Old-Fashioned Apple Dumplings

This old-fashioned apple dumpling recipe is cozy, warm, and simply feels like home.   

What Are Apple Dumplings?

An apple dumpling is a baked pastry-wrapped apple. They’re usually sweetened with sugar and spiced with cinnamon. Apple dumplings are typically topped with a sweet sauce, buttery sauce before or after baking. 

Apple Dumpling Ingredients

These are the simple ingredients you’ll need to make this old-fashioned apple dumpling recipe at home: 

• Pie crust: Use a store-bought or homemade double pastry crust. 
• Apples: This recipe calls for six large Granny Smith apples. 
• Butter: A stick of butter lends richness to the dumplings and the sauce. 
• Sugars: You’ll need both brown sugar and white sugar. 
• Spices: These apple dumplings are spiced with cinnamon and nutmeg. 
• Water: The sweet sauce starts with three cups of water. 
• Vanilla: Vanilla extract enhances the overall flavor. 

What Type of Apples Are Best for Apple Dumplings? 

Granny Smith apples are perfect for this recipe because they are firm enough to stand up to high heat and the slightly tart flavor is perfectly balanced by the blend of brown and white sugars. Other great options include Honeycrisp, Gala, and Fuji apples. Of course, using a combination of sweet and tart varieties is always a good idea. 

How to Make Apple Dumplings

You’ll find the full, step-by-step recipe below – but here’s a brief overview of what you can expect when you make apple dumplings: 

1. Roll out the pastry and cut into squares.
2. Assemble the dumplings according to the detailed instructions in the recipe. 
3. Shape and seal the dumplings with slightly wet fingers. 
4. Make the sauce and pour it over the dumplings. 
5. Bake the dumplings in a preheated oven until golden and crisp on top. 

How to Serve Apple Dumplings 

Serve the apple dumpling in individual dessert bowls with the sauce spooned over the tops. To take the delicious dessert up a notch, add a scoop of vanilla ice cream to each bowl. 

Allrecipes Community Tips and Praise

“I made this for dessert on a beautiful Fall Sunday,” says j. cook. “They were so fun for my daughter and I to make together! After the first half hour I covered in foil. They came out beautifully! Just delicious as is or even better with some vanilla ice cream!”

“These dumplings are totally delicious!” according to Mrs Hooper. "I've made them three times in the past month, no one can get enough of them! Out of preference, I only make and use half of the sauce. This recipe is well worth the wait!"

“This is my all time favorite recipe,” raves brwneyedsue. “Simply delicious. I used premade pie crusts and an apple peeler-corer-slicer machine. Makes it super fast! I also like to put mine in individual ramekins. Great with a scoop of vanilla ice cream!”

Editorial contributions by Corey Williams