Apple dumplings are a delightful and comforting dessert made by wrapping apple slices in pastry dough and baking them until golden and delicious. Here’s a simple recipe for making apple dumplings:
Ingredients:
For the pastry:
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup unsalted butter, cold and cut into small cubes
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup ice water
For the filling:
- 6 medium-sized apples (such as Granny Smith or Honeycrisp), peeled, cored, and sliced
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
For the syrup:
- 1 cup water
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Instructions:
- Preheat the oven: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Prepare the pastry: In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour and salt. Add the cold butter cubes and use a pastry cutter or your fingers to cut the butter into the flour until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Gradually add the ice water and mix until the dough comes together. Divide the dough into two portions, wrap them in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.
- Prepare the filling: In a bowl, mix together the sliced apples, sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg until the apples are well coated.
- Roll out the dough: Take one portion of the chilled dough and roll it out on a floured surface into a rectangle. Cut the rectangle into six smaller rectangles.
- Assemble the dumplings: Place a portion of the apple mixture onto each dough rectangle. Fold the edges over the apples and seal the seams, forming a dumpling. Repeat with the remaining dough and apple filling.
- Place in a baking dish: Arrange the apple dumplings in a greased baking dish.
- Make the syrup: In a saucepan, combine water, sugar, vanilla extract, and cinnamon. Bring the mixture to a boil, stirring until the sugar is dissolved. Pour the hot syrup over the apple dumplings.
- Bake: Bake in the preheated oven for 40-45 minutes or until the dumplings are golden brown and the apples are tender.
- Serve: Allow the apple dumplings to cool slightly before serving. You can serve them with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a drizzle of caramel sauce for an extra treat.
Enjoy your homemade apple dumplings!
