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Apple dumpling topped with a sprig of mint on a blue and white plate with whipped cream and a gold fork with a white handle.
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5 from 4 votes

Easy Apple Dumpling Recipe

Whole apples filled with brown sugar, butter, and warm spices are wrapped in flaky homemade pastry and baked in a cinnamon brown sugar sauce. Serve these classic apple dumplings warm with vanilla ice cream for the perfect fall dessert.
Prep Time20 minutes
Cook Time45 minutes
Total Time1 hour 5 minutes
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Servings: 4
Author: Kellie
Cost: $5

Equipment

  • Equipment
  • food processor
  • Rolling Pin
  • small mixing bowl
  • Small saucepan
  • Apple corer or paring knife
  • 9x9 baking dish
  • Aluminum foil, if needed

Ingredients

For the Pastry

  • 2½ cups all-purpose flour plus more for rolling
  • 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
  • 1¼ teaspoons kosher salt
  • 2½ sticks unsalted butter cut into ½-inch cubes and chilled
  • ¼ cup ice water

For the Apples

  • 4 firm medium baking apples, peeled and cored
  • ½ cup brown sugar
  • ½ tablespoon ground cinnamon
  • ½ teaspoon ground ginger
  • ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 4 tablespoons butter

For the Brown Sugar Sauce

  • 1 cup brown sugar
  • ½ tablespoon ground cinnamon
  • 1 cup water
  • 2 tablespoons butter

Instructions

  • Make the pastry. Add the flour, granulated sugar, and salt to a food processor. Pulse 4 to 5 times to combine.
  • Add the butter. Add the chilled pastry butter and pulse until pea-sized crumbs form.
  • Add the water. Slowly stream in the ice water and process just until the dough comes together, about 30 seconds.
  • Form the dough. Turn the dough onto a lightly floured surface and gently bring it together. Divide it into two equal disks and wrap each disk tightly.
  • Chill. Refrigerate the dough for 1 hour or for up to 3 days.
  • Preheat the oven. Preheat the oven to 375°F.
  • Mix the apple filling. In a small bowl, combine ½ cup brown sugar, ½ tablespoon cinnamon, the ginger, and nutmeg.
  • Make the sauce. In a small saucepan over medium heat, combine the remaining 1 cup brown sugar, remaining ½ tablespoon cinnamon, and water.
  • Simmer. Bring the mixture to a boil, reduce the heat, and simmer for about 5 minutes, or until the sugar dissolves.
  • Finish the sauce. Stir in the remaining 2 tablespoons butter and remove the saucepan from the heat.
  • Roll the dough. Divide the chilled dough into four equal portions. Roll each portion into an 8 to 9-inch square.
  • Fill the apples. Place one apple in the center of each pastry square. Fill each apple with 1 tablespoon of the brown sugar spice mixture and top with 1 tablespoon butter.
  • Wrap the apples. Lightly moisten the pastry edges with water. Bring the corners over the apple and firmly pinch all edges and seams closed.
  • Arrange the dumplings. Place the wrapped apples in an ungreased 9x9 baking dish.
  • Begin baking. Bake for 10 to 15 minutes, or until the pastry begins to turn lightly golden.
  • Add the sauce. Carefully pour the warm brown sugar sauce over and around the dumplings.
  • Finish baking. Continue baking for 35 to 40 minutes, or until the pastry is deeply golden and a thin knife inserted into an apple meets little resistance.
  • Cool. Remove the dumplings from the oven and allow them to cool for 10 minutes.
  • Serve. Serve warm with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream and spoon the sauce from the baking dish over each dumpling.

Video

Notes

  • Use firm, similarly sized baking apples so the dumplings cook evenly. Granny Smith apples provide a tart flavor and hold their shape well. Honeycrisp, Pink Lady, Braeburn, and Jonagold are also good choices.
  • Keep the pastry cold. Refrigerate it briefly if it becomes soft or sticky while rolling.
  • Do not cut through the bottom of the apples when removing the cores.
  • Firmly seal every pastry seam so steam does not cause the dough to loosen or slide off. Cover the dumplings loosely with foil if the pastry is browning before the apples are tender.
  • Test the apples for doneness with a thin knife or skewer rather than relying only on baking time.
  • Assemble the dumplings in advance and refrigerate them, covered, until ready to bake. Freeze the dumplings before baking. Bake them directly from frozen and allow additional time.
  • Store baked leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
  • Reheat in a 350°F oven for about 10 minutes, or until warmed through.
  • Apple dumplings are best served warm shortly after baking.

Nutrition

Calories: 585kcal | Carbohydrates: 115g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Cholesterol: 30mg | Sodium: 607mg | Potassium: 258mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 70g | Vitamin A: 415IU | Vitamin C: 5.6mg | Calcium: 77mg | Iron: 3.1mg