Apple Crumble with Cardamom-Vanilla Caramel Sauce - apples

Method

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• To make the Apple Filling:
• In a small bowl, toss the apple slices with the lemon zest, lemon juice, sugar, cinnamon, and salt, and set aside.
• To make the Crumble Topping:
• In another small bowl, mix the flour, brown sugar, oats, and salt with a fork until uniform.
• In a baking dish, melt the butter in the microwave until about half melts, 10 to 15 seconds on high.
• Pour the butter into the flour mixture and incorporate with a fork.
• Leaving the excess butter in the baking dish, arrange the apple slices in the dish.
• Top with the flour-oat mixture.
• Bake until the apples are cooked through and the topping is golden, about 45 minutes.
• To make the Vanilla-Cardamom Caramel Sauce:
• In a medium-heavy saucepan, mix the water and sugar and bring to a boil over medium-high heat.
• Allow the mixture to boil, without stirring.
• Cook's Note: Swirl the pan, if needed.
• Boil until the sugar mixture is pale golden brown, approximately 7 minutes.
• Cook's Note: Watch closely; sugar burns quickly.
• Remove the pan from the heat, and stirring vigorously add the butter and cream.
• The mixture will bubble.
• Add the cardamom seeds and stir to incorporate.
• Return the pan to the heat and bring the mixture to a boil and then remove from the heat and allow to cool a few minutes.
• Stir in the vanilla extract and strain the sauce before drizzling over the cobbler.