Sweet, sugary, and simply adorable APPLE DUMPLINGS make a lovely holiday treat for kids and adults alike. An amazing ensemble of sweet crisp apple filled with nutty pecans then wrapped in a buttery pastry, and luscious syrup. Ease up in the kitchen with this delightfully easy treat all made from scratch!

Oh yes! Apples are still in! Here in my house, everybody loves apples whether it’s served as a pastry or simply as it is. It amazes me how there are so many apple recipes we can make just from a simple fruit. I want to show you one of my favorite treats from one of my favorite fruits.

So today, we’re gonna make a simple Apple Dumpling recipe from scratch.

I know you’ll love this dish because making it is so simple and easy. The final product bakes so beautifully that you’d think twice before slicing one open.😉

What are Apple Dumplings?

Apple Dumplings are just as popular as Peach Cobblers during the holiday season. It is eaten as breakfast, a snack, or as a dessert. Amazingly, you can prepare this dish in two ways; either by boiling or by baking. Since we love the latter, we’ll do this method for today.

Historically, the recipe has been around for quite some time. It even caught the attention of Thomas Edison when he expressed his love for the treats. One of the first recipes made for Apple Dumplings was recorded as early as the 18^th century.

So what are apple dumplings? These are simply your regular apples carved and stuffed with sweets, nuts, and any dried fruits. It’s all folded in a sheet of puff pastry and either baked or boiled to perfection. Best served hot as a breakfast or cold as a quick treat or dessert.

Now that we know a bit of what an Apple Dumpling is, let’s talk about what it’s really made of. Let me be the first to tell you that this recipe is super easy, no need to be scared. Here’s a list of all the simple ingredients you need for this recipe.

Crust

Unbleached all-purpose flour
Unsalted butter
Salt
Ice cold water

Fillings

Apples
Brown sugar
Chopped pecans
Ground cinnamon
Nutmeg
Lemon and lemon zest
Unsalted butter
Egg wash (a simple mix of egg and a dash of milk)
Sugar

Syrup

Granulated Sugar
Water
Apple Juice
Salted Butter
Ground Cinnamon
Ground Butter

I’ve divided the ingredients into three parts so it would be easier for you to check them out. Plus, it’s easier to allocate ingredients this way.

The Apple Dumpling Sauce

You could already imagine what our apple dumplings taste like just by looking at the ingredients. Amazingly, adding this rich apple dumpling sauce takes it up a notch! It’s so simple and easy to prepare and the final product’s flavor is perfect for the holiday.

You’ll find that the mixture is a bit runny at first, this is because it’s more of a syrup than a sauce. However, you can adjust the thickness of the syrup by adding a bit more sugar. In simpler terms, it’s a richer and more flavorful version of Homemade Simple Syrup.

Best Apples to Use

There are many different variations of this recipe, most of these revolve around the type of apple. Depending on what you want your final texture to be, you can choose any of my recommendations here.

You may want to go with Granny Smith if you plan to have a firmer apple even after baking. This gives you a crunchier texture when you slice open an apple dumpling. This also goes for Idared Apples and Golden Delicious

Gala is a type of apple used mainly in baking desserts or eating raw. It softens easily when baked so you’ll have an easier time cutting the apple dumplings open. The downside to this is that it often doesn’t hold the form.

Lastly, I personally like the Jonathan apple for its crisp texture. You can often see this variant in apple pies but I also prefer it in apple dumplings.

What to Serve

Apple dumplings are already good as they are but revamping your treats is also a good idea. Since we are making the baked version of this recipe, you’ll find these add-ons perfect for golden brown goodness.

Caramel Sauce

A drizzle of this amazing sauce makes any baked dessert better. I love this combo because it reminds me of caramel apples. You can view my Easy Caramel Sauce Recipe HERE!

Vanilla Ice Cream

Yup! Your golden brown goodie goes perfectly well with vanilla ice cream. What doesn’t, right? Well, the reason why this combination is so special is because the milky vanilla flavor blends well with pecans. Not only that, but the spices in the stuffing also makes the vanilla extraordinary. You can also top this with caramel sauce.

Whipped Cream

You’ll be delighted to top your apple dumpling with this Homemade Whipped Cream especially when you chill your dumplings. You can reserve a bit of the filling to use as an additional topping on top of the cream.

Storage and Reheating Instructions

It’s totally fine if you made too many apple dumplings for today. You can still enjoy its sweet flavors for up to 4 or 5 days.

Simply place your treats in a deep dish and tightly enclose it with a cling wrap. Refrigerate it in a moist-free place. If you don’t have a deep dish. You can opt to place it in an airtight container and refrigerate it away from moisture.

To reheat your apple dumplings, Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and pop it in for about 10 to 15 minutes. If really want to reheat it instantly, you can use a microwave. Set the power to 75% and reheat the treats for about 2 to 5 minutes.

More Apple Recipes You’ll Love

How to Make

Preparing the Apples

Pour water in a large bowl then add lemon. Set aside. Start by peeling apples from the top to the bottom, then cut off a tiny slice of the bottom of each apple, just enough to make it stabilize the bottom so they sit upright. Use a melon baller, sharp paring knife, or an apple corer, to cut out the cores, leaving 1/2 inch of the apples intact or enough core at the base of the apple to contain the filling. Place apples in the lemon water and finish with the remainder apples. Set aside as you make the filling.

Add butter to a medium skillet over medium heat, as soon as butter melts add sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, lemon zest and juice, and pecans. Cook while stirring frequently the pan – about 2-3 minutes or until fragrant. Mixture will hardened up. Don’t be alarmed. Remove and set aside to cool. Place the pecan sugar mixture equally into the inside of the apples, press firmly. Set aside.

Making the Dumpling Crust

Combine the flour, sugar, and salt. Then place in the freezer until ready to use. Dice the butter and return it to the fridge until ready to use. Add flour mixture into a food processor and pulse until fully combined. Throw in butter and pulse until rough dough forms, about peas size pieces. Add to a large bowl, then add iced water as needed until the dough barely comes together. Remove the dough and place it on a work surface – knead just enough to incorporate all the dough. Working the dough as little as possible, just lightly enough to ensure it is smooth.

Divide into 2 equal sizes. Place in the palm of your hand and form a thick disc. Wrap dough in saran wrap or plastic and chill in the fridge for about 30 minutes and up to 3 days for best results. You can equally freeze and defrost in the fridge the night before using. When ready to use, remove the plastic from the dough and place it on a floured board or work surface.

If your dough breaks and crumbles when you try to roll it out, it’s probably too dry, sprinkle some cold water over the pie dough with your fingers and work it in gently. On the flip side, if your dough gets too soft to handle, return the dough back to the fridge to chill out. When ready to bake, remove the dough and place it on a floured surface. Then roll the dough to 1/8-inch thickness and cut it into about 7 ” square dough. Repeat with the other half of the dough.

Assembling

Place prepared apples into the middle of the pastry and gently bring up the two corners of the pastry to the center of each apple to fully enclose the apples. Lightly tuck the pastry in, just like wrapping a gift. You can equally pinch to seal. Save any remaining dough to make decorative leaves or desired shape. Then top it with leaves, if desired. Place in a 9 x 13 baking pan.

Pour apple juice, water, sugar, butter, nutmeg, and cinnamon in a saucepan. Bring to a boil, then let it simmer until slightly thickened. You should have about 1½ -2 cups left. Pour the mixture around apple dumplings. Bake until golden brown and apples are tender, the crust is lightly brown about 35-40minutes. Remove and let it cool slightly, spoon sauce over apple dumplings. Serve with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

Watch How To Make It

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Apple Dumplings