Sea Salt Caramel Apple Pie

• Caramel
• 1 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
• 1/3 cup corn syrup
• ¼ cup softened butter, cut into pieces
• ½ tsp sea salt
• 1/3 cup half-and -half
• 1 ½ tsp vanilla extract
• Crust
• 1 shortcrust pastry recipe (see p. 13)
• Filling
• 6 cups peeled, cored, cut into 2-inch pieces tart apples
• 3 Tbsp all-purpose flour
• 1 Tbsp freshly squeezed lemon juice
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• ½ tsp ground ginger
• 1 Tbsp sugar
• ½ tsp sea salt

1. Preheat oven to 400°F.

2. Place brown sugar, corn syrup, butter and salt into the bowl with the mixer blade. Mix at speed 2 at 270°F for 14 minutes or until mixture boils; let cool for 10 minutes. Add half-and-half and vanilla. Mix at speed 5 for 1 minute; set aside to cool.

3. In large bowl stir together apples, flour, lemon juice, cinnamon, and ginger. Pour apple mixture into pie crust. Sprinkle apples with 1 Tbsp. sugar and ½ tsp. sea salt. Bake for 35-40 minutes or until apples are tender; cool. If necessary, place foil around edges of crust to prevent burning.

4. Serve apple pie with caramel sauce drizzled over pie. If desired, serve with ice cream.