Hey peeps
Today is a damp and drizzly day- I did brave a walk up to the shops this morning (managed to pick up a couple more Christmas pressies) but it was cold- I wish I had gloves and a scarf as my raincoat is very thin.
I was meant to be going out for lunch, but it got cancelled. So I got on with some baking. I saw on Lucy’s blog a link to some amazing looking caramel apple bars, and there is a competition on the pink whisk for apple recipes, so I decided to make them. I weighed out the ingredients (well, most of them!)as the original recipe is in cups.
First up, line a brownie pan and preheat the oven to 180C, then mix 1/2 apple sauce (I used 1 apple chopped in a food processor) with 1/2 cup pb (80g), 1/4 butter (30g- I used pure spread).
Then add in 2 cups oats (150g), 1 cup brown sugar and 1/2 cup caster sugar (200g sugar in total), 1 tsp cinnamon and 1 tsp vanilla.
Then add in 2 chopped apples (I used one russet from my box and one pink lady, but any you like are fine) and 1 cup white chocolate chips (forgot to weigh, maybe 100g?).
Spread the mixture into the pan.
And bake for 30 mins, remove and leave to cool for 5 mins.
Then make some caramel sauce (or use shop bought stuff)- this was 1tbs pure spread, 2 tbs sugar, 1tsb golden syrup and a splash of milk. I microwaved it for 20 seconds at a time, then stirred it (and near the end, 10 seconds at a time)- it bubbles right up. Put a tiny blob on a cold plate to check that it turns into caramel.
Then pour over the cooling apple cake.
Leave it to cool completely before slicing, and try not to eat them all at once!
Oh WOW is all I can say. They are amazing! Sooooooooo amazing. The apple is sweet, the peanut butter is rich, the caramel sauce is gooey…… need I go on?
Were you a fan of caramel/ toffee apples? I never found them easy to eat- I would rather have some sauce to dip slices into, for example;
Yum- a toffee apple dip from Graze.
Caramel and apples just go together mmmmmmm.
I agree – I’ve never really liked toffee apples because they are so difficult to eat and hurt my teeth! I love the apple and caramel combo in general though – apple tarte tatin is delicious!
I always had trouble with toffee apples too…I’d break my teeth on them half the time.
Caramel and apples are a lovely combination though – the Graze Box version looks delish, and my Mum used to make apple muffins with pieces of fudge through them (that would go all melty…mmm, melty….) when I was little.
xxx
This has just reminded me of a lovely recipe I saw for a raw vegan caramel dip – I must make it now that you’ve given me a craving!
You get graze boxes as well? What do you think about them. I think they’re cute but a tad expensive….
those bars look fab! I’m always looking for things to whip up for my flatmates.
really hoping i get the caramel apple one this tuesday. I treat myself to a graze box every so often. works well because if i don’t fancy it or can’t afford it, i just push it back a few weeks.
Your caramel apple bars look amazing …. my address is ……
😉
I get a Graze box once a fortnight, but I do often “push it back” as we do not always eat all the punnets in time. It is a little expensive, but a nice treat now and then.
Lara- continue 😉
I like to dip slices in caramel, but the actual whole apple on stick thing was never my style. Too messy and hard to eat!
I totally agree! We saw people at Disney buying them (and they are huge apples too) and I never had any idea how the people actually ate them!
Apple and caramel is a match made in heaven! I never liked toffee apples much though; that brittle toffee round the outside isn’t as good as chewy caramel – and the addition of peanut butter to these sounds genius 🙂
Yeah the peanut butter helps them to stay all chewy- just delish. You could easily make them gluten free too so long as you used GF oats etc.
Oh my goodness this looks AMAZING!!!
I love baking an apple in the oven while heating peanut butter + either maple syrup or caramel on the stove, then dipping the hot soft apple in the hot PB+sweet…aaaah it’s amazing!
Sable that sounds amazing! 🙂
I have two of those Graze toffee apple punnets sitting in my treat cupboard but I think I’ll be getting them out tonight after the deliciousness of this post!
Baking on a rainy day is perfect! These look lovely. 🙂
I’ve never actually had a toffee apple that I can remember! My parents where quite strict regarding dental health and sweets etc, so I think they were probably frowned upon!!! 😉 I’ve always been interested in seeing what they’re like but imagine them as being really sweet and hard to eat!?
That graze box looks amazing though…I love dried apple!
Bronagh- I can’t believe you have two of those punnets! I love them (plus they punnet is about 70 cals or something) so mine gets eaten quickly!
Jemma-you are right it is such a lovely passtime.
Jessica-Mine were strict too and I think I had one once at a friends party and basically had no idea how to eat it! The outside is all crunchy and hard- and it gets all over your face!
Hard to say – I’ve never had toffee with apples. I can see how it would be good though!
It really is good- try it 🙂
That toffee apple one is one of my favourites, always gets eaten within an hour of the box arriving!
Rosexx
Mine too 🙂
I’m glad you like my recipe and your bars turned out so well. Thanks for posting about making them.
Yes the recipe is amazing! Thanks for sharing it with everyone!
Fantastic recipe, but can you suggest a change for the peanut butter. Thanks for posting
Any other nut butter- eg almond butter or hazelnut. Or some other fat- butter, a mixture of oil + applesauce.