Apple And Cheddar Skillet Cake Food

APPLE CAKE IN AN IRON SKILLET

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 F.
• For the apple topping: In a 9 to 10-inch skillet, melt the butter over low heat. Add sugar to the pan and stir around, then place apple slices, cut side down, in the pan. Don't pack them too tightly, but try not to leave overly large gaps. Allow this to cook over low/medium-low heat while you make the cake batter, about 10 minutes.
• In the bowl of an electric mixer, beat the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Mix in the vanilla and eggs. Add the sour cream and mix well.
• In a bowl, mix the flour, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon. Stir together then gradually add the flour mixture into the creamed butter mixture until just combined. Gently stir in the chopped apple.
• Remove the skillet from the heat. Spoon the batter over the top, then spread gently so the batter is evenly distributed. Place on a sheet tray lined with foil and bake for 25 -30 minutes, or until cake is golden brown and bubbly. Allow the cake to sit in skillet for five minutes, then invert onto a serving plate. Don't worry if some of the topping isn't perfect---it'll taste perfect!
• Serve warm with vanilla ice cream.

CHEESY APPLE SKILLET PIE

Steps:

• For the pie: Place a baking sheet in the oven and preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Warm a medium saute pan over medium heat and melt the butter. Add the apple slices, cinnamon and nutmeg and cook until slightly softened, about 4 minutes. Pour apples into a large bowl and cool in the fridge, about 5 minutes.
• For the streusel topping: Meanwhile, fill a gallon resealable plastic bag with the cheese crackers and use a rolling pin to crush into small crumbs, but not a fine powder. Add to a medium bowl with the light brown sugar and salt and stir to combined. Stir melted butter into the mixture, tossing to bind your streusel, and set aside for pie assembly.
• Back to the pie: Remove the apples from the fridge and stir in the light brown sugar, Cheddar, cornstarch and salt.
• Fit the pie dough into a 10-inch cast-iron skillet. Gently press the dough against the sides of the skillet to form the bottom crust of the pie. (The crust will not reach the top edge of skillet and this is just fine.) Pour the apples into the skillet. Generously sprinkle the streusel on top of the apples and spread in an even layer.
• Bake the pie on the preheated baking sheet until golden brown and bubbly, 45 to 50 minutes. Allow the pie to cool about 45 minutes before serving.
• For the lemon maple sage whipped cream: Meanwhile, zest the entire lemon into a medium bowl. Gather sage leaves together in a tight bundle and grate the bundle into the bowl with the zest (it's okay if a few larger pieces fall in). Add the heavy cream, maple syrup and salt and stir together until combined. Strain mixture through a fine-mesh sieve into the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment. Use a rubber spatula to press on the lemon and sage mixture in the sieve, to get out all the possible flavor. Beat the cream until it holds medium peaks and serve a dollop on each pie slice.

CHEDDAR CHEESECAKE WITH APPLE BUTTER CARAMEL

Steps:

• Position a rack in the middle of the oven and preheat to 325 degrees F. Wrap the bottom and sides of a 10-inch springform pan with 3 pieces of heavy-duty foil.
• For the crust: Add the crackers, sugar and cheddar cheese to a food processor and process until fine crumbs form, about 1 minute. Pour in the melted butter and pulse until well incorporated and the mixture holds together when pinched between your fingers, 10 to 12 pulses. Press the crumb mixture into the prepared springform pan, taking care to get the crust evenly to the edges. Bake until golden brown and set, 10 to 20 minutes. Let cool for 10 minutes then place in a large roasting pan.
• For the cheesecake: Beat the cream cheese, cheddar cheese and granulated sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment on medium speed until well combined, 3 to 4 minutes. Add the sour cream and vanilla and beat until just combined. Reduce the speed to low and add the eggs, one at a time, until just combined. (Take care not to overmix or the cheesecake will puff up and crack.) Pour the batter evenly over the crust, smoothing the top. Pour enough hot water into the roasting pan to come about halfway up the sides of the foil-wrapped springform pan. Bake until the outside of the cake is set but the center is still slightly loose, about 1 hour 10 minutes.
• Turn the oven off and leave the cheesecake in the oven for another hour. Remove the cheesecake from the roasting pan to a cooling rack. Run a knife around the edge and cool to room temperature, about 2 hours. Cover and refrigerate at least 8 hours.
• Run a knife around the edge of the pan once more and unlock to unmold the cheesecake. Remove from the springform base and transfer to a serving platter or cake stand and smooth the edges with a knife.
• For the apple butter caramel: About 2 hours before serving the cheesecake, whisk the heavy cream, apple butter, corn syrup, butter, vanilla extract and salt in a small saucepan and bring the mixture to a simmer over medium heat, whisking constantly, until very smooth, 4 to 5 minutes. Remove from the heat.
• Sprinkle the brown sugar evenly in a medium skillet. Cook over medium heat, stirring with a rubber spatula, until the sugar melts and is smooth, 3 to 5 minutes. Remove from the heat and slowly drizzle in the warm cream mixture, whisking constantly. Return the skillet to medium heat and bring to a gentle simmer; cook, whisking frequently, until smooth and a deep amber color, 5 to 7 minutes. Transfer to a heat proof container and refrigerate, uncovered, until cool, about 1 hour.
• Pour the caramel sauce into the center of the cake and use an offset spatula to spread it out, letting some of the sauce drip over the sides. Store in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.

APPLE SKILLET CAKE WITH SALTED CARAMEL FROSTING

Steps:

• Make the apples: In a 10-inch sauté pan, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the apples, brown sugar and salt, and cook, stirring occasionally, until the sugar dissolves and the apples soften slightly, 4 to 5 minutes. Let cool to room temperature.
• Heat the oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 10-inch oven-proof skillet with butter.
• Make the cake: In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream the butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy, 4 to 5 minutes. Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition, and mix to combine. Scrape the bowl well, then beat in the vanilla.
• In a medium bowl, whisk the flour, baking powder, salt, cinnamon and nutmeg to combine. Add the flour mixture to the mixer and mix just until incorporated. Scrape the bowl well.
• With a rubber spatula, gently fold the apple mixture (including all of the caramel-like liquid in the pan) into the batter. Mix just until incorporated.
• Pour the batter into the prepared skillet and spread into an even layer. Bake until the surface is evenly golden brown and appears set - a toothpick inserted into the center should have a few moist crumbs clinging to it, 30 to 35 minutes. Let cool completely.
• Make the frosting: In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream the butter and confectioners' sugar until light and fluffy, 4 to 5 minutes.
• Place the caramels in a microwave-safe container. Microwave in 20-second bursts, stirring, until the caramel is warm and fluid. (This mixture will cool quickly, so be sure to do it just before you mix the frosting.) Add the warm (not hot) caramel mixture and mix on medium speed until incorporated. Scrape the bowl well.
• Add the cream and vanilla and mix to combine. The frosting should be smooth and very soft. Scoop the frosting onto the cooled cake, and spread into an even layer. Garnish with flaky salt just before serving.

CHEDDAR-CRUSTED APPLE PIE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees, with rack in lowest position. On a lightly floured work surface, roll out the smaller disk of dough just under 1/4 inch thick on a lightly floured surface and fit into a 9-inch glass pie plate. Roll remaining disk to just under 1/4 inch thick and transfer to a parchment-lined baking sheet for top crust; refrigerate along with pie plate.
• Place lemon juice in a large bowl. Peel, quarter, and core apples; thinly slice crosswise, tossing with lemon juice as you work. Add sugar, flour, cinnamon, and salt to bowl; toss to combine.
• Fill bottom crust with apple mixture; lightly brush edge of crust with water. Using a paring knife, cut out either a circle or small slits in center of top crust. Place top crust over filling; press all around edge to seal with bottom crust. Using kitchen shears, trim to a 1-inch overhang; fold dough under itself to form a rim, and press to seal. Using thumb and forefinger, crimp as desired.
• Place pie plate on a parchment-lined rimmed baking sheet. Combine lightly beaten egg with 1 tablespoon water. Brush crust with egg wash. Bake 20 minutes; reduce heat to 375 degrees, and bake until crust is golden brown and juices are bubbling, about 80 minutes more. Let cool completely on a wire rack, at least 4 hours (or up to overnight) before serving.