This Caramel Apple Skillet Pull Apart Bread just screams fall! It is an ooey-gooey dessert that pairs perfectly with ice cream. It totally does the trick on it’s own, but if you choose to serve it up a la mode, it adds another great dimension.
Apple is good by itself. It really is. Anything with apple and caramel though…
Caramel Apple Skillet Pull Apart starts out with a simple, no-rise dough. That’s right- no rise- all you have to do is mix it up and let it rest for ten minutes! While the dough is resting, caramelize the apple-y, cinnamon-y filling and bake. While it bakes, you’ll throw together the homemade caramel sauce. If you’re short on time or don’t want to take the time to make the caramel, you could always use a store bought variety, however I highly recommend this homemade version. It’s easy as pie, it just requires a little boiling, and is so good!
Once the bread is out of the oven, you top it with the caramel sauce and a simple glaze. You know, top or drench. I prefer to drench. And then your Caramel Apple Skillet Pull Apart Bread is completed! If you do serve it with ice cream, I recommend another ladle-full of caramel atop said ice cream :).
Caramel Apple Skillet Pull Apart Bread is the perfect dessert for fall and it is so calling your name :).
Recipe Inspired by Picky Palate.
- 2 medium size apples, cut into small chunks
- 1/3 cup butter
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 2 teaspoons cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
- 2 1/2-3 cups flour
- 1 tablespoon instant yeast
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
- 1/3 cup sugar
- 1 cup warm water
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 1/4 cup salted butter
- 1/2 cup cream
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
- 1/3 cup cream
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
- 1. Preheat oven at 400 F. Begin by making the apple filling. After cutting the apples into small chunks, melt butter in a 12-inch, cast iron skillet. Add the apples, brown sugar, cinnamon, and vanilla. Cook over medium heat 7-10 minutes, until apples soften and cook most the way through. Remove from heat.
- 2. To make the dough, combine 1 cup flour and the yeast in a bowl, set aside. In the bowl of a stand mixer, place, salt, vegetable oil, sugar, water, and the yeast mixed with one cup flour. Mix until it begins to come together. Gradually add the remaining flour. After you have added the initial 1 cup mixed with the yeast, you will likely need the remaining 1 1/2 cups. However, if the dough is still too sticky, add the remaining 1/2 cup of flour, only adding a couple tablespoons at a time. Do NOT use more than 3 cups of flour. I usually need a little more than the initial 2 1/2 cups, but rarely need an entire 1/2 cup after that. Just add a little at a time to avoid adding too much flour. Shape dough into a ball, place in a large bowl, and let rest in a warm place for ten minutes.
- 3. While the dough is resting, place all the caramel sauce ingredients into a medium sized saucepan. You can turn the heat on low to begin melting the ingredients, but don't let it cook or boil yet. You will do that while the dough is in the oven. (Stirring the caramel sauce as it boils is a full-time job.) After the dough has rested, remove it from the bowl and cut into bite-size chunks, about 35-40 pieces. Place in the skillet and toss gently into the apple filling ingredients with a rubber spatula. Bake about 15 minutes or until the top begins to brown and the dough is cooked through.
- 4. Turn up the heat on the caramel sauce ingredients and bring to a boil. Boil rapidly 7-10 minutes, or until desired consistency is reached. You will have to stir the entire time. Remove from heat. I like to set in the freezer on a hot pad for about 10 minutes to cool down a little bit.
- 5. To make the glaze, whisk together the powdered sugar, cream, and vanilla. Add more or less cream until desired consistency is reached. Drizzle about 1/2 cup of the caramel sauce and most of the glaze on top of the pull apart bread. We like to add extra caramel sauce and glaze to our individual servings, because if you add too much caramel and glaze in the skillet, the pull apart bread in the skillet will become soggy. Serve with ice cream if desired.
- *This is the caramel sauce recipe halved for the pull apart bread, but I usually just make a full batch because we love this sauce for ice cream and many other desserts. So if you want leftover caramel sauce, go ahead and make a full batch by doubling the measurements listed.