Fun Fall Recipes: Caramel Apple Bread and Milkshakes!

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As always, all opinions are mine alone.

We’re only a few weeks away from the official beginning of Fall, and I’m already knee deep in Fall Recipes. I just can’t help it, Fall to me is cool, brisk weather, when leaves change color and the sun sets earlier. It’s also cinnamon, pears, apples and caramel, and a season for baking.

Can you tell it’s the most wonderful time of the year in my eyes?

I love everything about Fall Recipes. What I love even more is that not only is October is both National Apple Month AND National Caramel Month – but there’s also a National Caramel Apple DAY in October! To help you prepare for it early I wanted to bring you a few caramel apple recipes based on the newest flavor this season from M&M’s! Yes, there’s a new flavor for the season, and it’s called Candy Apple, based on the delicious caramel apples you can find at most harvest festivals and carnivals.

Last week I was on a mad search for this flavored candy, and unfortunately it’s more elusive than I thought because I couldn’t find it anywhere within 100 miles of me! No worries though, I picked up a few of my other favorite M&M candies and decided to incorporate them into my own apple recipes that I created, inspired by all the wonderful ideas on the Flavor Of Fall tumblr page. You can also download couponds for $1 off any two (2) Mott’s sauce or Mott’s juice drink and $1.50 off any two (2) M&M’s brand chocolate candies, both will help you make these fun Fall recipes!

I made some homemade caramel, and it’s just enough to use in both of these recipes. It’s so easy to make, just be sure that you don’t cook the water and sugar too long because it can be quick to burn! For the bread I based the recipe on my most recent banana bread recipe, making a few changes by adding diced apples and Mott’s applesauce instead of oil and drizzling the homemade caramel between layers of batter to create caramel swirls. It tastes just like caramel apple, and I made the glaze by using Mott’s apple juice! I topped it with some crushed M&M’s for fun color and an extra oomph. Everyone loved it!

The milkshake was super easy, and I added apples, applesauce and apple juice in addition to caramel and vanilla ice cream. It’s thick and has a bite to it, just like granny smith apples and a smooth sweetness thanks to the caramel. Since it’s still 100 degrees here in California, this really hit the spot and reminded me that the Fall season is just around the corner

Homemade Caramel

• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 2 tablespoons water
• 1/4 cup heavy cream
• 1 tablespoon butter

Caramel Apple Bread

• 2 cups all purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
• 3/4 cup brown sugar
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/3 cup applesauce
• 2 Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored and diced
• 2 tablespoons of prepared caramel *see recipe above

Apple Icing

• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 1 tablespoon milk
• 1-1/2 tablespoon apple juice
• *1/4 cup milk chocolate M&M’s, crushed for garnish

Caramel Apple Milkshake

• 3 cups vanilla ice cream
• 1/2 Granny Smith apple, peeled, cored and diced
• 1/4 cup almond milk
• 1/4 cup applesauce
• 1/2 cup apple juice
• 2 tablespoons prepared caramel *see recipe above
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• *whipped cream & caramel for garnish

Directions:

Begin by making the caramel. Over a medium/low heat combine the water and sugar and stir together. Bring to a boil swirling the pan every 30 seconds or so.

After about 8-10 minutes the sugar will start to brown. Once it turns an amber color, quickly remove from heat and stir one final time.

Add the cream, then margarine and whisk until smooth. Set aside to cool while you prepare the remaining ingredients.

Start by preparing the bread. Combine the flour, baking powder and baking soda, cinnamon, salt, nutmeg and sugars in a bowl. Mix well, then set aside.

In another large bowl, add the eggs and vanilla and beat on low until combined. Add the apple sauce and continue to mix.

Slowly add in the dry mix, 1/3 at a time while the mixer is on low.

Add the apples to the last 1/3 of the mixture, and fold it in to the mixture.

Preheat oven to 350, and spray a loaf dish with non stick cooking spray.
Put about 1/3 of the mixture in the bottom of the loaf pan.

Spread about one tablespoon of caramel over the batter.

Spread the next 1/3 of the batter on top, bringing it out to the edges of the pan and smoothing over the caramel layer.

Spread the last tablespoon of caramel over the batter.
Spoon the last 1/3 of the batter on top, being sure that it’s evenly spread over the pan.
Place in preheated oven for 50 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean.

While the bread is baking, combine the powdered sugar, milk and apple juice for the icing and crush the M&M’s for the topping.

Remove the bread from the oven and allow to cool.

Drizzle with icing…

…then top with M&M’s.

Then cut into bread slices.

To prepare the milkshake, add all ingredients (except garnish) to a blender.

Mix on low until combined, then pulse at the end.Drizzle a little caramel around the inside of your cup, then pour the milkshake in.

Top with whipped cream and caramel, add a cute straw.

Enjoy your Fall treats!

#FlavorOfFall | #CollectiveBias

Do you remember my recipe last year using seasonal M&M’s too? I made mini white chocolate cheesecakes inspired by last years seasonal flavor (the white chocolate candy corn M&M’s) and I added a copycat Starbucks Caramel Apple Spice to the mix also using Mott’s Apple Juice.

They were so good! This year I headed to Walmart for my supplies and picked up my M&M’s where I can always find them, in the candy aisle.

I also picked up the Mott’s Apple Juice and Applesauce at Walmart too!

 What are you favorite recipes that include M&M’s or Mott’s?