Old Fashioned Apple Dumplings

These apple dumplings are a classic dessert boasting nutrients as well as juicy apples, crisp pastry, and aromatic spices in every bite.

Prep Time:20

Cook Time:1

Total Time:1 20

Servings: dumplings

Grease a baking dish with butter.
Roll out the pastry into a large rectangle on a floured surface. Then cut into 6 squares.
On top of each square place an apple cored side up.
Cut butter into 8 equal pieces and place each into an apple opening, reserving leftover butter for the sauce.
Divide brown sugar evenly among apples poking some inside each opening and the leftover around each apple base.
Sprinkle apples with nutmeg and cinnamon.
Wet your hands and bring one corner of the pastry up with your fingertips to the top of the apple. Bring opposite pastry corner to the top and press both together.
Bring another two corners up in a similar way and seal together.
Now pinch down the sides slightly to seal completely.
Repeat the same with other apples, then place into a greased baking dish.
Combine together 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, 2 cups white sugar, 3 cups water, and reserved butter in a saucepan. Bring to a boil, then simmer at low until sugar is dissolved completely. Then pour over dumplings carefully.
Bake in a preheated oven at 400 F for 5o to 60 minutes.
Serve with sauce on top. Enjoy!

Feel like changing up this classic recipe? Try it with pears instead of apples.
Since these dumplings freeze well you might want to double or triple the recipe and make a batch of them for future desserts.
Let these rest for 10 or 15 minutes before serving, since they will be piping hot inside when they come out of the oven.
Don’t roll your dough too thin. Each apple needs to be fully covered so the steam will cook it inside the wrapping.
Sticky or soft dough can be refrigerated first prior to baking to get it to the right texture.
Keep space between your dumplings so they don’t break apart when you try to serve them (and if they do, just cover them with sauce!).
Serve your apple dumplings nice and warm. You can top them with whipped cream, caramel, or chocolate sauce.