Candy Apple Pie

Source: GMA Recipes

The Pie of Emeril's Eye Contest Winner
From Mimi Hodge
Prospect, KY

For the Crust
1 1/2-cup graham cracker crumbs
3 tbsp. sugar
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1/3-cup butter (melted)
3/4-cup caramel ice cream topping
1 cup chopped pecans

For the Apple Filling
5 granny smith apples (remove peel and core and slice very thin)
5 tbsp. butter
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/4 tsp. salt
1 tsp. cinnamon

For the Cream Cheese Topping
8 oz. package of cream cheese
1 tsp. vanilla
1 egg
1 tbsp. lemon juice
1/4 cup sugar

For the Topping
3/4 cup heavy cream, whipped
2 tbsp. sugar
1/2 cup caramel topping
1/4 cup chopped pecans

Make the Crust
Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

In a medium size bowl, combine the crumbs, sugar, cinnamon and melted butter. Mix well and press into a 10-inc pie plate, and up the sides. Bake for 6 to 8 minutes until golden in color. Remove pie shell from oven and cool completely. Pour caramel into pie shell and sprinkle with 1 cup of chopped pecans. Refrigerate pie shell while making apple filling.

Make the Apple Filling
In a large (12-inch) skillet over medium heat, melt butter and add brown sugar, salt and cinnamon. Stir with a wooden spoon. Add apples and stir. Cook over medium to medium-high heat for 15 to 20 minutes until apples are softened and tender. Let cool for 10 minutes and pour into pie shell. Reduce oven to 350 degrees.

Make the Cream Cheese Topping
In a medium bowl, using a hand held mixer on low speed, combine cream cheese and sugar for about 1 minute until smooth. Add egg, lemon juice and vanilla and beat from1 more minutes until bully blended. Pour over apple filling in pie shell. Bake for30 minutes until an inserted knife comes out clean. Remove pie from oven and let cool. Refrigerate for 4 ours. Let stand outside the refrigerator for 30 minutes before serving.

Make the Topping
Top with whipped cream, caramel and pecans and swirl with a knife. Slice and serve.