Description
These Old-Fashioned Apple Dumplings feature tender apple pieces wrapped in a flaky, cinnamon-spiced pastry and baked to golden perfection. A comforting, nostalgic dessert perfect for cozy evenings, served warm with optional vanilla ice cream or whipped cream.
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)
Filling and Topping:
- 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 and Prepare Dish: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) and grease a 9×9-inch baking dish thoroughly to prevent sticking.
- Prepare Apples: Peel and core the apples, then cut each into halves or quarters depending on their size to fit comfortably inside the dough squares.
- Mix Dry Dough Ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, salt, baking powder, and ground cinnamon to evenly distribute the ingredients.
- Incorporate Butter: Add the cold, cubed unsalted butter to the flour mixture. Use a pastry cutter or your fingers to blend until the mixture resembles pea-sized crumbs, ensuring a flaky crust.
- Add Water to Form Dough: Gradually add the cold water, one tablespoon at a time, mixing gently until the dough comes together into a soft ball. Add water cautiously to avoid a sticky dough.
- Roll and Cut Dough: On a floured surface, roll out the dough to approximately 1/8-inch thickness into a square or circle. Cut into 4 squares, large enough to wrap around each apple piece.
- Fill the Dumplings: Place one apple piece in the center of each dough square. Sprinkle the inside of the apples generously with brown sugar, ground cinnamon, and ground nutmeg to enhance flavor.
- Seal Dumplings: Fold the dough over the apples and pinch the edges tightly to seal the dumplings, preventing filling leakage during baking.
- Arrange in Baking Dish: Place the sealed dumplings in the prepared baking dish evenly spaced. Dot the tops of each dumpling with small pieces of butter and sprinkle with remaining brown sugar and cinnamon.
- Add Water: Pour 1 cup of water around (not over) the dumplings in the baking dish to create steam during baking, keeping the dumplings moist.
- Bake: Bake in the preheated oven for 40-45 minutes, or until the dumplings turn golden brown and the apples inside are tender when tested with a fork.
- Cool and Serve: Allow the apple dumplings to cool for a few minutes after baking. Serve warm as is or with optional vanilla ice cream or whipped cream for added indulgence.
Notes
- Cold butter is essential to achieve a flaky dough texture—avoid overworking the dough.
- Use tart apple varieties like Granny Smith or sweet ones like Honeycrisp for a balanced flavor.
- Adjust water amount in dough as needed to avoid stickiness while ensuring proper consistency.
- Make sure to seal edges well to prevent filling from leaking during baking.
- Serving with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream adds a delicious creamy contrast.
