Deep Dish Crumb Topped Caramel Apple Pie

I think that I will just let the title of this speak for itself on this one! Remember the stack of recipes that I had talked about before, you know, the ones that you just print off, or rip out of a magazine? Well, this is one of them and the date is 1/03!!! I can't believe that I haven't made it before now!!

Deep Dish Crumb Topped Caramel Apple Pie

Crust:
2 cups pecans, chopped and divided--I used Walnuts
2/3 cups all purpose flour
1 pkg (18 oz) refrigerated sugar cookie dough

Filling:
3 lbs Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored, cut into 1/2 inch thick slices
3/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup all purpose flour
1 tsp cinnamon
8 individually wrapped caramels, unwrapped and quartered

Crumb Topping:
3 cups all purpose flour
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
2 tsp cinnamon
1 cup butter or margarine, melted
2 tsp vanilla
1 cup confectioner's sugar

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Spread pecans on ungreased baking sheet. Bake until lightly browned, 2-3 minutes, cool.

Crust: Coat bottom and inside of 9 inch springform pan with cooking spray. In food processor process 1 cup pecans until finely ground, or finely chop with a knife. At medium -low speed beat flour into dough until combined. Stir in ground pecans. Press dough onto side and bottom of pan, creating scant 1/4 inch thick crust, refrigerate 20 minutes. Reduce oven temp to 350 degrees. Bake crust 15 minutes or until lightly browned.

Filling: Toss apples with sugar, flour, cinnamon and remaining pecans; spoon into pan. Sprinkle with chopped caramels. Cover tightly with foil and bake for 45 minutes.

Crumb Topping: Meanwhile, at low speed combine flour, sugars(except confectioner's sugar) and cinnamon. Increase speed to medium; gradually add butter and vanilla, beating until wet crumbs form. Remove pie from oven; uncover. Using hands press tablespoonfuls of crumb mixture together to form large crumbs; place over filling, covering the entire surface. Bake, uncovered, 45 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool on rack, remove sides from pan.

Stir together confectioner's sugar and 4 tsp. water until smooth. Drizzle over top of pie.