Caramel Apple Cake

Bobbing for apples is a staple for October, so what better way to honor that tradition that with a caramel apple cake that looks like an apple bobbing barrel.

Step 1: Dice your apples and stir in sugar and cinnamon, cook down until tender

Step 2: Spread your melted chocolate onto a no-stick mat

Step 3: On the white chocolate brush on your color - mix a small amount of vodka with a touch of color then brush on to your not quite set chocolate

Step 4: Cut out your leaf shapes with cookie cutters

Step 5: Make your salted-caramel buttercream with butter, milk, salted caramel (homemade is best, store-bought is fine), and powdered sugar

Step 6: Layer your cake (you did remember to make your basic vanilla cake, right?).  Cake, buttercream, apples, repeat

Step 7: Frost the outside of the cake and surround with chocolate covered pretzel rods (you remembered to make those too, yes? - or kit kats also make a nice border), finish with a pretty ribbon

Step 8: Top with some marzipan apples and your chocolate leaves

Happy Birthday Christine!!!