Apple Dumplings
There’s something special about old-fashioned apple dumplings — the kind my grandma used to make from scratch every fall. Each tender apple is filled with cinnamon, brown sugar, and butter, then wrapped in flaky pastry and baked in a bubbling caramel sauce until golden and irresistible. The result is a beautiful, comforting dessert that fills your kitchen with the warm scent of apples and spice — a true taste of home and the perfect way to celebrate the season.
Why I love this recipe
This recipe is dear to me because it was one of my dads favorites. He never asked for much but he did request that I make him this apple dumpling recipe every Fall. He even went to far as to track down the church cookbook the recipe is in and buy me a copy. Hint. Hint, make me apple dumplings daughter. I am very thankful right now that my dad doesn’t read my blog. He doesn’t even own a computer, or a cell phone, or a DVD player. I am not even sure he really even comprehends what a blog is. He calls my website “thing”. Technology of any form is just not his thing. The reason I’m glad, is if he did read my blog, he would then know that I made Apple Dumplings without having him over or even saving him one. If he knew, oh gosh, I dont’ even want to think about it. So if you run into my father in the grocery store please keep the fact that I made Apple Dumplings quiet.Thank you. Apple Dumplings are easy, and a fun treat to make with your kiddos. If you are not fond of making your own pie crust, feel free to purchase pie crust from the refrigerator section of your grocery store. Apple dumplings also freeze well. You can freeze them together or individually in mini deep dish pie pans, from freezer to oven add 15-20 minutes baking time for frozen dumplings. I should probably make my dad some for his freezer. That would be a what a good daughter would do says daughter with a guilty conscience.
Note: It is 14 years since I first shared this recipe, and my dad has gone to be with the angels. He is missed. In fact it’s really hard to even read this post and think about how excited he would get when I made him this recipe. If you’re loved ones have favorite recipes that you make them, make the thing. Don’t wait. Life is short. Make time for the good stuff. Like old fashioned apple dumplings. I hope to updated the photos on this post soon, but until then bear with me. Thanks for being here.
How to make Apple Dumplings
Easy steps to make melt in your mouth Apple Dumplings~ from the Wright Way to Cook cookbook.
Prepare Pie Crust, you can find my recipe here. (Or if you prefer to buy it you will need 3 Pillsbury crusts.) Separate into 6 sections. Preheat oven to 375 degrees
Bring 2 cups water, 2 cups brown sugar, 1 stick butter, and 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon to a boil in a sauce pan over medium heat. Cook and stir for 3 minutes until sugars have dissolved and it starts to thicken. Remove from heat and set aside.
Peel and core 6 apples. Jonathans are my favorite for this recipe.
Place peeled and cored apple in the center of rolled out pie crust/ pastry dough.
Place 1 tablespoon of brown sugar into the center of the cored out apple. Sprinkle with as much cinnamon as you like and then top it off with 1/2 tablespoon of butter.
Lightly dampen edges of dough with egg white or water, pull dough up around apple. Crimping dough at the top and forming it around apple with the palm of your hand. Brush with egg white.
You can leave it as is or if you are feeling fancy you can use some of the extra dough to make leaves and a stem. The egg white will act as glue to hold them on for you. Or not. It will taste delicious regardless!
Place Apple Dumplings in a baking dish, where they will have space, you don’t want them touching. Pour the brown sugar syrup over the dumplings. Lucky Dumplins’ I would love to take a bath in this stuff!
This may seem weird and watery to be pouring over apples wrapped in pastry. The first time I made this recipe I couldn’t fathom how it could work, but it does, so trust the process!
Place in a 375 degree preheated oven for 35-40 minutes!
Do you call these Apple Dumplings? Or do you have another name for them in your neck of the woods? What ever you call them, in the words of my father they are tasty and toolicious! I hope you enjoy this recipe and it helps your family make memories and gather around the table. I would love to hear from you. Please rate this recipe in the recipe card below, share on your socials and if you have time say Hi in the comment section below. XO Sheila
Apple Dumplings
Ingredients
brown sugar sauce
- 2 cups brown sugar
- 2 cups water
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/2 cup butter
apple dumplings
- 1 double pie crust recipe
- 6 medium baking apples peeled and cored. Jonathans are what I prefer.
- 3 tbsp butter
- 6 tbsp brown sugar
- 1 tsp cinnamon this is really not a measured ingredients, just sprinkle the top of each apple with as much cinnamon as you like
- 1 egg white
Instructions
Preheat oven to 375℉
brown sugar sauce
- Add all the sauce ingredients to a sauce pan over medium heat and cook until butter has melted and sugars have completely dissolved whisking continuously as it cooks. Syrup will be a thin consistency. Making syrup will take around 5-10 minutes. Remove syrup from stove top and set aside.
Make pie dough / pastry dough – click link for my recipe. You can also use store bought pie crust you will need 3 store bought crusts for this recipe.
Making apple dumplings
- Peel and core six apples.
- Roll out pie dough into 6 round sections approximately 10 inches in diameter.
- Place peeled and cored apple in the center of each pastry round, put 1 tablespoon of brown sugar in the center of the apple, top it off with 1/2 tablespoon of butter and sprinkle with as much cinnamon as you like.
- Wet the edges of the pastry with whisked egg white, now draw the crust up around the apple using your hands to mold it into the apple. If there is extra dough at the top pinch it off. At this point you can decorate your apples with extra pie dough if you like. Place apple dumpling in a deep baking dish. And brush with egg white.
- Pour syrup around apples. Use all of it. Place baking dish in preheated 375℉ oven and bake for 1 hour.
- Remove apples from oven and allow to rest for 30 minutes before serving. Then scoop out with a serving spoon into bowls, spoon syrup around and over the dumpling. Serve with a scoop of vanilla ice cream tucked along side of your dumpling.
Your dad has the description correct! I love these yummy treats too
I absolutely love apple desserts. These look so yummy, and what a neat presentation they make!
I really want one of these early this morning, Sheila. I think they'd make a great breakfast. So glad you shared them in this week's Mingle Monday.
Looks mouthwatering delicious. I must do this for my dad when he visits because he rather obsessed with his apple pies, peach cobblers, etc. Do you know what i saw in the grocery store last week- grapapples. Yep, it is grape-infused apples. Don't know how they did it but they weren't really good but the idea is fun!
That looks soooooo good. 🙂 We are having a April Fool's Day snow storm so no work for me today. Wish I had apples so I could make this for my husband tonight.
These look so pretty (and delish)! I bet they would taste preeettty fantastic with some ice cream, too. 🙂
These look heavenly! Mmmmm!
I would be mad if you made these and didn't save me one, too!! They look incredible!
Oh I bet these would be fantastic with pears! MMMmmm!
I will have to give Kim a hug for that Jessica! So glad you visited. You will have to ck out my P-Dub Ranch Visit…it's in the What When, Where and Why! : D xoxox
My mother in law Kim VTill from Life church sent me a link to your blog…she found out I love Pioneer woman and thought I'd love your blog too:) These look wonderful!!! Looking forward to looking around a bit on here:)
Those look awesome! I have had a pear dumpling like that but it was yeeears ago. Might need to try this soon! Mmmm!
Those look very yummy, and It's something I can actually make for Jay 🙂 Can't wait to try! Thanks
Yum! I have the same recipe! Maybe I'll make these today… With a little vanilla ice cream, these are my favorite dessert!!