Caramel Apple Pizza

Friends and family will go nuts for this simple-to-fix spicy fruit dessert. MORE+ LESS-

By Betty Crocker Kitchens

Updated August 14, 2006

Ingredients

1/2

cup plus 2 tablespoons packed brown sugar

1/3

cup corn syrup

tablespoons butter or margarine

1/3

cup whipping cream

teaspoon rum extract or vanilla

medium cooking apples, thinly sliced

tablespoon lemon juice

1/2

cup granulated sugar

teaspoons ground cinnamon

teaspoon ground nutmeg

package (3 oz) cream cheese, softened

egg

teaspoon vanilla

package (17.3 oz) frozen puff pastry, thawed

cup chopped nuts, toasted

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1

Heat oven to 400°F. Line 2 cookie sheets with foil or cooking parchment paper. In 1-quart saucepan, heat brown sugar, corn syrup and butter to boiling over medium heat, stirring occasionally. Cook 5 to 7 minutes, stirring constantly, until thickened; remove from heat. Cool about 30 minutes. Stir in whipping cream and rum extract.
2

In medium bowl, mix apples and lemon juice. Stir in granulated sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg.
3

In small bowl, beat cream cheese with electric mixer on medium speed until fluffy. Beat in egg and vanilla on medium speed until blended.
4

Roll each sheet of pastry into 10-inch square on foil-lined cookie sheet. Cut each pastry square into 10-inch circle. Place scraps in center; roll into pastry.
5

Spread half of cream cheese mixture over each pastry round. Arrange apple slices on cream cheese. Sprinkle with nuts. Drizzle about 1/4 cup caramel syrup over each pizza.
6

Bake 25 to 30 minutes or until puffy and golden brown. Pour remaining caramel syrup over hot pizzas. Serve warm.

Is life a little nutty? Doing some advance prep will help. Toast nuts in a shallow pan in a 350°F oven about 5 to 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until golden brown.
Use 1 cup caramel ice-cream topping instead of making the caramel syrup and don't peel the apples.