Easy Apple Dumplings

Baking these easy apple dumplings will fill your kitchen with the cozy aromas of baked apples and cinnamon spice. The apples are stuffed with cinnamon sugar and butter, then wrapped snugly in pie crust to form dumplings. The dumplings are then surrounded by a sweet cinnamon-spiced simple syrup and baked until the apples are soft and the pastry is golden. Your lucky family and friends will feel like they’re being served individual apple pies—because, well, they are.

Did you bring home absolute bushels of apples from the orchard? After you’ve made these easy apple dumplings, start down this list of our best apple desserts.

Ingredients for Easy Apple Dumplings

• Sugar: Granulated sugar is used to fill the apples and also to make a cinnamon simple syrup to surround the dumplings.
• Butter: A few tablespoons of butter add richness to the dumplings and the syrup.
• Cinnamon: Ground cinnamon is the ideal complement for the baked apples in this easy apple dumpling recipe.
• Pie crust: You need enough dough for a double-crust pie in order to have the right amount of dough to encase all the apples.
• Apples: Start with small to medium apples so the dough can cover them, then peel and core the apples. If you want to use large apples, make sure to use more dough (enough for a double-crust and a single-crust pie).

Directions

Step 1: Simmer the cinnamon syrup

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Add 1 cup sugar, 1 cup water, 3 tablespoons butter and 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon to a saucepan. Bring the mix to a boil. Boil for three minutes and then remove the pan from the heat.

Step 2: Mix the cinnamon sugar

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In a small bowl, mix up the remaining 1/2 cup sugar and 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon.

Step 3: Roll out the dough

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On a lightly floured surface, roll the dough into a 21×14-inch rectangle. Cut that down into six 7-inch squares.

Step 4: Stuff the apples

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Place a peeled and cored apple on each square, then stuff each apple with 4 teaspoons of the sugar mixture and 1/2 teaspoon butter.

Step 5: Wrap the dumplings

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Preheat the oven to 375°F. Use water to dampen the edges of the squares, and bring the corners up to cover each apple, pinching the edges to seal. Place the apples in an ungreased 13×9-inch baking dish.

Step 6: Bake the apples

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Pour syrup around the apples, then bake them until the crust is golden brown and the apples are tender, about 45 minutes.

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Easy Apple Dumpling Variations

• Make spiced apple dumplings: This recipe calls for classic cinnamon, but a blend of baking spices would also work. Any of the traditional spices in pumpkin pie spice could be used as a blend or individually. Think nutmeg, allspice, cloves and cardamom.
• Add dried fruit: Add your favorite dried fruit, like raisins, currants or cranberries, to the filling for extra flavor and texture.

How to Store Easy Apple Dumplings

Leftover apple dumplings can be stored, covered, in the refrigerator for two to three days, but they will have the best texture warm out of the oven.

Can you freeze easy apple dumplings?

You can stuff the apples, wrap them in dough, freeze them on a sheet tray for a few hours, then wrap them well and keep them in the freezer for three months. When you’re ready to cook them, prepare the syrup and bake as directed, adding 10 to 15 minutes onto the baking time.

Easy Apple Dumpling Tips

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How should I serve apple dumplings?

Serve the dumplings warm with freshly whipped cream, or with a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream. Either way, go over the top with a drizzle of homemade salted caramel sauce.

What kind of pie crust dough should I use?

The most important thing is to have enough dough. A recipe for a double crust pie will work if you use small or medium apples. Use your go-to pie crust recipe or try our favorite recipe for double pie crust. The dough will be rolled out to form six pastry squares for the apples.

Which apple variety is best for apple dumplings?

You will want to find a baking apple that holds its shape when cooked so your apple dumpling doesn’t collapse. There are lots that will work, but these are tried-and-true baking apples: Braeburn, Cortland, Honey Gold, Jonathan, Fuji, Gala, Granny Smith, Haralson and Newtown Pippin.