Gravenstein apples are in season here in Nova Scotia, I wikied the gavenstein apple and found out that those apples were grown here by a man by the name of Charles Ramage Prescott, a horticulturist that found his way to the Annapolis Valley were he set up shop and grew a wide variety of apples. The Gravenstein apple is one of the favorites among Nova Scoatians. Who knew?
Anyhow I knew we were coming into apple season here, and for some reason I couldn't stop thinking about apples and caramel! This is what I came up with for a dessert for dinner tonight. We don't usually have dessert, unless its a special occasion or I feel like making something sweet, so this it.
I looked for graham cracker crumbs in the store but they had honey in them. I resorted to the ghetto oatmeal cookies, I am positively sure they are not healthy for you, but if you are eating dessert...do you really care?
I know I don't :P
Crust
2 cups oatmeal cookie crumbs
1/3 cup flour
1/2 tsp cinnamon
4 tbsp earth balance
In a bowl combine everything until moist. Press into a fluted tart pan.
Bake at 375 for 8-10 minutes.
Filling
4 gravenstien apples- peeled, cored and sliced
2 tbsp organic sugar
1 tbsp flour
combine apples in a bowl with sugar and flour.
Mix up until coated
Crumble
1 cup oats
1/4 cup organic sugar
1/4 cup flour
pinch of nutmeg
6 tbsp earth balance
In a small bowl mix together until resembles course crumbs
Caramel Sauce
1 cup organic sugar
3 tbsp earth balance
1/4 cup almond milk
1/4 tsp sea salt
Be very careful cooking sugar. Its HOT!!!
In a small sauce pan heat sugar and butter, until dissolved and creamy.
Stirring consistently. Remove from heat. Add milk.
Stir it up.
Assembly:
Arrange the apple slices nicely in the pre baked tart crust.
Pour crumble on top. Press down firmly.
Bake at 375 for 30 minutes or until apples are soft and crumb topping has golden.
Swirl caramel over top!
