Description

These Hot Apple Dumplings are a comforting dessert featuring tender apples wrapped in flaky pastry and baked in a caramel-like sauce. Perfectly spiced with cinnamon and nutmeg, they’re an impressive yet easy treat to serve warm with plenty of sauce.

Ingredients

Scale

For the dumplings:

6 medium Granny Smith apples (or Honeycrisp)
2½ cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup cold unsalted butter, cubed
⅓ cup ice water
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
½ cup granulated sugar
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
¼ cup chopped walnuts or pecans (optional)

For the sauce:

1 cup brown sugar, packed
1 cup water
½ cup unsalted butter
¼ teaspoon cinnamon
⅛ teaspoon nutmeg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions

Prepare the Pastry Dough: Combine flour and salt in a large bowl. Cut in cold butter until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs with pea-sized butter pieces. Drizzle ice water mixed with vanilla over the dough, stirring gently until it comes together. Form into a disk, wrap in plastic, and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
Prepare the Apples: Peel and core the apples, leaving them whole. Mix granulated sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and nuts (if using). Fill each apple cavity with this mixture.
Make the Sauce: In a saucepan, combine brown sugar, water, and butter. Bring to a boil, then simmer for 5 minutes until slightly thickened. Stir in cinnamon, nutmeg, and vanilla. Set aside.
Assemble the Dumplings: Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Roll out chilled dough to ¼-inch thickness and cut into six 7-inch squares. Place an apple in the center of each square, pack with filling, and wrap the pastry around the apple, sealing edges tightly.
Bake to Golden Perfection: Place dumplings in a 9×13-inch baking dish. Pour the sauce around them. Bake for 35–40 minutes until golden brown and bubbling. Baste with sauce halfway through for extra flavor.
Cool Slightly Before Serving: Let dumplings rest for 10 minutes before serving warm with sauce spooned over the top.

Notes

Substitutions: Use Braeburn or Golden Delicious apples for less tartness. Add cardamom for extra depth in the spice profile. For a shortcut, use store-bought pie crust instead of homemade.

Prep Time: 40 minutes
Cook Time: 40 minutes
Category: Dessert
Method: Baking
Cuisine: American

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 dumpling
Calories: 420
Sugar: 45g
Sodium: 200mg
Fat: 22g
Saturated Fat: 12g
Unsaturated Fat: 8g
Trans Fat: 0g
Carbohydrates: 52g
Fiber: 3g
Protein: 4g
Cholesterol: 45mg

Keywords: hot apple dumplings, apple dessert recipe, easy pastry recipe, caramel apple dumplings