DIRECTIONS
Make the crust:
1. To make the caramel apple cake: Line a baking sheet or tray with parchment paper. In your food processor, combine the flour, salt, and sugar. Add the cold butter and pulse quickly until the butter gets a coarse-grainy texture, about 5 seconds. Add the egg and sprinkle the ice water over the mixture and pulse until just moistened and very crumbly, about 5 seconds. You might pulse by increment until you get the proper texture.
2. Remove the dough from the food processor, transfer it to a lightly floured work surface, and knead a few times with your hands until the dough comes together into a ball. Flatten the dough into a thick disk. Flour your work surface again and dust the disc of dough with flour.
3. Wrap the dough with cling wrap and refrigerate while you prepare the apples and the caramel.
Make the caramel and apple filling:
1. Preheat your oven to 400ºF (200ºC). Peel, quarter, and cut the apples into thin wedges.
2. In a saucepan, sprinkle the sugar evenly over the bottom and drizzle with water. Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until the mixture bubbles and turns a light brown color, 5 to 7 minutes. Stir in the butter until melted. Be careful of the caramel splashes. Set the caramel aside.
3. In a skillet, melt the remaining tablespoon of butter and cook the apples, stirring from time to time until they take some color, about 15 minutes.
4. Pour the caramel into the bottom of a rectangular baking pan (13 x 4 1/2 inches) – any shape you like: round, oval… Remove the apples from the heat and arrange in the baking pan, on top of the caramel
5. Flatten your pastry in a rectangular shape with a rolling pin and tuck it into the baking pan over the apples. Prick the pastry with a fork.
6. Bake the apple cake for 35 to 40 minutes or until the pastry is a deep golden brown on top.
7. Let the baking pan cool on a wire rack for 5 minutes then carefully invert the apple cake onto a rimmed serving plate. Decorate with toasted walnuts, and drizzle with more of the caramel, if you like. Allow to cool for a couple of minutes before slicing. Enjoy! ❤️
