Description
These Old-Fashioned Apple Dumplings are a comforting classic dessert featuring tender apple pieces wrapped in a buttery, cinnamon-spiced pastry and baked to golden perfection. Perfect for cozy fall evenings or any time you crave a nostalgic, warm treat.
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)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) and grease a 9×9-inch baking dish to prevent sticking.
- Prepare Apples: Peel and core the apples, then cut each into halves or quarters depending on size.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, salt, baking powder, and cinnamon to evenly distribute the spices and leavening.
- Cut in Butter: Add the cold cubed butter to the flour mixture. Use a pastry cutter or your fingers to mix until the mixture resembles pea-sized crumbs for a flaky dough.
- Add Water: Gradually add cold water, one tablespoon at a time, mixing gently until the dough just comes together. Add more water if necessary to form a soft dough.
- Roll Out Dough: On a floured surface, roll the dough into a square or circle about 1/8-inch thick. Cut into four squares large enough to encase each apple piece.
- Fill Apples: Place one apple piece in the center of each dough square. Sprinkle the apple with brown sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg to build flavor inside the dumpling.
- Wrap Apples: Fold the dough over each apple and pinch edges tightly to seal, ensuring no filling leaks out during baking.
- Arrange Dumplings: Place the wrapped dumplings in the prepared baking dish. Dot each with small pieces of butter and sprinkle remaining brown sugar and cinnamon over the tops.
- Add Water to Pan: Pour 1 cup of water around the dumplings in the baking dish to keep the dumplings moist while baking.
- Bake: Bake the dumplings for 40-45 minutes until golden brown on top and the apples inside are tender when tested with a fork.
- Cool and Serve: Allow the dumplings to cool for a few minutes before serving. Enjoy warm, optionally topped with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream.
Notes
- Use tart apples like Granny Smith or sweet-tart apples like Honeycrisp for balanced flavor.
- Make sure butter is cold for flaky dough texture.
- If dough is too dry, add water one teaspoon at a time to avoid sogginess.
- The water added to the baking dish helps create steam, keeping the dumplings moist.
- Serve warm for best flavor and texture; pair with ice cream or whipped cream to complement the cinnamon-spiced apples.
