Making the Salted Caramel • 2 cups heavy cream • 2 cups sugar • 1 cup honey or corn syrup • 1/2 cup bourbon + 1/2 cup apple cider or 1 cup cider • 1/2 cup butter • 1 tablespoon vanilla extract • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt + flakey salt for sprinkling • 3 your favorite SMALL apples * I used granny smith and honeycrisp • 3 twigs or wooden sticks

1. Place sugar, honey, bourbon and apple cider in a large saucepan. Bring to a boil, boil, without stirring, 9 minutes or until light golden in color. Add the heavy cream, butter and vanilla, slowly stirring into pan. Boil for 10-15 minutes or until a candy thermometer reads 210 degrees F., stirring frequently. Remove the sauce from heat and add the salt. Using a heat proof measuring cup scoop out 1 cup of caramel sauce and allow it to cool. Cover the remaining sauce and set aside until the cake is ready (I just covered my pot and set it aside overnight).

Making the Frosting • 1 cup unsalted butter softened • 4 ounces cream cheese softened • 2 cups powdered sugar • 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter not the oily kind • 1/3 cup salted caramel ingredients (previously made) • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract • 1/2 cup salted peanuts chopped + more for garnish

Now make the frosting, add the butter, cream cheese and powdered sugar to the bowl of stand mixer (or use a hand held mixer). Beat together until the butter is light and fluffy, about 4 minutes. Add the peanut butter, 1/3 cup of the cooled caramel sauce and the vanilla, beat, scraping down the sides as needed, another 2 minutes or until there are no streaks. Stir in the chopped peanuts.

Ingredients for the cake. • 2 1/4 cup all-purpose flour • 2 1/4 cups granulated sugar • 1 1/2 cups unsweetened cocoa powder • 2 1/4 teaspoons baking soda • 2 1/4 teaspoons baking powder • 1 1/2 teaspoon salt • 1 teaspoon cinnamon • 1/2 teaspoon allspice • 3 eggs at room temperature • 3/4 cup canola oil • 1 1/2 cups unsweetened apple sauce • 1 1/2 tablespoon vanilla extract • 1 cup + 2 tablespoons strong brewed coffee hot (or warm apple cider) To make the Cake 1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease three 8-inch (or 9 inch) round cake pans. Line with parchment paper, then butter/spray with cooking spray. 2. In a medium size bowl combine the flour, sugar, unsweetened cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, allspice and salt. Set aside. 3. In the bowl of a stand mixer (or use a hand held mixer) beat together the eggs, canola oil, apple sauce, and vanilla until smooth. 4. Slowly add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients with the mixer on low until there are no longer any clumps of flour. Add the hot coffee and mix until combined. Batter should be pourable, but not super thin. 5. Pour the batter among the 3 cake pans and bake 20 to 25 minutes, until the tops are just set and no longer wiggly in the center. Remove and let cool five minutes, then run a knife around the edges of the pan. Grab 3 large flat plates, line them with wax or parchment paper and invert the cakes onto the paper lined plates. Cover and let the cakes cool completely before frosting. Layer 1 of 3 below.

To Assemble the Cake 1. Place 1 layer of cake, flat side up, on a plate or cake stand. Drizzle the cake with a little salted caramel sauce (from the reserved 1 cup, not from the pot of caramel).

With a knife or offset spatula, spread the top with frosting. Place the second layer on top, rounded side up, and drizzle with caramel. Spread the frosting evenly on the top. cont next pic.

Add the final layer of cake and drizzle with the remaining caramel.

Frost the top and sides of the cake. Don't worry about it being too perfect as you will be covering most of it up. Place the cake in fridge.

• 8 ounces bittersweet chocolate chopped • 1/2 cup heavy cream

To make the chocolate coating. In a microwave safe bowl add the chocolate and cream. Microwave on high for 30 second intervals, stirring between each until melted. Allow the sauce to cool 3-5 minutes.

Pour the sauce onto the middle of the cake and spread to just the sides, allow the sauce to drip down the sides of the cake. Place the cake in the fridge preferably overnight, but at least 1 1/2 hours. You need the chocolate to be completely set and the frosting firm.

To Finish. Once the cake is cool, grab that reserved caramel sauce in the pot. Place it back over medium-high heat and bring it to a boil. Boil for 15-20 minutes or until a candy thermometer reads between 220-230 degrees F (I let mine go to 225 and it was perfect). Remove the sauce from the stove and let is cool 15-20 minutes, stirring every so often. Make sure the caramel does not become too stiff. If it stiffens too much you will not be able to dip the apples. While the sauce cools, push the twigs or wooden sticks into the top of the apples. Line a baking sheet with wax paper. And then just pour the caramel over the cake, dip the apples and garnish with some salt and peanuts.

The caramel on the cake + apples should never become hard. It’s should firm up into a solid, but stay soft and chewy.

A little labor intensive...but sooo worth it! Delicious.