Caramel Apple Pretzels

That's right. Caramel Apple + Pretzels. All this recipe took was a trusty pretzel recipe from Alton Brown, some apples, and a drizzle of hot caramel and perfection was achieved. They were sweet, salty, and delicious. Caramel apple fever is here, folks. Be prepared.

Pretzel recipe adapted from Alton Brown.
Ingredients:

• 4 1/2 cups flour
• 2 tsp instant yeast
• 2 tsp salt
• 2 tsp sugar
• 1 1/2 cups water
• 6 tbsp butter
• 2 granny smith apples, diced
• 2/3 cup baking soda
• 1 cup sugar
• 1/3 cup water
• 1/4 cup heavy cream
• 1 tbsp butter

Directions:

1. First, combine the flour, yeast, salt, and sugar in the bowl of a stand mixer with dough hook attachment and mix to combine.
2. Next, add the water and butter before kneading approximately 7 minutes, or until the dough is smooth and not sticky.
3. Add the apples to the dough and knead just until incorporated.
4. Transfer the dough to an oiled bowl and cover. Allow it to rise for about an hour.
5. Cut the dough into 12 equal portion, roll into a long rope, and shape into pretzels (or cut into pretzel bites).
6. Preheat the oven to 450 F and place the shaped pretzels onto parchment lined sheet pans and cover while you bring 2/3 cup baking soda and 10 cups of water to boil in a large pot.
7. Boil the pretzels for approximately 30 seconds each and place them back on the parchment paper.
8. Brush the tops with egg wash, heavy cream, or water, and sprinkle a small amount of salt onto each pretzel.
9. Bake for about 8 minutes, or until the pretzels are nice and golden.
10. While the pretzels cool, add 1/3 cup water and 1 cup sugar to an oiled saucepan over medium heat, stirring until the sugar dissolves. Cook the sugar until it becomes a dark amber in color, then remove from heat.
11. Promptly stir in the heavy cream and butter. Allow the caramel to cool for a few minutes.
12. Drizzle the caramel over the pretzels once you think it's cool enough not to burn your mouth (or more likely until you can't wait any longer) and enjoy.

A few simple additions turn pretzels from awesome salty snack to perfectly balanced and fun dessert.

What's your favorite fair food? The most outrageous you've come across?

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Apple Oat Bars

I went to a family gathering this weekend, and there was no way I was going without a dessert. It took a few minutes' brainstorming, but I knew what I wanted to make: apple oat bars. Maybe it was being around family or maybe it was just a flashback, but when I first bit into one, I was reminded of the muffins with an apple oat topping my aunt used to get for us when we'd come visit. I loved them. I was 12 or so and didn't care much about food, but I couldn't stop raving about them. Then they changed. I knew they came from Costco, but when I finally convinced my parents to pick some up, they had changed somehow. I had almost forgotten about them, until yesterday when I sunk my teeth into these bars. Oh man were they delicious. I'm glad I snagged a piece and hid it away so I could take some pictures when I got back. I used an irregular sized baking dish for these, something like this. You can probably use a 9 by 13, but the bars will be a bit thick.

Ingredients:

• 10 oz quick oats
• 15 oz flour
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 lb brown sugar
• 12 oz butter, melted
• 2 lb granny smith apples, sliced thinly
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 3.5 oz sugar
• 2 oz butter

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Mix the oats, flour, baking soda, salt, brown sugar, and melted butter into a dough.
3. Press half of the dough into a baking dish lined with foil.
4. Toss together the apples, cinnamon, and sugar in a large bowl.
5. Spread the apples on top of the dough and place little chunks of butter on top of the apples.
6. Top with the rest of the dough and bake for 30-40 minutes, or until the top is golden brown.
7. Let cool, refrigerate for 1-2 hours, and turn out and cut.

Enjoy on their own or topped with a scoop of ice cream and caramel sauce.

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