Nostalgic apple dumplings are a deliciously sweet, flaky and saucy dessert that may look intimidating, but you'll be surprised how easy they are to make. Festive alert: Decorate them by adhering apple leaves and stems cut from the same dough.
If you’re unfamiliar with this old-fashioned dessert, apple dumplings are made from fresh apples that are peeled and cored, wrapped in pastry dough and baked in a sweet sauce until they’re deliciously flaky, buttery and perfectly tender. Apple dumplings with sweet sauce have been enjoyed as far back as the early 1700s, when printed recipes of apple dumplings began to appear in early cookbooks. It’s a perfect dessert for autumn, the peak of apple season, but it can definitely be enjoyed all year long. Syrupy sweet, slightly tart and completely comforting, this recipe for apple dumplings with sauce is so classic that it might even be one of the recipes your grandmother used.
Ingredients for Apple Dumplings
- Flour: All-purpose flour is perfect for creating a flaky crust for these dumplings. Be careful if you choose one of the other types of flour, as it could change the structure of the crust.
- Shortening: Vegetable shortening is hydrogenated vegetable oil that remains solid at room temperature. Shortening’s claim to fame is that it makes baked goods flaky and moist while binding the ingredients together. Other fats, like butter or lard, have similar properties and may be substituted to achieve similar results.
- Apples: As with apple pie, tart apples work great with the recipe to balance the sweetness of the sauce and cinnamon sugar. While Granny Smith apples may be the old standby, there are several other varieties of apples that should definitely be on your radar.
- Butter: Butter mixes with the cinnamon sugar and is absorbed by the apples during the baking process, creating a perfectly creamy profile. More butter will go in the sauce as well.
- Cinnamon sugar: This is a delicious blend of white sugar and cinnamon, pre-mixed to achieve a perfect balance.
- Brown sugar: Less sweet than regular sugar, brown sugar is a blend of white sugar and molasses. It has an earthier flavor, with caramel notes, and is the basis for the sauce in this apple dumpling recipe.
Directions
In a large bowl, combine the flour and salt. Cut the shortening into the flour mixture using a fork or pastry cutter until it becomes crumbly. Gradually stir in water while tossing with a fork until the dough forms into a ball.
Step 2: Refrigerate the dough
Divide the dough into eight equal portions, place them on a baking sheet, then cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes or until the dough is firm and easy to handle.
Step 3: Roll out the dough
Preheat the oven to 350°F. Roll out each portion of refrigerated dough between two lightly floured pieces of waxed paper, until you have enough to trim into 7-inch squares.
Step 4: Stuff the apples
Place a peeled and cored apple in the center of each square. Fill each apple with 1 teaspoon butter and 1 teaspoon cinnamon sugar.
Step 5: Make the dumplings
Gently bring the corners of the dough squares up and over each apple to cover it completely. Trim any excess dough, and pinch the edges together to seal. If desired, cut out leaves and stems from the extra dough and attach them to the dumplings with a little water. Place the dumplings in a greased 13×9-inch baking dish, then sprinkle them with 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon sugar.
Step 6: Make the sauce
In a large saucepan, combine the brown sugar, water and cubed butter for the sauce. Bring the mixture just to a boil, stirring until the ingredients are blended and the sauce is smooth. Carefully pour the sauce over and around the dumplings. Sprinkle with the remaining 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon sugar.
Step 7: Bake the dumplings
Apple Dumpling Variations
- Make them nutty: Add some chopped pecans or walnuts inside the apple and the pastry.
- Add dried fruit: Give the dumplings a flavor boost by adding raisins, chopped dried apricots or dates inside the pastry crust.
- Try them a la mode: Put a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top of the dumplings before serving for maximum happiness.
How to Store Apple Dumplings
Apple dumplings and sauce can be kept covered and at room temperature for up to two days, or in the refrigerator for four to five days.
Can you make apple dumplings and sauce ahead of time?
Yes, you can make the dough and wrap the apples and store them in the refrigerator for up to two days. Simply place the unbaked apple dumplings in the baking dish, then cover them with plastic or foil and refrigerate. For the sauce, allow it to cool to room temperature and store it in a separate container in the fridge. When you’re ready to finish the recipe, bake and serve as directed.
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