A Taste of Home: Old-Fashioned Apple Dumplings
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There’s nothing quite like the aroma of freshly baked apple dumplings filling the house—warm, cinnamon-spiced apples wrapped in flaky pastry, all bubbling away in a sweet, buttery sauce. This recipe is a cherished heirloom, passed down through generations, and each bite brings back memories of cozy family gatherings and homemade desserts made with love. Whether it’s a chilly fall evening or a sunny afternoon, these old-fashioned apple dumplings are sure to bring comfort and joy to your kitchen.
Ingredients
1 (14.1 ounce) double-crust pie pastry, thawed6 large Granny Smith apples, peeled and cored
½ cup butter
¾ cup brown sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
3 cups water
2 cups white sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Steps
Heat Things Up: Set your oven to 400°F (200°C) and get it ready for baking perfection. Butter a 9x13-inch baking dish to prevent sticking.
Roll the Pastry: Roll the pie pastry into a 24x16-inch rectangle on a lightly floured surface. Cut it into six 8-inch squares.
Prepare the Apples: Place a peeled and cored apple in the center of each pastry square. Fill the hollow center of each apple with a small piece of butter, reserving the remaining butter for the sauce.
Sweeten the Apples: Divide the brown sugar evenly among the apples, placing some inside each apple’s core and the rest around the base. Sprinkle the apples with cinnamon and nutmeg.
Wrap the Dumplings: Using slightly wet fingers, bring one corner of the pastry square to the top of the apple, then fold the opposite corner to the top and press together. Repeat with the remaining corners, sealing the edges to fully encase the apple.
Make the Sauce: In a saucepan, combine the water, white sugar, vanilla extract, and the remaining butter. Bring the mixture to a boil over medium heat, then reduce to a simmer until the sugar dissolves.
Bake to Perfection: Pour the sauce over the dumplings in the baking dish. Place in the oven and bake for 50-60 minutes, or until the pastry is golden and crisp.