Old-Fashioned Apple Dumplings
These old-fashioned apple dumplings wrap whole apples in flaky pastry with a buttery cinnamon-sugar filling, then bake them in a warm vanilla-cinnamon sauce until golden and tender. They’re cozy, comforting, and perfect for fall or winter desserts, especially served warm with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream.
Servings 6 dumplings
Calories 620kcal
Ingredients
- 6 medium apples
- 2 refrigerated pie crusts or homemade pie dough
- 3 tablespoons butter softened
- 1/3 cup brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- Pinch of salt
- For the sauce
- 1 cup water
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1/4 cup butter
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Heat the oven to 375°F. Lightly butter a 9×13-inch baking dish.
- Prepare the apples. Peel and core the apples, keeping each apple whole.
- In a small bowl, mix the brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt.
- Divide the pie dough into 6 pieces large enough to completely wrap an apple. Roll each piece into roughly a 7-inch square.
- Place an apple in the center of each piece of dough. Put about 1/2 tablespoon butter into the center of the apple and generously spoon in the cinnamon-sugar mixture.
- Bring the corners of the dough up over the apple. Pinch the seams together so the apple is completely enclosed. Place the dumplings seam-side up in the baking dish.
- Make the Sauce
- Combine the water, granulated sugar, butter, and cinnamon in a small saucepan.
- Bring to a gentle boil and cook for about 2–3 minutes, stirring until the sugar dissolves.
- Remove from the heat and stir in the vanilla.
- Pour the warm sauce around the dumplings, rather than directly over the tops, so the pastry stays attractive and crisp.
- Bake
- Bake uncovered for 40–45 minutes, until the pastry is deeply golden and the apples are tender when pierced with a knife.
- Let them rest for about 10 minutes before serving.
Notes
Nutrition Facts — Per Dumpling
- Calories: ~620
- Total Fat: ~29 g
- Saturated Fat: ~13 g
- Cholesterol: ~40 mg
- Sodium: ~400–450 mg
- Total Carbohydrates: ~91 g
- Dietary Fiber: ~4 g
- Total Sugars: ~56 g
- Protein: ~3–4 g
