Showing posts with label Caramels. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Caramels. Show all posts

Bloomin’ Baked Apples

     Thank you Glenda Rentz for posting the link to this delicious and creative recipe which originated at The Gunny Sack blog
     As usual, I made a few changes to the original recipe as noted below . . . trying to make it a little less sugary!

Bloomin’ Baked Apples
2 crisp apples
2 tablespoon soft butter
2 to 3 tablespoons packed brown sugar (original recipe calls for 3 Tbsp; I used 2 Tbsp.)
1 tablespoon oat flour —made by grinding old-fashioned oatmeal in our Nutrabullet® (original recipe called for regular flour)
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
3 to 4 caramels (I used 1 1/2 caramels in each apple cavity)
Optional topping: Greek Gods® Greek Honey & Vanilla Yogurt (original recipe called for vanilla ice cream, caramel sauce and cinnamon)
  1. Preheat the oven to 375°.
  2. Slice off the top fourth of the apples.
  3. Scoop out the core.

  4. Using a small, thin knife, make 2 deep circular cuts around the center of each apple.
  5. Turn each apple over and make vertical narrow cuts from the bottom side to the cut side. 
  6. Flip each back over and place in an oven safe dish; add 1 1/2 to 2 caramels to the center of each apple.
  7. Heat butter and brown sugar in the microwave for 30 second, stir and continue heating for an additional 30 seconds. Remove from the microwave and stir in flour and cinnamon. Divide the mixture over the top of the two sliced apples.

  8. Bake at 375 for 25-30 minutes. (Check apples after 25 minutes and continue cooking until tender. Some apples can take 45 minutes to 1 hour to soften.)
  9. Remove from the oven and use a large spoon to move the apples into bowls.
  10. Top with a spoonful of yogurt.

Recipe without photos . . .
Bloomin’ Baked Apples 
2 crisp apples 
2 tablespoon soft butter
2 to 3 tablespoons packed brown sugar (original recipe calls for 3 Tbsp; I used 2 Tbsp.)
1 tablespoon oat flour —made by grinding old-fashioned oatmeal in our Nutrabullet® (original recipe called for regular flour)
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
3 to 4 caramels (I used 1 1/2 caramels in each apple cavity)
Optional topping: Greek Gods® Greek Honey & Vanilla Yogurt (original recipe called for vanilla ice cream, caramel sauce and cinnamon)
  1. Preheat the oven to 375°.
  2. Slice off the top fourth of the apples.
  3. Scoop out the core.
  4. Using a small, thin knife, make 2 deep circular cuts around the center of each apple.
  5. Turn each apple over and make vertical narrow cuts from the bottom side to the cut side. 
  6. Flip each back over and place in an oven safe dish; add 1 1/2 to 2 caramels to the center of each apple.
  7. Heat butter and brown sugar in the microwave for 30 second, stir and continue heating for an additional 30 seconds. Remove from the microwave and stir in flour and cinnamon. Divide the mixture over the top of the two sliced apples.
  8. Bake at 375 for 25-30 minutes. (Check apples after 25 minutes and continue cooking until tender. Some apples can take 45 minutes to 1 hour to soften.)
  9. Remove from the oven and use a large spoon to move the apples into bowls.
  10. Top with a spoonful of yogurt.

Chocolate Caramel Nut Bars – Mrs. Haas gives these bars high marks!


     When I interviewed Elinor Haas for my monthly food column (in the Abilene Reflector-Chronicle) she extolled the virtues of chocolate and suggested it might even qualify as another essential food group! That was in 2005 and she hasn’t changed her mind as evidenced by the latest recipe she shared with me.
    It also meets another one of her criteria — easy to make. As a matter of fact, the most difficult thing about this recipe is unwrapping the caramels. Aren’t you surprised that some company hasn’t yet marketed an unwrapped version?
     We both agree —this recipe is really rich so you may need to cut it into really small bars . . . or not.

Chocolate Caramel Nut Bars   Yield: one 13”x9” pan
1 (14 oz.) bag caramels
2/3 cup evaporated milk -- divided use
1 (18 ¼  oz.) 2-layer German chocolate cake mix
1 1/2 cups nuts, chopped  (walnuts, pecans, your choice) – divided use
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter or margarine, melted
1 (6 oz.) pkg. semi-sweet chocolate chips


1.     Melt caramels with 1/3 c. milk over low heat, stirring until smooth. Combine remaining milk, cake mix, and butter or margarine; mix well.  
2.     Press half of cake mixture into bottom of greased 13”x9” baking pan.
3.     Bake in a preheated 350° oven for 6 minutes.
4.     Sprinkle 1 cup nuts and the chocolate chips over crust; top with caramel mixture, spreading to edges of pan.
5.     Top with teaspoonfuls of remaining cake mixture; press gently into caramel mixture.
6.     Sprinkle with remaining nuts. Press lightly into top.
7.     Return to oven; bake at 350° for another 20 minutes.
8.     Cool slightly and then refrigerate.  Cut into bars to serve.