SPRITE APPLE PIE WITH BUTTERSCOTCH NUT CRUST

Butterscotch nut crust ingredients: 

1/2 Cup butterscotch chips

1 1/4 Cups all purpose flour

1/8 teaspoon salt

3/4 Cup chopped walnuts

1/4 pound butter or margarine, softened 

Filling ingredients: 

3/4 Cup Sprite

1/3 Cup sugar

2 teasponns lemon juice

3 1/2 Cups peeled and chopped Granny Smith apples

8 ounces cream cheese, softened

2 Cups confectioner’s sugar

1/2 Cup heavy cream, whipped 

Directions: 

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. 

To make the crust, combine the butterscotch chips, flour, salt and walnuts and process in a food processor, until the mixture is almost as fine as flour. Add the butter and continue to process until mixed. 

Press crust mixture into a 9 inch pie plate. Bake for about 15 minutes, until lightly browned. If the shell puffs up when baking, quickly flatten it with your fingertips before it cools. Cool pie crust completely before adding filling. 

To make the filling, combine Sprite, sugar, lemon juice and chopped apples in a medium sauce pan. Cook over medium heat about 3 to 4 minutes, or until apples are tender but not mushy. Remove from heat, drain and cool completely. 

In a large mixing bowl, combine cream cheese and confectioner’s sugar until smooth. Add cooled apple mixture and stir well. Fold in whipped cream. Spoon filling mixture into pie crust.