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Old-Fashioned Apple Dumplings


  • Total Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
  • Yield: 4 servings 1x

Description

A nostalgic dessert featuring whole apples wrapped in flaky pastry and baked in a cinnamon-spiced syrup. Perfect for fall, these apple dumplings are rich, buttery, and full of comforting flavors.


Ingredients

Scale

For the Pastry:

  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 2/3 cup unsalted butter, cold and cubed
  • 6 tablespoons cold water

For the Apple Filling:

  • 4 medium apples (Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, or Jonagold)
  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 4 tablespoons brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

For the Syrup:

  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 cup water
  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Instructions

  1. Prepare the Pastry Dough
    • In a large bowl, whisk together flour and salt.
    • Cut in cold butter using a pastry cutter or fork until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
    • Gradually add cold water, stirring until the dough forms a ball.
    • Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.
  2. Prepare the Apples
    • Peel and core each apple, keeping them whole.
    • In a small bowl, mix brown sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg.
    • Fill the core of each apple with 1 tablespoon of the sugar-spice mixture and top with a small pat of butter.
  3. Assemble the Dumplings
    • Roll out the chilled dough on a floured surface and cut into four equal squares.
    • Wrap each apple in a dough square, bringing the edges up and pinching them together to seal.
    • Place the dumplings in a greased baking dish.
  4. Make the Syrup
    • In a saucepan, combine sugar, water, butter, cinnamon, and vanilla extract.
    • Bring to a boil over medium heat, then reduce and simmer for 5 minutes until slightly thickened.
    • Pour the syrup over the apple dumplings.
  5. Bake the Dumplings
    • Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
    • Bake for 40-45 minutes, basting occasionally with syrup, until the pastry is golden brown and apples are tender.
    • Let cool slightly before serving.

Notes

  • Pecan-Stuffed Dumplings – Add chopped pecans to the apple filling.
  • Maple Syrup Glaze – Replace some sugar in the syrup with maple syrup.
  • Raisin or Cranberry Twist – Mix dried fruit into the apple filling.
  • Cheddar Crust – Add shredded sharp cheddar to the pastry for a sweet-savory contrast.
  • Prep Time: 20 minutes
  • Cook Time: 40-45 minutes
  • Category: dessert
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: American

Keywords: apple dumplings, baked apples, fall dessert, cinnamon apples, homemade pastry