Description
Classic Old Fashioned Apple Dumplings feature tender Granny Smith apples wrapped in buttery homemade pastry dough, baked to golden perfection and served with a warm, spiced apple cider sauce. This comforting dessert combines sweet, tart, and spiced flavors ideal for cozy gatherings or a delightful fall treat.
Ingredients
Scale
Pastry Dough
- 250g All purpose flour
- 150g Cold unsalted butter, cubed
- 5 tbsp Ice cold apple cider
Apple Filling
- 6 Medium Granny Smith apples
- 1 tbsp Coconut sugar
- 1 tsp Ground cinnamon
- ¼ tsp Ground nutmeg
- Butter, small pats (approx. 6 small pats, room temperature)
Apple Cider Sauce
- 350ml Apple cider
- 3 tbsp Maple syrup
- 1 tsp Vanilla extract
- 1 Cinnamon stick
Instructions
- Make the pastry dough: In a food processor, pulse the flour and cold unsalted butter cubes until the mixture resembles coarse sand. Gradually add ice-cold apple cider, one tablespoon at a time, pulsing until the dough just holds together. Remove the dough, wrap in parchment paper, and chill it in the refrigerator for 20 minutes to firm up.
- Prepare the apples: Peel and core the Granny Smith apples carefully. In a small bowl, mix coconut sugar, ground cinnamon, and ground nutmeg. Roll each peeled apple thoroughly in this spice mixture to coat evenly. Place a small pat of room-temperature butter inside the core cavity of each apple to enrich the filling during baking.
- Roll and assemble dumplings: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Roll out the chilled pastry dough on a lightly floured surface and cut it into six equal squares. Place one prepared apple in the center of each dough square. Bring the corners of the pastry up over the top of the apple and pinch firmly to seal each dumpling securely.
- Prepare the cider sauce: In a small saucepan, combine 350ml apple cider, maple syrup, vanilla extract, and the cinnamon stick. Bring this mixture to a gentle simmer over medium heat and cook for about 5 minutes until the flavors concentrate and meld together.
- Bake the dumplings: Place the sealed dumplings in a 9×13 inch ceramic baking dish. Pour the warm spiced apple cider sauce evenly over the dumplings. Bake in the preheated oven for 45 minutes, or until the pastry is golden brown and the apples have softened nicely.
Notes
- Use cold butter and ice-cold cider to ensure a flaky pastry texture.
- Granny Smith apples are ideal for their tartness and firmness; however, any firm baking apple can be substituted.
- Ensure the pastry is sealed tightly to prevent the sauce from leaking out during baking.
- Let dumplings cool slightly before serving to allow the sauce to thicken a bit.
- Serve with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream for an extra indulgent dessert.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: apple dumplings, old fashioned dessert, baked apple dessert, spiced apple dumplings, homemade pastry, fall dessert, apple cider sauce
