Category: DESSERTS

HARVEST APPLE CAKE & PINEAPPLE VANILLA RUM SAUCE

One of the things I look for when we’re antiquing is old recipe boxes. Not just any old recipe boxes, but old recipe boxes FULL of handwritten recipes. This recipe came from one of those boxes. I have no idea who owned the box, just that MANY of their recipe’s were in the same handwriting and referenced Mrs. Gibson who must have been an excellent cook based on the recipes I’ve tried so far!

HARVEST APPLE CAKE & PINEAPPLE VANILLA RUM SAUCE

CAKE
2 cups sugar
1/2 cup CRISCO*
2 eggs, unbeaten
1/3 cup WHOLE milk
2 cups all purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 heaping teaspoon QUALITY cinnamon
4 cups peeled, cored and chopped apples
1/2 cup golden raisins

  • Preheat oven to 375°.
  • Cream together the sugar and crisco, it will be a bit grainy.
  • Add milk until smooth.
  • Add in the eggs until well blended.
  • Sift together the flour, baking soda, cinnamon and salt.
  • Blend flour mixture into the creamed mixture.
  • Fold in apples and raisins.
  • Pour into 9×13 baking dish and spread even.
  • Bake 60 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean.
  • COOL to lukewarm before pouring sauce over top and serving.

SAUCE
1 stick (8 tablespoons butter)
1 cup sugar
1 teaspoon pineapple vanilla
1 teaspoon Malibu pineapple rum
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup heavy cream

  • In a small saucepan melt butter.
  • Whisk in sugar until dissolved.
  • Whisk in remaining ingredients until smooth and heated through. DO NOT BOIL.

NOTES:

  • Based on the age of the recipe card and style of writing I decided whole milk and PURE vanilla extract were a MUST for the texture and flavor of this recipe to be best.  Her original recipe was extremely flavorful, but also extremely dense.  The milk helped lighten it and made it fluffier too.
  • I use the crisco sticks.
  • The cinnamon, raisins, flavored rum and flavored vanilla are MY additions and I sometimes alternate them with craisins for even more oomph in flavor.

PENNSYLVANIA DUTCH APPLE SLAB PIE, CANDIED WALNUTS & A NEW TOY, ER KITCHEN GADGET, ER TIME SAVER

My sister-n-law found this new apple slicer.  It peels, cores AND makes long spiral slices of apple.  I LOVE my new tool 😀

PENNSYLVANIA DUTCH APPLE SLAB PIE
1 large batch of your favorite pie crust

FILLING
5-6 Granny smith apples, peeled, cored and sliced
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
3 tablespoons WONDRA flour
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1/4 cup golden raisins

  • Preheat oven to 375°.
  • Toss apple pieces with lemon juice and set aside for 15 minutes.
  • Whisk together the sugars, flour, cinnamon and nutmeg.
  • Drain apples.
  • Toss apples and raisins in dry mixture until evenly coated.
  • Arrange pie crust on jelly roll pan.
  • Top with apple mixture and spread evenly.
  • Sprinkle topping evenly over apples.
  • Bake 25-30 minutes. WATCH edges and cover in foil if necessary so they don’t burn.
  • Serve with vanilla bean ice cream.

TOPPING
3/4 cup all purpose flour
1/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup packed dark brown sugar
1/3 cup butter, softened
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/3 cup finely chopped candied walnuts

  • Use a pastry blender to create a coarse crumble.

CANDIED WALNUTS or PECANS
1 cup chopped walnuts
1/4 cup brown sugar
2 tablespoons butter

  • In a non-stick skillet melt butter.
  • Add brown sugar, stirring to dissolve.
  • Add nuts, continuously stirring to coat well and cook for 5 minutes.
  • Transfer to parchment paper and separate nuts immediately so they don’t clump.
  • COOL COMPLETELY.
  • Store in air tight container.

FLOATING FRUIT CAKE – PEACH

This is a super fun recipe in that the batter and fruit actually trade places during the baking process ending with a crunchy biscuit topping over sweet, juicy fruit.   My favorite flavor is peach, but it works just as well with cherries, blackberries, blueberries, apples or ANY fruit combo you can think of!

PEACH COBBLER

FILLING
8 cups about 10 peaches peeled and sliced OR 32 ounces of sliced frozen peaches, thawed
1/2 cup + 2 tablespoons sugar
1 teaspoon QUALITY cinnamon

In a large mixing bowl toss peaches with 2 and cinnamon and set aside.

TOPPING
12 tablespoons butter, melted
1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
2 cups sugar
1 cup + 2 tablespoons milk
4 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt

  • Preheat oven to 300°.
  • Spray 9×13 baking dish with non-stick cooking spray and set aside.
  • In another large mixing bowl whisk together the butter, flour, 2 cups sugar, baking powder, salt and milk.
  • Pour batter into prepared pan.
  • Layer evenly with peach slices.
  • Bake for 1 hour or until browned and bubbly.

NOTE: You can use other fruits, but omit the cinnamon if using berries such as blueberries, blackberries or raspberries.

ROOT BEER FLOAT BROWNIES

ROOT BEER FLOAT BROWNIES

START TO FINISH PREP & BAKING 2 HOURS, but oh so worth it!!

1 1/3 cups all purpose flour
2 cups sugar
1/2 cups unsweetened baking cocoa
4 LARGE eggs, lightly beaten
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
2 sticks butter, cut into cubes
1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 teaspoon root beer extract

  • Preheat oven to 325°.
  • Spray 8 inch baking pan with non-stick baking spray.**
  • In a small sauce pan melt butter and chocolate chips until mixture can be stirred together smoothly. Remove from heat
  • Stir in the eggs and root beer extract.
  • In a large mixing bowl whisk together the flour, sugar, cocoa and the salt.
  • Stir together the wet and dry mixtures JUST until combined, but not lumpy.
  • Pour batter into pan.
  • Bake 50 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean.
  • COOL completely!!!! before glazing.

FROSTING

1/2 cup powdered sugar
1/4 cup cocoa
1/2 teaspoon root beer extract
2 tablespoons STRONG root beer
QUALITY French Vanilla Ice Cream

  • In a small bowl whisk together powdered sugar and cocoa.
  • Add root beer and whisk until smooth.
  • Pour glaze over brownies.
  • Cut into squares.
  • Top with a scoop of ice cream & Enjoy!

NOTE:** I like to use my square springform pan to make life easier.

MALASADAS – PORTUGUESE DOUGHNUTS

These Portuguese doughnuts were made famous by Leonard’s Bakery in Honolulu, O’ahu. They are rolled in granulated sugar and filled with a delectable macadamia nut pastry cream. AND YOU CANNOT EAT JUST ONE!! 😀 But next time hubby requested a chocolate or Bavarian cream filling.

MALASADAS yields about 2 dozen doughnuts

DOUGH
3/4 cup warmed whole milk
3/4 cup evaporated milk
3 tablespoons UNSALTED butter, melted
.50 ounces active dry yeast, (2- .25 ounce packages)
3/4 cup + 1 teaspoon sugar, plus more for dusting
3 LARGE eggs
4 cups bread flour
3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
Avocado or canola oil

  • Combine both milks, butter, yeast and 1 teaspoon of the sugar and whisk together in a large bowl.
  • Let the mixture sit 10 minutes until yeast is activated and foamy.
  • In the bowl of your stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, beat the eggs and the remaining 3/4 cup of sugar together for 2-3 minutes on medium until light and fluffy.
  • Turn the speed to low and alternately add flour and milk slowly.
  • Add the salt and change to your dough hook. Gradually turn the speed up to medium high and knead, about 5 minutes until dough is smooth and pulls away from the sides of the bowl.
  • Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface.
  • Generously grease the work bowl and return the dough to the bowl.
  • Loosely cover the bowl with cheesecloth, set in a draft free warm corner for 1-2 hours until dough doubles in size.

 

  • Lightly grease a large length of parchment paper.
  • On a lightly floured surface roll out the dough 1/2 inch thick.
  • Using a 3 inch biscuit cutter, cut out as many doughnuts as you can. Gather and reuse the remaining dough until there isn’t enough left. Place rounds 3 inches apart on parchment paper as you go. You will be cutting this paper apart so that each donut is on its own sheet of parchment.
  • Cover with cheesecloth and set aside to rise for an hour or so until double in size.

 

  • Fill a shallow bowl with sugar and set aside.

 

  • Fill a wide dutch oven with 2 inches of oil.
  • Heat the pot over medium heat until oil.
  • Cut apart the parchment paper so that each donut is on its own square.
  • Working in batches (DO NOT CROWD THE PAN) place doughnuts in pan paper side up. Peel paper off with tongs.
  • Cook, flipping only once, 2-3 minutes per side until puffed and golden.
  • Transfer to wire rack to cool 5 minutes before tossing in bowl of sugar to coat.

PASTRY CREAM
3/4 cup sugar
2 cups whole milk
6 LARGE egg yolks, lightly beaten
1/4 cup cornstarch
pinch of salt, to taste
1 tablespoon unsalted butter
1 teaspoon PURE vanilla extract
1/2 cup passion fruit juice

  • In a saucepan 1/4 cup sugar and the milk heating over medium heat several minutes until it begins to steam.
  • Remove from heat immediately.
    In a medium mixing bowl whisk remaining sugar, egg yolks, cornstarch and eggs together until smooth.
  • Ladle 1/4 cup of the hot milk into the egg mixture slowly, whisking the entire time to temper the mixture.
  • Add tempered mixture back into the saucepan, cooking over medium heat whisking constantly until thick, 3-4 minutes.
  • Remove from heat and whisk in the vanilla, butter, passion fruit juice and continue to whisk until smooth.
  • Pour filling into a large glass mixing bowl and cover with saran wrap making sure saran wrap touches the cream mixture (this prevents that yucky custard skin that forms on the top of the bowl.
  • Set bowl in larger bowl of ice water to cool.

GLAZE (optional)
2 cups powdered sugar
1/4 cup milk
1 teaspoon PURE vanilla extract

  • Whisk together 2 cups powdered sugar, 1/4 cup milk and 1 teaspoon vanilla until smooth.
  • When the doughnuts are cool enough to handle, dip into the glaze; if you like, flip them so the tops they’re completely covered.
  • Put on racks to let the glaze harden.

ASSEMBLY

  • Use a paring knife to cut a slit into one side of each doughnut.
  • Fill a pastry bag with a medium round tip and the chilled pastry cream.
  • Pipe about 2 tablespoons of pastry cream into each doughnut.
  • Lightly dip tops in glaze and place on parchment paper until glaze is set.

POMEGRANATE PINEAPPLE CHEESECAKE

POMEGRANATE PINEAPPLE CHEESECAKE

FILLING
1 small can crushed pineapple drained WELL, reserve juice
1 (3-oz.) box pineapple Jell-O
3/4 cup pomegranate juice
1/4 cup reserved pineapple juice
2 cup whipped topping (thaw 5-10 minutes)
2- 8 ounce blocks cream cheese, softened
1/4 cup sour cream
1 cup powdered sugar
1 teaspoon PURE vanilla extract
Pinch of kosher salt

  • Place juices in a measuring cup and heat in microwave for 2 minutes.
  • In a large bowl, whisk together orange Jell-O and heated juices until Jell-O is completely dissolved.
  • Set aside to cool completely.
  • In another large bowl, beat cream cheese and sour cream until smooth, then add powdered sugar, vanilla, and salt.
  • Fold whipped topping into cream cheese mixture, then pour half of mixture into cooled Jell-O.
  • Whisk until smooth.

CRUST
24 whole Lemon Oreo cookies, crushed
6 tablespoons melted butter
Pinch of kosher salt

  • In a medium bowl, mix together Oreo crumbs, butter, and salt. Press into the bottom of an 8″ spring form pan and partially up the sides.

ASSEMBLY

  • Alternate dollops of cream cheese mixture, Jell-O mixture and crushed pineapple into the crust. You can also do this in layers if you are in a hurry.
  • With a butter knife, gently swirl the layers as desired.
  • Cover and refrigerate for AT LEAST 6 hours, or until firm.

GARNISH (optional)
1 cup whipped topping
pineapple tidbits

  • When firm, pipe dollops of whipped topping around the outside of the cheesecake. Top each dollop with a clementine segment, garnish with orange zest, and serve.

NOTE:

  • The batter might feel kind of loose as you’re adding it to the pan—don’t worry! After a couple hours in the refrigerator the cheesecake mixture will be perfectly firm and creamy.
  • Also good as a mix of cherry and pineapple jellos as well as blueberry and lime.  What flavor combination do you like?  Use your imagination!

PINEAPPLE CREAM CHEESE KOLACHES

Kolaches originate from Czech and Slovak pastries. The “KOLO” portion of the name literally means circle in Old Slavic. Kolaches were first brought to the United States by Czech immigrants who settled in Texas. Most Czechs have a definite opinion that Kolaches should only ever be filled with NON-meat fillings, despite the popularity of many Texans filling them with sausage.

Try substituting the pineapple for cherries, peaches, apricots or lemon curd!  The sky is the limit with the flavor combination.  These can be made savory also by using an herbed cream cheese and omitting the sugar!  If you use an herbed cream cheese you only need half as much ricotta cheese.

PINEAPPLE CREAM CHEESE KOLACHES – yields 16 kolaches

DOUGH
1 cup WHOLE milk
10 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
1 LARGE egg
2 LARGE egg yolks
3 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1/3 cup sugar
2 1/4 teaspoons instant or rapid rise yeast
1 1/2 teaspoons salt

  • Grease large bowl. Set aside.
  • Whisk together the milk and melted butter until smooth.
  • Add whole egg and egg yolks. (Butter may clump and that’s okay!)
  • In your stand mixer fitted with a dough hook whisk together the flour, sugar, yeast and salt.
  • Add milk mixture and knead 2 minutes on low speed until dry ingredients are incorporated.
  • Increase speed to medium and knead 8-10 minutes until dough pulls from sides of bowl, but is still stuck on the bottom.
  • Transfer dough to greased bowl and cover with cheesecloth or saran.
  • Place bowl on middle shelf in oven.
  • Pour 3cups of boiling water into a loaf pan and place on lower shelf in oven.
  • Close oven door and let rise 1 hour until doubled in size.
  • Line 2 baking sheets with parchment or silicone baking mats.
  • Punch down dough and transfer to lightly floured surface.
  • Divide dough into quarters and then each quarter into quarters until you have 16 equal sized pieces.
  • Roll each piece into a ball and place 8 on each baking sheet evenly spaced apart.
  • Cover each tray with saran.
  • Replace the water in the loaf pan with fresh boiling water and move to the bottom of the oven.
  • Place baking sheets on oven shelves.
  • Close oven doors and let rise until doubled, about 1 1/2 hours.

CHEESE FILLING
6 ounces softened cream cheese
1/3 cup sugar
1 tablespoon Wondra flour
1/2 teaspoon grated lemon zest
3/4 cup WHOLE milk ricotta cheese

  • Beat cream cheese until smooth.
  • Add sugar, flour and lemon zest, beating until smooth.
  • Add ricotta, beating JUST until combined.
  • Cover and refrigerate until needed.

STREUSEL
2 tablespoons + 2 teaspoons all purpose flour
2 tablespoons + 2 teaspoons sugar
1 tablespoon unsalted butter, cut into 8 pieces COLD

  • Combine flour, sugar and butter using your hands until it resembles wet sand.
  • Cover and refrigerate until needed.

FRUIT FILLING optional in place of cream cheese filling
10 ounces of frozen fruit – pineapple, cherries, apricots blueberries…
5 tablespoons sugar and
4 teaspoons cornstarch

  • Combine ingredients in a small saucepan cooking and stirring constantly until bubbling and thickens – about 5-10 minutes.
  • Remove from heat and cool completely.

ASSEMBLY

  • Remove baking sheets and loaf an of water from oven. Discard water.
  • Preheat oven to 350°.
  • Grease and flour the bottom of a 1/3 OR 1/2 cup metal measuring cup.
  • Using the measuring cup press evenly down to make a deep indentation in each dough ball.

1 LARGE egg
1 tablespoon WHOLE milk
1 small can crushed pineapple drained WELL

  • Whisk together until smooth.
  • Brush each dough ball with milk and egg wash mixture.
  • Fill each kolache with 2 tablespoons of filling and spread evenly from side to side.
  • Top with a spoon full of pineapple
  • Sprinkle evenly with streusel topping around the edges. Avoid the filling as possible.
  • Bake 25 minutes until golden brown. Rotate baking sheets halfway through.
  • Let cool 20 minutes before serving.

GLAZE (optional, but recommended)
2 cups powdered sugar
1/4 cup milk
1 teaspoon PURE vanilla extract

  • Whisk together 2 cups powdered sugar, 1/4 cup milk and 1 teaspoon vanilla until smooth.
  • When the doughnuts are cool enough to handle, dip into the glaze; if you like, flip them so the tops they’re completely covered.
  • Put on racks to let the glaze harden.

BLUEBERRY LIME CHEESECAKE

BLUEBERRY LIME CHEESECAKE

FILLING
1 (3-oz.) box lime Jell-O
1 cup SMALL wild blueberries, thawed and drained WELL
1 cup boiling water
2 cup whipped topping (thaw 5-10 minutes)
2- 8 ounce blocks cream cheese, softened
1/4 cup sour cream
1 cup powdered sugar
1 teaspoon PURE vanilla extract
Pinch of kosher salt

  • Place juices in a measuring cup and heat in microwave for 2 minutes.
  • In a large bowl, whisk together orange Jell-O and boiling water until Jell-O is completely dissolved.
  • Set aside to cool completely.
  • In another large bowl, beat cream cheese and sour cream until smooth, then add powdered sugar, vanilla, and salt.
  • Fold whipped topping into cream cheese mixture, then pour half of mixture into cooled Jell-O.
  • Whisk until smooth.

CRUST
24 whole Lemon Oreo cookies, crushed
6 tablespoons melted butter
Pinch of kosher salt

  • In a medium bowl, mix together Oreo crumbs, butter, and salt. Press into the bottom of an 8″ spring form pan and partially up the sides.

ASSEMBLY

  • Alternate dollops of cream cheese mixture ,Jell-O mixture and blueberries into the crust. You can also do this in layers if you are in a hurry.
  • With a butter knife, gently swirl the layers as desired.
  • Cover and refrigerate for AT LEAST 6 hours, or until firm.

GARNISH (optional)
1 cup whipped topping
blueberries

  • When firm, pipe dollops of whipped topping around the outside of the cheesecake. Top each dollop with several blueberries, garnish with orange zest, and serve.

NOTE:

  • The batter might feel kind of loose as you’re adding it to the pan—don’t worry! After a couple hours in the refrigerator the cheesecake mixture will be perfectly firm and creamy.
  • Also good as a mix of cherry and pineapple jellos as well as orange and vanilla.  What flavor combination do you like?  Use your imagination!

CREAMSICLE CHEESECAKE

WARNING! This recipe must chill at least 6 hours!
CREAMSICLE CHEESECAKE
This Cheesecake Tastes EXACTLY Like A Creamsicle! adapted from Delish US

FILLING
1 (3-oz.) box orange Jell-O
1 cup boiling water
2 cup whipped topping (thaw 5-10 minutes)
2- 8 ounce blocks cream cheese, softened
1/4 cup sour cream
1 cup powdered sugar
1 teaspoon PURE vanilla extract
Pinch of kosher salt

  • In a large bowl, whisk together orange Jell-O and boiling water until Jell-O is completely dissolved.
  • Set aside to cool completely.
  • In another large bowl, beat cream cheese and sour cream until smooth, then add powdered sugar, vanilla, and salt.
  • Fold whipped topping into cream cheese mixture, then pour half of mixture into cooled Jell-O.
  • Whisk until smooth.

CRUST
24 whole Lemon Oreo cookies, crushed
6 tablespoons melted butter
Pinch of kosher salt

  • In a medium bowl, mix together Oreo crumbs, butter, and salt. Press into the bottom of an 8″ spring form pan and partially up the sides. 

ASSEMBLY

  • Alternate dollops of cream cheese mixture  and Jell-O mixtures into the crust. You can also do this in layers if you are in a hurry.
  • With a butter knife, gently swirl the layers.
  • Cover and refrigerate for AT LEAST 6 hours, or until firm. 

GARNISH (optional)
1 cup whipped topping
1 clementine orange, peeled and separated into segments

  • When firm, pipe dollops of whipped topping around the outside of the cheesecake. Top each dollop with a clementine segment, garnish with orange zest, and serve.

NOTE:

  • The batter might feel kind of loose as you’re adding it to the pan—don’t worry! After a couple hours in the refrigerator the cheesecake mixture will be perfectly firm and creamy.
  • Also good as a mix of cherry and pineapple jellos.  What flavor combination do you like?  Use your imagination!

CARROT CAKE CUPCAKES with LEMON CREAM CHEESE FROSTING

This makes a wonderful bundt cake for any holiday!

CARROT CAKE CUPCAKES with LEMON CREAM CHEESE FROSTING adapted from Al Made It For You yield 10 cupcakes

CUPCAKES
1½ cups grated carrots
½ cup WELL DRAINED crushed pineapple
1 cup (120g) cake flour
¼ cup (31g) all-purpose flour
½ teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
¼ teaspoon salt
½ heaping teaspoon QUALITY ground cinnamon
⅛ teaspoon ground nutmeg
⅛ teaspoon ground ginger
⅛ teaspoon ground allspice
⅛ teaspoon ground cardamom
2 LARGE eggs
¾ cup (150g) light brown sugar
½ cup (120ml) Avocado oil
1 (5 ounce) (142 grams) OUI lemon Greek yogurt
½ teaspoon PURE vanilla extract
1/3 cup crushed finely chopped walnuts
1/2 cup golden raisins

  • Preheat the oven to 325°.
  • Line a muffin pan with paper liners, and set aside.
  • In a small bowl, combine the cake flour, all-purpose flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, and spices. Set aside.
  • In a separate bowl, combine the eggs, sugar, oil, Greek yogurt, and vanilla extract.
  • Combine the flour mixture, crushed pineapple and grated carrots mixing just until combined.
  • Add to wet mixture and blend well.
  • Fold in raisins and all but 2 tablespoons of walnuts.
  • Scoop out the batter evenly into 10 paper liners, and bake for 18-20 minutes.
  • Let them cool in the pan for a couple minutes before taking them out to a wire rack to cool completely.

FROSTING
8 oz (225g) cream cheese, softened at room temperature
½ cup (113g) unsalted butter, softened at room temperature
1½ cup (188g) powdered sugar
½ teaspoon grated lemon zest

  • In a mixing bowl, beat the unsalted butter until it becomes fluffy.
  • Add the cream cheese and continue to beat.
  • Add powdered sugar and lemon zest, beating to incorporate until smooth.
  • Add frosting to piping bag and pipe cupcake tops as desired. The frosting recipe makes the right amount for piping swirls. You’ll only need two-thirds of the recipe is needed if piping bursts instead.
  • Sprinkle with reserved walnuts.

NOTE:  This makes a WONDERFUL small bundt cake.  Adjust the baking time from 18-20 minutes to 35-45 minutes.

CARAMEL APPLE PIE MONKEY BREAD BOMBS

Caramel Apple Pie Bombs are a version of Monkey Bread that SCREAMS YUMMY!  The beauty of this recipe is the ease of changing up flavors by changing the seasonings (Pumpkin Pie seasoning and pears or cherries and a little vanilla or black peppercorns and a cream cheese glaze) as well as baking it as either a pull apart bread or individual rolls just as easily.  As you pull one open and a river of sweet caramel runs out over the apple pieces you know you’ve found heaven.  😀

CARAMELS APPLE PIE MONKEY BREAD BOMBS adapted from the Slow Roasted Italian
BOMBS
4 tablespoons melted unsalted butter, divided
2 medium Granny Smith apples, peeled cored and diced
1/3 cup brown sugar, packed
1 tablespoon QUALITY ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
18 caramels, unwrapped and divided
12 frozen Rhodes dinner roll dough balls, defrosted

  • Preheat the oven to 350°.
  • Melt 2 tablespoons of the butter in a 9×9 baking dish.  Set aside.
  • Combine the apples, 2 tablespoons of the brown sugar and 1 tablespoon of the cinnamon in a ziploc bag.  Toss to coat.  Set aside.
  • Unwrap the caramels and cut into quarters. Set aside.
  • Melt remaining butter in a small bowl.
  • Mix together the remaining brown sugar, nutmeg, and cinamon in another small bowl
  • Lightly flour your counter top.
  • Using a rolling pin flatten each dough ball into a circle about 3 inches across.
  • Add 1 tablespoon of the apple mixture and 6 of the cut caramel pieces.
  • Carefully pull each side over the center to create to seal and then roll the dough into a ball. Be careful not to make it too thin.  You do NOT want to be able to see through the dough.
  • Roll each ball in the remaining melted butter and then the cinnamon mix before placing seam side down in the baking dish.
  • Sprinkle with any of the remaining cinnamon brown sugar mix.
  • Bake the bombs for 30 to 35 minutes, until the tops are golden brown and they are no longer doughy.

SAUCE
12 caramels, unwrapped
2-3 tablespoons heavy cream

  • Place the caramels and the heavy cream in a microwave safe bowl and microwave until melted, 30 seconds at a time, stirring after each interval.
  • Once you have a smooth mixture, set aside to cool.
  • Remove the apple pie bombs from the oven and drizzle with the caramel sauce.
  • Serve and enjoy!

CHOCOLATE PEANUT BUTTER OAT BARS

This is one of those recipes that I LOVE(d)! BUT had to rework to lower the sugar so I could have just 1 bite! I now cut them into really small squares so they are easier for me to eat without a reaction and they actually last longer too 😀

Here’s the original recipe that I believe came off the box of graham crackers many moons ago.  I will follow it with the “NEW” recipe with a much reduced sugar.

MAGIC CHOCOLATE PEANUT BUTTER BARS
2 1/2 cups crushed Honey Maid graham cracker crumbs
1 cup melted Land O’ Lakes unsalted butter
1 cup Jif creamy peanut butter
2 1/2 cups powdered sugar
1 cup milk chocolate chips with 1 teaspoon butter

  • In a LARGE mixing bowl, stir together the butter, peanut butter and powdered sugar.
  • Fold in graham cracker  crumbs.
  • Press into a greased 9 x 13 inch pan.
  • Place the chocolate chips and butter in a measuring cup and microwave, stirring every 30 seconds, until chocolate is melted and smooth.
  • Spread the chocolate over the peanut butter layer.
  • Place in the refrigerator until set.
  • Cut into bars and serve.

AND the new recipe:

CHOCOLATE PEANUT BUTTER OAT BARS
1 cup butter
1/3 cup packed brown sugar
Pinch of salt
1 teaspoon vanilla
3 1/2 cup quick cooking oats
1 1/4 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips (milk chocolate chips work well too)
3/4 cup peanut butter

  • Lightly grease a 9-inch square pan, or line with parchment paper.
  • In a large saucepan over medium heat, melt butter.
  • Stir in brown sugar, vanilla and salt.
  • Mix in the oats. Cook and stir over low heat for 2-3 minutes, until ingredients are well combined.
  • Press half of the oat mixture into the prepared pan. Reserve the rest for topping.
  • Melt chocolate chips and peanut butter in a small saucepan over low heat, stirring frequently until smooth.
  • Pour the chocolate mixture over the oat layer in the pan and spread evenly.
  • Sprinkle the remaining oat mixture over the chocolate layer and press in gently.
  • Cover and refrigerate for 2 hours or until firm enough to cut.
  • Cut into bars and serve at room temperature.

NOTE: If you are in a real hurry fold the chocolate mixture into the oat mixture before pressing into the pan.  Personally this is my favorite way to make this as it distributes the flavors better.