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Wholesome Apple Dumplings with Easy Cinnamon Sugar Sauce

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These wholesome apple dumplings feature tender cinnamon-spiced apples wrapped in a flaky pastry, all swimming in a light and comforting cinnamon sugar sauce. A perfect fall dessert that’s simple enough for a weeknight and special enough for a holiday table.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 2/3 cup cold unsalted butter, cut into small cubes
  • 4 to 6 tablespoons ice water
  • 4 medium apples (Honeycrisp or Granny Smith), peeled and cored
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
  • 1/4 cup brown sugar, packed
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 1 cup water
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/4 cup brown sugar, packed
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • Pinch of salt

Instructions

  1. Make the pastry dough: In a large bowl, whisk together the flour and salt. Add the cold butter cubes and cut them into the flour using a pastry cutter or fingertips until the mixture looks like coarse meal with some pea-sized butter pieces remaining. Drizzle 4 tablespoons of ice water over the mixture and stir with a fork until the dough just comes together. If it seems dry, add another tablespoon of water. Form the dough into a disk, wrap it in plastic, and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.
  2. Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). While the dough chills, prepare the apples and sauce.
  3. Prepare the apples: Peel the apples, then use a small knife or an apple corer to remove the cores. Leave the apples whole.
  4. Make the cinnamon sugar filling: In a small bowl, mix together the softened butter, brown sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg until it forms a paste. Stuff this mixture into the cavity of each apple, dividing it evenly.
  5. Roll out the pastry: On a lightly floured surface, roll the chilled dough into a rectangle about 12×16 inches. Cut it into four equal squares. Place one apple in the center of each square, then bring the corners up to meet at the top. Pinch the seams to seal, making sure the apple is completely enclosed. Place each wrapped apple seam-side down in a greased 9×13 inch baking dish.
  6. Make the cinnamon sugar sauce: In a small saucepan, combine the water, granulated sugar, brown sugar, butter, cinnamon, and salt. Bring to a simmer over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until the sugars dissolve and the butter melts. Remove from heat and stir in the vanilla extract. Pour this sauce around (not over) the dumplings in the baking dish. The sauce should come about halfway up the sides of the dumplings.
  7. Bake: Place the dish in the preheated oven and bake for 40 to 45 minutes, until the pastry is golden brown and the apples are tender when pierced with a fork. About halfway through, spoon some of the sauce over the tops of the dumplings.
  8. Rest before serving: Let the dumplings cool in the dish for about 10 minutes before serving.

Notes

Keep pastry cold for flakiness. Don’t skip the 30-minute chill time. Baste dumplings halfway through baking. Let rest 10 minutes before serving. For gluten-free, use a 1-to-1 gluten-free flour blend. For dairy-free, use cold coconut oil in pastry and plant-based butter in sauce. Leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat in a 350°F oven for 10 minutes.

Nutrition

Keywords: apple dumplings, cinnamon sugar sauce, fall dessert, baked apples, easy dessert, homemade pastry, comfort food

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