Big Rays Caramel Apple Skillet Buckle Recipes

Steps:

• Apples: Peel, slice, and core apples; cut into ¼-inch slices. Heat skillet to medium and add butter to melt, followed by apples. Stir to coat apples with butter and cook, about 2 minutes. Sprinkle sugar on top of apples, then stir so sugar melts. When the sugar starts to melt, add the bourbon (optional) and bring it to a boil. Then remove from the heat and cool to room temperature, about 10 minutes. Use a a cake tester to check apples for softness.
• Streusel: Preheat oven to 375 F. In a medium bowl, add pecans, oats, brown sugar, flour, and salt; mix until thoroughly combined. Work in butter so the mixture becomes crumbly and the butter soaks up all the dry ingredients. Set aside.
• In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, cream the butter and sugar on low speed, 30 seconds. Scrape down the bowl and paddle, then continue mixing on medium until smooth and creamy, 30 more seconds. With the mixer on low, add egg and vanilla. In a bowl, combine flour and baking powder. Then add half the flour mixture to the butter-sugar mixture, mixing just until combined; then add half of the milk. Repeat until all the flour and milk have been added. Turn the mixer off; scrape down the bowl and fold in the apple mixture by hand. Pour batter into a buttered springform pan, and add streusel in pieces on top. Bake for 30-40 minutes.
• Remove cake from oven and use a cake tester to check for doneness; it should come out dry. Remove the springform pan and slice.

Steps:

• Make the caramel sauce: Add the granulated sugar and 1/4 cup water to a 3-quart saucepan and stir to combine. Add the butter and set it over medium-high heat, but do not stir. Cook, without stirring, until the butter and sugar have completely melted and started to bubble, 4 to 5 minutes.
• After the mixture has begun to brown at the edges, use a heatproof spatula to carefully stir it occasionally until it is deep golden brown and beginning to smoke just slightly, about 4 to 5 minutes. Do not walk away from the pan during this process as the caramel will go from perfectly golden to burned in moments.
• When the mixture is deep golden, remove the pan from the heat, and carefully whisk in the heavy cream. The mixture will expand and sputter before turning into a smooth sauce. Add the vanilla and salt. If the caramel is at all lumpy, return the pan to the stove on low heat and whisk until smooth. You should have about 2 cups. Carefully pour the caramel into a heat-safe container to cool.
• Prepare the filling: Heat your oven to 350 degrees and set a rack in the center. Peel, core and slice the apples into 1/2-inch slices, removing any bruised bits if necessary. Combine the sliced apples, lemon juice, spices and salt in a large bowl, and stir to combine. Drizzle 1/2 cup caramel sauce over the top and stir again. Scrape the apples and all of their juices into a 9- or 10-inch oven-safe skillet.
• Make the topping: In the same bowl, combine the flour, oats, pecans, sugar and salt. Stir until well combined, then add the butter and mash it into the dry ingredients with your fingers until crumbs form. Pour the crumb topping evenly over the apples. Bake the crisp until the topping is golden and the juices are bubbling, 40 to 50 minutes. Serve warm with more warm caramel sauce and ice cream. Store any remaining sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator for about a week. It can be rewarmed for later use in a saucepan over low heat.