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    Home » Recipes » Desserts » Apple Dumplings

    Apple Dumplings

    Published: August 23, 2020 · Modified: Sep 18, 2020 by John Kanell

    This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.

    These easy homemade apple dumplings have sweet melt in your mouth cinnamon apples wrapped with a flakey butter crust baked in a buttery brown sugar sauce. They're the perfect dessert for a fall day and all the better when served with a scoop of ice cream!

    An apple dumpling on a porcelain plate.
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    An apple dumpling covered in syrup.
    An apple dumpling on a small plate.
    A group of apple dumplings on a table.
    A top-down photo of apple dumplings.
    Some freshly made apple dumplings.
    Four apple dumplings in a rectangular baking dish.
    Apple dumplings cooked in syrup.
    An apple dumpling next to an apple.
    An apple dumpling that has been cut in half on a plate.
    An apple dumpling next to two apples.
    An apple dumpling on a plate next to a pink linen napkin.
    An apple dumpling with a carefully folded pastry covering.
    An apple dumpling on a white plate with syrup.
    An apple dumpling on a white plate with brown sugar syrup.
    An apple dumpling on a blue and white plate with syrup.
    An apple dumpling on a blue and white plate next to some apple pieces.
    A group of apple dumplings on a marble counter.
    An apple dumpling that has been cut into.
    Apple dumplings in a white baking dish.

    Apple dumplings are a delicious fall treat that’s super easy to make, I love the cinnamon apple smell permeating the house but the taste is even better! Imagine an amazing apple dessert with lots of caramel; serve with ice cream and you’re on cloud nine.

    What You’ll Need for This Recipe

    Ingredients for making apple dumplings on a counter.

    Apples: I used granny smith and honey crisp apples for this recipe but any of your favorite eating apples will be great.

    Pie Dough: You’ll need two rounds of pie dough. I used two batches of my favorite butter crust recipe but you can make your favorite or defrost frozen store-bought pie dough

    How to Make Apple Dumplings

    Cinnamon sugar getting mixed and pie dough being cut.

    1. Heat oven to 350F and remove your chilled pie dough from the fridge, place on counter to cool then in a medium bowl whisk the sugar and cinnamon together and set aide.

    2. Roll your pie dough into a rectangle that’s a bit thinner than 1/4 inch. You’ll need to cut 7 inch squares for the dumplings if you’re using medium apples. Re-roll dough as needed until you have 8 squares. Extra dough can be cut out for decorations.

    Apple dumplings getting wrapped in pastry.

    3. Peel and core the apples. This is easiest with an apple corer but you can use a knife with care. I like to cut the bottom of the apples so they sit flat and have nice contact with the pastry.  Place apple in center of pastry square. Fill apple with cinnamon sugar then add about a teaspoon of butter on top.

    4. Wrap the apple in the pastry and wet the tips with your finger so they stick together. Place apples in baking dishes and set aside; I use two 7×13 dishes so they don’t get too crowded. You can bake the apples as is but they look best if you brush with an egg wash then sprinkle with any remaining cinnamon sugar. An egg wash is made of an egg whisked with a tablespoon of milk, cream, or water.

    A brown sugar syrup getting melted in a pot and poured over apple dumplings.

    5. Make the brown sugar sauce by combining brown sugar, cinnamon, butter, and water in a small pot. Place over medium heat, stirring until the butter melts.

    6. Pour the sauce into the baking dishes and bake for about 55 minutes or until golden on the outside and apples are softened.

    Golden apple Dumplings in a baking dish.

    Pro Tips for this Recipe

    • Brushing the dumplings with an egg wash will give you a beautiful golden color.
    • Don’t over-bake the apples, they will burst open!
    • Try to remove all of the apple core, it’s hard and will not soften when baked.
    • You can make the sauce and assemble the apples two days in advance, just store separately in the refrigerator until ready to bake.
    • Use a cake server or offset spatula to lift from the pan.

    A cut open apple dumpling in a pool of brown sugar sauce.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Where did Apple Dumplings originate from?

    This is a bit murky but apple dumplings are thought to have originated in Pennsylvania among the Dutch colonists. Dumplings like these were popular in Europe for quite a while before that although with different fruits and fillings inside.

    How long do they last in the fridge?

    These apples will last up to four days in the refrigerator but really are best eaten the day of. Make sure to warm in the oven before enjoying!

    Which apples are best to use?

    Granny Smith are a very popular choice but any eating apply you enjoy will work. I’ve used Honey Crisp, Braeburn, and Cortland.

    Can they be frozen?

    Yes! You can freeze baked or unbaked apple dumplings. In either case you’ll freeze them on a baking sheet until hard and then transfer them to a freezer bag. Store for up to three months.

    How to reheat them?

    For best results reheat dumplings in the oven, 350F for about 15 minutes will get them nice and toasty but cover with foil if you’re concerned about them taking on more color. It they’re baked but frozen then defrost first before following the directions above. If they’re unbaked and frozen then place them in the oven at 425F and bake for 15 minutes then reduce to 375 and bake for about 25 minutes or until golden and softened inside.

    If you love this recipe try these out!

    • Apple Crumble Pie

    • Apple fritters on a plate.

      Apple Fritters

    • A top town photo of an apple pie with a lattice top and a piece on a plate.

      Apple Pie Recipe

    • A portion of apple crisp with ice cream on a blue and white plate.

      Apple Crisp

    • Baked Apples

    If you’ve tried this Apple Dumplings recipe then don’t forget to leave a rating and let me know how you got on in the comments below, I love hearing from you!

    An apple dumpling dripping with brown sugar sauce.
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    5 from 12 votes

    Apple Dumplings

    These delicious apple dumplings are like personal apple pies with a delicious brown sugar caramel.
    Course Dessert
    Cuisine American, British
    Prep Time 15 minutes
    Cook Time 50 minutes
    Total Time 1 hour 5 minutes
    Servings 8 dumplings
    Calories 422kcal
    Author John Kanell

    Equipment

    • Rolling Pin
    • 9x13 baking dish

    Ingredients

    • 2 pie crusts unbaked
    • 8 apples peeled and cored
    • 1/2 cup granulated sugar 100g
    • 2 1/2 tsp cinnamon divided
    • 1 1/4 cup brown sugar 260g
    • 1 1/4 cup water
    • 3 tbsp butter

    Instructions

    • Set oven to 350F, place your chilled pie dough on the counter to warm, then combine the granulated sugar and 2 tsp of cinnamon in a small bowl, mix together and set aside.
    • Roll your pie dough into rectangles which are a bit less than 1/4 inch thick then cut into 7 inch squares. Re-roll scraps as needed until you have 8 squares. You can use excess dough to stamp decorative elements for the dumplings.
    • Peel and core the apples then place each apple on the center of a pastry square. Fill almost to the top with cinnamon sugar then place a teaspoon of butter on top.
    • Bring the corners of the pastry up to the top of the apple one at a time. You can wet the tips with your finger so they stick better. Place the apples in baking dishes so they are touching as little as possible. I usually use two 9x13 dishes but you can use a larger dish if you have one. The apples will look best If you brush with an egg wash and sprinkle with any remaining cinnamon sugar.
    • To make the sauce combine brown sugar, cinnamon, butter and water in a small pot. Place over medium head and cook while stirring until the butter melts then pour the sauce into the baking dishes.
    • Bake at 350F for 50-60 minutes or until the pastry is golden brown and the apples are softened. You can test the doneness of the apples using a skewer.

    Video

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1Dumpling | Calories: 422kcal | Carbohydrates: 76g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 16g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Cholesterol: 11mg | Sodium: 223mg | Potassium: 273mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 58g | Vitamin A: 231IU | Vitamin C: 8mg | Calcium: 51mg | Iron: 2mg
    *Nutrition Disclaimer
    Have you Tried this Recipe? Tag me Today!Mention @preppykitchen and tag #preppykitchen!

     

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    Welcome to Preppy Kitchen!

    Thanks for stopping by! I’m John Kanell, a husband, dad to twins Lachlan and George, Los Angeles native, and an avid baker and cooker of all things delicious thanks to a life long education from my mother. This blog is where I share all of my kitchen creations!

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