CARAMEL TOPPING FOR APPLE CAKE RECIPES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°. On a lightly floured surface, roll dough to a 1/8-in.-thick circle; transfer to a 9-in. deep-dish pie plate. Trim crust to 1/2 in. beyond rim of plate; flute edge. Refrigerate while preparing filling., In a large bowl, toss apples with lemon juice and vanilla. Mix pecans, sugars, cinnamon and cornstarch; add to apples and toss to combine., Spread caramel topping onto bottom of crust. Fill with apple mixture. Drizzle with butter. , For streusel topping, mix flour and sugar. Cut in butter until crumbly; stir in pecans. Sprinkle over filling., Bake on a lower oven rack until filling is bubbly, 65-75 minutes. Drizzle with caramel topping. Cool on a wire rack. If desired, serve with whipped cream and additional caramel topping.

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine the flour, sugar, baking powder, cinnamon and salt. In another bowl, whisk the egg, milk, butter and vanilla. Stir into dry ingredients just until moistened. Fold in apple and caramels. , Fill 12 paper-lined muffin cups three-fourths full. Combine topping ingredients; sprinkle over batter. , Bake at 350° until a toothpick inserted in the cake portion comes out clean, 20-25 minutes. Cool for 5 minutes before removing from pan to a wire rack. Serve warm.