This old-fashioned apple dumplings recipe is warm, comforting, and perfectly sweet! Just fill up some granny smith apples with butter and cinnamon sugar, wrap them in pie crust dough, and bake dredged in a delicious apple cider sauce.
Easy Apple Dumplings
These delicious apple dumplings make for the perfect dessert in the fall season. With just one bite, you’ll taste the sweet-tartness of the cooked apples, the spices of cinnamon and brown sugar, and the crispy, buttery pie crust that’ll turn these yummy dumplings into your favorite apple dessert!
The best part? Adding a scoop of vanilla ice cream or caramel sauce on top for the most decadent and nostalgic fall dessert!
Why You’ll Love this Apple Dumpling Recipe:
- A Nostalgic Treat: There’s something about apples and a homemade pie crust that gives you that sweet comfort of being back in grandma’s kitchen again.
- Melt-In-Your-Mouth Good: The center of the dumpling is filled with a mix of butter, cinnamon, and brown sugar that’ll melt right in your mouth!
How to Make Apple Dumplings
Be sure to see the recipe card below for full ingredients & instructions!
- Roll out and cut pie dough into squares.
- Assemble dumplings by placing an apple with spice and butter at the center of each pie square. Then wrap and seal.
- Combine ingredients and heat to make the sauce, then pour it into the bottom of a baking dish.
- Place the dumplings in the pan with the sauce, bake, and let them cool slightly before serving.
Ingredient Notes
- If you’re using store-bought pie crust, you won’t get perfect squares; just do the best you can!
- If you are using a homemade pie crust, divide the dough into quarters, then shape each quarter into a square before chilling. This step makes it easier to roll into squares.
- If you have any extra pie crust, you can cut out fall-themed shapes to place on top of each apple before baking.
Apple dumplings are fresh apples filled with cinnamon-sugar, wrapped in dough, and baked in a sweet sauce.
Granny Smith apples are the best and most reliable to use in baking. They are naturally tart and sweet, which is perfect for baking!
Nope! While you definitely need to get the core out, you do not have to peel the apples if you don’t mind the peels.
Apple dumplings can be left out at room temperature for up to 2 days, although I recommend refrigerating them to keep them fresh!
These are so good served warm with a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream. I love the way melted ice cream mixes with the warm apple filling!
Recipe Tips and Tricks
- Make sure that your apples aren’t too big. Otherwise, it’ll be difficult to wrap them in the pie dough.
- Choose crisp, tart apples that won’t mush up after they’re baked. The tartness will help balance out the sweetness of the sugar and sauce.
- To reheat your homemade apple dumplings, place them in a baking dish and cover them with foil. Heat in the oven at 350°F for about 10-15 minutes.
Make Ahead Instructions
If using homemade pie dough, you can make the dough up to 2 days in advance and store it tightly wrapped in plastic wrap in the refrigerator until ready to use.
Storage Instructions
Store leftover apple dumplings in an airtight container at room temperature or in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. Reheat in the microwave for 30-60 seconds or in a 350°F oven covered loosely with foil for 10-15 minutes.
Freezing Instructions
Freeze apple dumplings tightly wrapped in 2 layers of plastic wrap and 1 layer of aluminum foil for up to 2 months. Let thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
Substitutions
- I like Granny Smith apples, but you can use any apple you like!
- You can use homemade or store-bought pie crust. If using store-bought pie crust, you will need to use 2 crusts.
- You can use light or dark brown sugar in this recipe.
- You can use pie spice in place of the cinnamon in the filling.
- If you don’t have apple cider, you can use apple juice.
Serving Suggestions
These apple dumplings are amazing as is or topped with whipped cream or a scoop of vanilla ice cream!
Tips for the Best Apple Dumplings
- If you’re using store-bought pie crust, you won’t get perfect squares; just do the best you can!
- If you are using a homemade pie crust, divide the dough into quarters, then shape each quarter into a square before chilling. This step makes it easier to roll into squares.
- If you have any extra pie crust, you can cut out fall-themed shapes to place on top of each apple before baking.
- If you’d like smaller dumplings, use only half an apple and less dough.
This easy apple dumpling recipe is the best way to enjoy apple season this year. Let us know how your delicious apples turned out in the comments below!
If you make this recipe be sure to leave us a comment or rating. Enjoy!
Apple Dumplings Recipe
Ingredients
For the Apples
- 15 ounces refrigerated pie crust 425 grams, store-bought or homemade
- 4 medium apples peeled and cored
For the Filling
- ½ cup brown sugar 107 grams
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon 3 grams
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter 28 grams, cut into 4 pieces (¼ stick)
For the Sauce
- 1 cup apple cider 227 grams (NOT apple cider vinegar!)
- ¾ cup brown sugar 160 grams
- ¼ cup unsalted butter 57 grams (½ stick)
Equipment
- Kitchen Scale (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425°F. Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish with butter.
- On a floured surface, roll out your pie crust and cut it into four 7×7-inch squares. If the dough is soft, place it in the fridge for 20 minutes to firm up.15 ounces refrigerated pie crust
- In a medium bowl, whisk the brown sugar and cinnamon together for the filling.½ cup brown sugar, 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- Place an apple in the center of a crust square. Fill with 1 tablespoon of the cinnamon sugar mixture and one piece of butter. Bring each corner of the crust up to meet at the center of the apple. Press gently to seal. Then gently pinch the edges of the dough together.4 medium apples, 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- Repeat with the remaining apples and set aside in the refrigerator while you make the sauce.
- Add the sauce ingredients to a medium saucepan over medium heat. Cook, stirring often until the butter and sugar melt and the mixture boils. Once it boils, remove it from the heat. Pour the sauce in the bottom of your baking dish.1 cup apple cider, ¾ cup brown sugar, ¼ cup unsalted butter
- Arrange the apples over the sauce. Bake for 40-45 minutes, basting the apples a few times with the sauce as they cook.
- Remove from the oven, let cool for 10-15 minutes. Serve with the sauce from the bottom of the pan.
Notes
- I like Granny Smith apples, but you can use any apple you like!
- You can use homemade or store-bought pie crust. If using store-bought pie crust, you will need to use 2 crusts.
- You can use light or dark brown sugar in this recipe.
- You can use pie spice in place of the cinnamon in the filling.
- If you don’t have apple cider, you can use apple juice.
- If you’re using store-bought pie crust, you won’t get perfect squares; just do the best you can!
- If you are using a homemade pie crust, divide the dough into quarters, then shape each quarter into a square before chilling. This step makes it easier to roll into squares.
- If you have any extra pie crust, you can cut out fall-themed shapes to place on top of each apple before baking.
- If you’d like smaller dumplings, use only half an apple and less dough.
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