Mini Apple Donut Skewers with Salted Caramel Dipping Sauce

LOVE these little apple donuts and don't even get me started on the caramel sauce! Oh my goodness it is SO good!

Growing up I remember my mom being a big fan of caramel. I guess I get my caramel addiction from her.  If I have to have an addiction I'm glad it's to caramel! Thanks mom! I just need to make sure I get an extra workout in  to keep all this caramel from sticking

Mini Apple Donut Skewers with Salted Caramel Dipping Sauce

Ingredients

1/2 cup white sugar

3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/2 cup sour cream

1 tablespoon milk

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 cup all-purpose flour 

1 medium sized granny smith apple - peeled, cored, and chopped

short wooden skewers

Topping

• 1/4 cup butter, melted
• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Grease 24 mini-muffin cups.
2. Mix 1/2 cup sugar and cinnamon in a large bowl. Stir in the sour cream and milk, then mix in the baking soda, salt, and flour until just combined. Then fold in the apples pieces. Fill the prepared mini muffin cups about half full. I use a cookie scoop to measure out the batter.
3. Bake in the preheated oven until the tops are lightly golden, 15 to 20 minutes.
4. While muffins are baking, place 1/4 cup of melted butter in a bowl. In a separate bowl, mix together 1/2 cup of sugar with the cinnamon. Remove muffins from their cups, dip each muffin in the melted butter, and roll in the sugar-cinnamon mixture. Let cool. Skewer 2-3 donuts on each wooden stick and serve with the caramel dipping sauce.

Caramel Dipping Sauce

Ingredients

1 cup sugar

1/2 cup butter (1 stick)

1 1/4 cups heavy cream - warmed

salt to taste

In a heavy weight saucepan over medium heat, heat the sugar until it starts to melt and brown. This will take at least 5 minutes - maybe a little longer. Stir constantly so you don't burn the sugar (that would be bad). Once your sugar is starting to look a little brown and turning into crystallized chunks then you can add the butter. Keep stirring! Stir until you have a beautiful caramel colored smooth sauce. Be patient. It is worth the effort! Once you reach the smooth, caramel colored sauce remove the pan from the heat.  Be sure the cream is warmed all the way through. Add the cream about 1/4 cup at a time and stir until well combined. Keep adding until all the cream is combined.  Salt to taste and enjoy the rich, smooth, creamy goodness. 

note: if the cream is not sufficiently warmed you may end up with chunks in your sauce. Not to fear - just put it back over mid-high heat and stir until all chunks are dissolved.

My little buddy is 14 today. I'm told that is 72 in dog years. He definitely isn't as young as he used to be. He sleeps most of the day and is very cranky if he doesn't get fed exactly at 5:30. He's been in diapers for several months now and is using them more and more, but he still likes to romp around from time to time. ♥ him

Happy Birthday, Fluffy!

Helping daddy with the taxes