored, cut into 1/2-inch thick slices (I sliced them thinner)
1/2 cup granulated sugar (cut back if desired)
1/8 cup all-purpose flour
3/4 tablespoon chopped candied ginger
3/4 cup caramel topping

CRUMB TOPPING
2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup granulated sugar (cut to 1/3 cup if desired)
1/2 cup dark brown sugar, packed (same as above)
3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) butter or margarine, melted
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract

ICING
3/4 cup confectioners' sugar (but icing not really needed)

BAKING INSTRUCTIONS
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

• Coat the bottom and inside of a 9-inch springform pan with nonstick cooking spray.
• At medium-low speed, beat the flour and the dough until combined.
• Press the sugar cookie dough into sides and bottom of pan, creating a 1/4-inch thick crust.
• In a mixing bowl, toss the apples with sugar, flour, ginger and cinnamon. Spoon into prepared crust.
• Spoon on caramel topping.
• Cover tightly with aluminum foil and bake one hour.
• While pie is baking, in a mixing bowl at low speed, combine flour, granulated sugar, brown sugar and cinnamon.
• Increase speed to medium; gradually add butter and vanilla, beating until wet crumbs form.
• After pie has baked for one hour, remove from oven and uncover.
• Sprinkle crumb mixture over top of warm pie.
• Cover exposed edges of crust with aluminum foil to prevent burning.
• Bake, uncovered, for 20-25 minutes or until lightly browned.
• Cool on rack and remove sides from the pan.
• Stir together the confectioners' sugar with enough water (but not too much!) to make icing. Transfer to a plastic food storage bag, snip one corner, and drizzle over crumbs. Serve with vanilla ice cream, if desired.

Tip: You can prevent apple browning by doing a light wash of the apples in lemon juice
.