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Cozy Apple Dumplings with Easy Cinnamon Sugar Sauce

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These cozy apple dumplings feature whole apples wrapped in flaky pastry, baked until golden, and served with a warm cinnamon sugar sauce. A comforting dessert perfect for fall and winter.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup cold unsalted butter, cut into small cubes
  • 1/2 cup ice water (plus maybe a tablespoon more if needed)
  • 4 medium apples (Honeycrisp or Granny Smith)
  • 1/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/2 cup light brown sugar, packed
  • 2 tablespoons cornstarch
  • 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
  • 2 cups water
  • 1/4 cup unsalted butter
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • Pinch of salt
  • 1 large egg, beaten with 1 tablespoon water (for egg wash)
  • Coarse sugar (like turbinado or Demerara) for sprinkling

Instructions

  1. Make the pastry: In a large bowl, whisk together flour and salt. Add cold butter cubes. Using a pastry cutter or two forks, cut butter into flour until mixture resembles coarse meal with some pea-sized butter pieces. Sprinkle ice water over mixture, 1 tablespoon at a time, tossing with a fork until dough holds together. Form into a disk, wrap in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.
  2. Prepare the apples: Peel apples. Cut off top quarter of each apple and set tops aside. Using a melon baller or small spoon, scoop out core from bottom, leaving bottom intact. In a small bowl, mix sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Brush inside of each apple cavity with melted butter, then sprinkle cinnamon sugar mixture inside.
  3. Make the cinnamon sugar sauce: In a small saucepan, whisk together granulated sugar, brown sugar, cornstarch, and cinnamon. Add water and whisk until smooth. Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring constantly, until thickened (about 3-4 minutes). Remove from heat and stir in butter and vanilla until smooth. Set aside.
  4. Assemble the dumplings: Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). On a lightly floured surface, roll chilled dough into a 16×16 inch square. Cut into four 8×8 inch squares. Place an apple in center of each square. Brush edges of pastry with water, then bring corners up to meet at top of apple. Pinch seams to seal. Place reserved apple tops on each dumpling. Place dumplings in a greased 9×13 inch baking dish. Brush each with egg wash and sprinkle with coarse sugar if using. Pour prepared cinnamon sugar sauc…
  5. Bake: Bake for 40-45 minutes, until pastry is golden brown and apples are tender when pierced with a knife. Halfway through, spoon some sauce over dumplings. Let cool for 10 minutes before serving.

Notes

Keep everything cold for flaky pastry. Don’t overwork the dough. Choose firm apples like Honeycrisp or Granny Smith. Baste halfway through baking. Let dumplings rest for 10 minutes before serving. For gluten-free, use a 1:1 gluten-free flour blend. For dairy-free, use vegan butter.

Nutrition

Keywords: apple dumplings, cinnamon sugar sauce, fall dessert, winter dessert, baked apples, pastry, comfort food

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