You’re in for a treat — Apple Dumplings are the perfect blend of flaky pastry, tender apples, and rich cinnamon-sugar syrup. Here’s a classic Southern-style baked apple dumpling recipe, complete with a buttery sauce that soaks into the dough and caramelizes in the oven.
🍎 Apple Dumplings (Old-Fashioned & Baked)
🥧 What Are They?
Apple dumplings are peeled and cored apples (or apple wedges), wrapped in pastry dough, and baked in a cinnamon-sugar butter sauce until golden, soft, and saucy. Think mini apple pies, but with more syrupy goodness.
📝 Ingredients (Makes 6–8 dumplings)
For the dumplings:
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2 large Granny Smith apples (or Honeycrisp)
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1 sheet puff pastry or 1 batch of homemade pie dough (see note)
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2 tbsp unsalted butter (for stuffing apples)
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1/4 cup brown sugar
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1 tsp cinnamon
For the syrup:
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1 cup water
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3/4 cup granulated sugar
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1/2 cup unsalted butter (1 stick)
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1 tsp vanilla extract
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1/2 tsp cinnamon
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Optional: pinch of nutmeg
👩🍳 Instructions:
1. Prep the apples:
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Peel and core apples. Cut each apple into 4 wedges.
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If using whole apples (not wedges), cut in half and core.
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In a small bowl, mix brown sugar and cinnamon.
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Press some of the cinnamon-sugar mix and a small piece of butter (from the 2 tbsp) into the cored center of each apple wedge.
2. Wrap the apples:
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Roll out puff pastry or pie dough and cut into 6–8 squares.
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Place each apple wedge in the center of a square and wrap dough around it, pinching edges to seal.
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Place wrapped dumplings seam side down in a greased 9×13″ baking dish.
3. Make the syrup:
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In a saucepan, combine water, granulated sugar, butter, cinnamon, and vanilla.
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Bring to a boil, then reduce to simmer for 3–4 minutes until sugar is dissolved and butter melted.
4. Pour and bake:
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Pour hot syrup over the dumplings in the pan.
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Bake at 375°F (190°C) for 35–40 minutes, or until golden brown and syrup is bubbly.
🍨 Serve:
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Let cool for 10–15 minutes (the syrup thickens as it cools).
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Serve warm with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream.
🔁 Variations:
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Mountain Dew Apple Dumplings: Substitute the syrup with 1 can of Mountain Dew poured over dumplings (it’s surprisingly delicious).
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Whole Apple Style: Use whole cored apples instead of wedges for larger dumplings.
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Spiced version: Add cloves, nutmeg, or cardamom to the syrup for a cozy fall twist.