Caramel Apple Custard Bars: The Apple Doesn't Fall Far from the Tree Blog With Friends

 

Today’s post is the next in our series of Blog With Friends themed collaborations. Each month a group of bloggers get together and each publish a project based on a theme. What I love about his partnership is that it's not bloggers with similar interests or strengths but a diverse group coming up with a variety of posts. In any given month we may a recipe, sewing tutorial, crocheting, crafts project, book review, and/or technology post all related to the theme of the month.

This month's theme is The Apple Doesn't Fall Far from the Tree.

I made Caramel Apple Custard Bars.

Caramel Apple Custard Bars

 

 

Although the saying "the apple doesn't fall far from the tree" doesn't really have anything to do with apples per se, I made an apple recipe. I mean, what was I going to do, use pears?

Besides, an apple a day . . . 

As far as the meaning of the saying goes, my little (OK, not so little any more) apples actually do fall pretty far from the tree, especially when it comes to cooking. Neither of the boys do any at all, even a grilled cheese sandwich is more work than they'll take on in the kitchen. When it comes to ordering take-out, though? Apples, meet tree.

But when it comes to eating, that's another story. We all have our individual tastes, of course, but we agree on many favorite foods. This time of year, a lot of them include apples. When the boys were little, I'd invite a bunch of families, we'd all go out to the farm and pick apples, come back to my house where we'd all make apple pies and applesauce, and then have a hearty dinner together before everyone headed home. 

These days the apples come from the store (Braeburn and Honey Crisp are our favorites), and besides the apple pies and applesauce, I make Caramel Topped Apple Spice Bread, Apple Pie Cheesecake, Apple Cinnamon Ring, and so much more.

Today, in honor of my boys and as a nod to those days at the apple orchard, I'm sharing a new apple recipe. If I'm lucky, really really lucky, maybe it'll entice those apples to come visit this old tree?

As always, grab those ingredients together to start:

 

 

Prepare the crust and press into the pan:

 

 

Layer on the apples and sprinkle with the caramel baking bits: 

Beat together the custard ingredients, pour over the apples and sprinkle with a bit of cinnamon.

 

Bake, cool to room temperature:

 

 

And slice:

 

 

As always, any time you make one of my recipes, feel free to post a picture of it to my Baking In A Tornado Facebook Page. I'd love to see it!

Be sure to visit all of this month's other Blog With Friends projects:

 

P. J. of A 'lil HooHaa shares Apples, apples, everywhere!. 

 

 

 

 

 

Tamara of Part-time Working Hockey Mom shares The 🍏 Apple 🍎 Doesn't Fall Far from the Tree 🌳.

Caramel Apple Custard Bars

                                                                          ©www.BakingInATornado.com

Printable Recipe

Ingredients:
 2 cups quick oats

3/4 cup powdered sugar

1/2 tsp salt

3/4 tsp apple pie spice

6 TBSP butter, melted

1 1/2 tsp vanilla

 

2 apples, cored, peeled, sliced

2/3 cup caramel baking bits

 

3 eggs

3/4 cup brown sugar

1 can (12 oz) evaporated milk (I used fat free)

1/2 tsp lemon zest

1 TBSP flour

1/2 tsp apple pie spice

1/2 tsp cinnamon

 

Directions:

*Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease an 8 X 11 baking pan. 

*Mix together the oats, powdered sugar, salt, 3/4 tsp apple pie spice and vanilla. Mix in the melted butter. Press into the bottom and partially up the sides of the prepared pan.

*Arrange the apples so they cover the crust. Sprinkle with the caramel baking bits.

*Beat the eggs, brown sugar, evaporated milk, lemon zest, flour and 1/2 tsp apple pie spice. Carefully pour over the apples, then sprinkle with the cinnamon.

*Bake for about 50 minutes, until the edges brown and the center is set. Run a knife gently around the edges. Allow to cool at room temperature for at least 1/2 hour before slicing.

*Serve warm or refrigerate and serve cold. Store, covered, in the refrigerator.