Description
Old-Fashioned Apple Dumplings are a cozy, nostalgic dessert featuring tender apples wrapped in a flaky homemade pastry crust, baked to golden perfection with a sweet cinnamon and brown sugar filling. This timeless recipe delivers a warm, comforting treat perfect for fall and any apple lover’s craving.
Ingredients
Scale
Dough:
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, cold and cubed
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1/4 cup cold water (more if needed)
Apple Filling:
- 2 large apples (Granny Smith or Honeycrisp), peeled and cored
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1 tablespoon butter (for dotting on top)
- 1 cup water (for baking dish)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven and Prepare Baking Dish: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) and grease a 9×9-inch baking dish to prevent sticking during baking.
- Prepare Apples: Peel and core the apples, then cut each into halves or quarters depending on their size, to use as filling for each dumpling.
- Mix Dry Ingredients for Dough: In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, salt, baking powder, and cinnamon to evenly distribute leavening and spices.
- Incorporate Butter into Dry Mixture: Add the cold cubed butter to the flour mixture, then use a pastry cutter or your fingers to blend the butter until it forms pea-sized crumbs, creating a flaky texture.
- Add Cold Water to Form Dough: Gradually add cold water, a tablespoon at a time, mixing until the dough just comes together into a soft dough, adding more water if necessary.
- Roll and Cut Dough: On a floured surface, roll the dough into a square or circle about 1/8-inch thick, then cut into 4 large squares to wrap around each apple piece.
- Assemble Dumplings: Place one apple half or quarter in the center of each dough square. Sprinkle the inside of each apple with brown sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg for sweet, spiced flavor.
- Seal Dumplings: Fold the dough over the apples and pinch the edges firmly to seal each dumpling, ensuring no filling escapes during baking.
- Prepare for Baking: Place the dumplings into the greased baking dish. Dot the tops with small pieces of butter and sprinkle with the remaining brown sugar and cinnamon to create a caramelized topping.
- Add Water to Baking Dish: Pour 1 cup of water around the dumplings (not over them) in the baking dish to create steam and keep dumplings moist while baking.
- Bake: Bake the dumplings for 40-45 minutes, or until golden brown on top and the apples are tender when pierced with a fork.
- Cool and Serve: Allow the dumplings to cool for a few minutes before serving warm. Optional: Serve with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream for extra indulgence.
Notes
- Use tart apples like Granny Smith or sweet-tart Honeycrisp for the best balance of flavors.
- Ensure butter is cold for flaky dough texture; avoid overworking dough to prevent toughness.
- Pour water gently around dumplings to avoid washing off sugar and cinnamon topping.
- Serve warm, ideally with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream to complement the warm spices and tender apples.
- If desired, you can add a splash of vanilla extract or a pinch of cloves to the apple filling for extra aroma.
