Old-Fashioned Apple Dumplings are made with sweet cinnamon-sugar apples wrapped up in an easy, flaky pastry and baked in a homemade cinnamon syrup. We love them served warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream!
There are so many delicious things you can do with apples beyond just apple pie! Some of our other favorite apple recipes are Apple Crisp, Crockpot Apple Butter, Baked Apples, Homemade Apple Fritters, and Homemade Caramel Apples!
Please tell me you have a soft spot in your heart for this humble, classic dessert! Even though apple dumplings are lumpy and not much to look at with their misshapen appearance, they never fail to satisfy and they just bring so much joy.
INGREDIENTS
DOUGH
2 cups all-purpose flour
3 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon sugar
6 tablespoons shortening
1/2 cup milk
FILLING
6 medium-sized apples, peeled and cored
1/2 cup sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
3 tablespoons salted butter
SYRUP
1 cup sugar
2 cups water
3 tablespoons butter
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
INSTRUCTIONS
Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.
Combine the flour, baking powder, salt, sugar, and shortening in a large bowl. Use a pastry cutter to cut the shortening into the flour until it resembles coarse crumbs. This step can also be done in a food processor. Add the milk and stir with a fork just until the dough clumps together. Cover with plastic wrap and set aside in the fridge.
Peel and core the apples using a paring knife or apple peeler.
Roll out the pastry dough on a lightly floured surface. Cut into large squares and place an apple in the center of each square. Divide the butter, sugar, and cinnamon evenly between each of the apples.
Wrap the pastry up around each apple, pinching the edges together to seal. Transfer to a 9×13-inch baking dish.
Make the syrup by combining the water, sugar, butter, and cinnamon in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil and cook until the butter is melted and the sugar is completely dissolved. Pour the hot syrup over the apple dumplings in the baking dish.
Bake for 35-40 minutes until golden brown and the apples pierce easily with a sharp knife. Cool for at least 15 minutes before serving.