Ingredients

• 3 large cooking apples (about 1 1/4 pounds), such as Jonagold or Granny Smith, peeled and halved
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 4 (3-inch) sprigs fresh rosemary
• 6 Sour Cream Shortcake Biscuits, recipe follows
• 6 tablespoons heavy cream
• 1 pint premium vanilla ice cream
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 cup, plus 2 tablespoons sugar
• 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, chilled
• 1 cup sour cream (not low-fat)
• 1/4 cup whole milk

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Instructions

1. Heat oven to 375 degrees F. Scoop out cores of apples with a melon baller. Use the tool to remove blossom scars at bottoms of apple halves and any skin remaining at stem ends. Place sugar in a 10-inch ovenproof skillet over medium heat. When sugar begins to melt, stir with a wooden spoon. It will form big lumps at first, but keep cooking and stirring until all the sugar is dissolved and forms a light amber syrup. As soon as it reaches this stage, remove from heat and add butter to prevent caramel from overcooking. Stir until butter is melted and incorporated. Arrange apples cut side up on top of caramel and tuck rosemary sprigs between them. Place skillet in oven and bake for 15 minutes. Using tongs, turn apples over; bake until apples are softened, about 15 minutes more. Using a serrated knife, cut shortcakes in half horizontally. Place the bottom half of each shortcake cut side up on a large dessert plate. With a small spatula, lift the hot caramelized apple halves from syrup and place each 1 cut side down on a shortcake bottom. Remove and discard rosemary. Return skillet with caramel to stovetop and bring it to a simmer over medium heat. Gradually whisk in cream. When sauce is smooth, remove from heat. Top each apple half with a scoop of ice cream. Drizzle the caramel sauce over the top of each dessert, letting it drip onto the plate. Place the shortcake tops over each. Serve immediately.
2. Heat oven to 425 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with a silpat nonstick baking mat or parchment paper; set aside. In a medium bowl, sift together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Stir in 1/4 cup sugar. Cut in the butter with a pastry blender until the mixture resembles coarse meal. Stir in the sour cream and milk. Scoop the dough into 6 high mounds evenly spaced on prepared baking sheet. Sprinkle with the remaining 2 tablespoons sugar. Bake until lightly browned, about 15 minutes. Transfer the biscuits to a rack to cool slightly before splitting. Yield: 6 large biscuits