Here’s a classic comfort dessert inspired by Pioneer Woman’s Apple Dumplings — tender baked apples wrapped in flaky pastry and smothered in a sweet buttery cinnamon sauce. Perfect for cozy family dinners or gatherings!
🍎 Pioneer Woman’s Apple Dumplings
🍽️ Servings: 6
⏱️ Time: About 1 hour (15 min prep + 45 min bake)
🧂 Ingredients:
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6 medium baking apples (like Granny Smith or Honeycrisp)
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1 cup granulated sugar
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2 tsp ground cinnamon
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1 (8 oz) package refrigerated crescent roll dough (or use pie crust)
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6 tbsp butter (divided)
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1 cup water
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1 cup granulated sugar (for sauce)
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1 tsp vanilla extract
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Optional: caramel sauce or vanilla ice cream for serving
👩🍳 Instructions:
1. Preheat Oven & Prep Apples
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Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
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Core apples, removing seeds but keeping base intact. (Use an apple corer or a small knife.)
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Mix 1 cup sugar and cinnamon in a bowl.
2. Wrap Apples
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Roll out crescent dough and separate into 6 triangles.
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Sprinkle a little cinnamon sugar onto each dough piece.
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Place each apple in the center of a dough triangle.
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Fill apple cores with remaining cinnamon sugar mixture.
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Fold dough around apples, pinching seams to seal.
3. Place in Baking Dish
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Place wrapped apples in a greased 9×13-inch baking dish.
4. Prepare Sauce
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In a saucepan, melt 4 tbsp butter with 1 cup sugar and 1 cup water over medium heat.
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Stir until sugar dissolves.
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Pour sauce evenly over the dumplings.
5. Bake
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Dot remaining 2 tbsp butter over the dumplings.
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Bake uncovered for about 45 minutes, basting occasionally with sauce, until apples are tender and dough is golden.
6. Serve
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Spoon warm dumplings and sauce into bowls.
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Top with vanilla ice cream or drizzle caramel sauce if desired.
✅ Tips & Variations:
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Use homemade pie dough or puff pastry for a flakier crust.
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Add a sprinkle of nutmeg or cloves to the cinnamon sugar for extra warmth.
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For a richer sauce, add a splash of heavy cream or a pat of butter at the end.