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Home » Recipes » Desserts

Easy Apple Dumplings Recipe

Modified: Sep 12, 2024 · Published: Oct 3, 2020 by Dannyelle Nicolle-Ramjist · This post may contain affiliate links · 5 Comments

Jump to Recipe

Easy Apple Dumplings Recipe: use pre-made frozen pastry to put this classic apple dumplings recipe together in no time. Quick and delicious.

apple dumplings
Jump to:
  • What Are Apple Dumplings?
  • Pie Pastry
  • Apples
  • Storing Leftovers
  • Recipe
  • More Apple Recipe Inspiration

This easy apple dumplings recipe is an old family favourite around here, especially at this time of year in the fall when fresh Ontario apples are at their peak. If you're looking for something a bit different from regular old classic apple pie, and a whole lot easier this is the perfect recipe to enjoy this fall or for your Thanksgiving dinner this year.  

What Are Apple Dumplings?

Apple dumplings are a pastry dough wrapped apple or portion of apple, baked in a sweet sauce.  The taste is similar to apple pie, with similar ingredients, but the difference is the special sauce that the dumplings are baked in.  The recipe is thought to have originated around Pennsylvania in the US, and is popular among the Amish.  Some recipes use whole apples, with the core removed and stuffed with cinnamon and sugar.  They are sometimes baked without the sauce, and sometimes served with a caramel sauce. 

My family version uses quartered apples, wrapped in pastry.  The pastry wrapped apples are cooked in a sauce, which is very sweet and contrasts with the tart apples.  The top of the apple dumplings is sprinkled with apple pie spice and the pastry is baked until golden brown.  But because these bake right in the sauce, the rest of the dumpling is kind of doughy and soft, making a nice contrast of textures.  The apple is very tart, and the sauce is perfectly sweet.  I love these served warm with vanilla ice cream.  The ice cream melts into the sauce and you have one of the the most perfect sweet apple desserts.

how to make apple dumplings

Pie Pastry

This is an old family recipe, that my mom and my mom's mom used to make and is a real taste of home for me.  They always made homemade pie crust from scratch, but my version makes it really quick and easy.  Using frozen pastry makes this a quick and easy recipe to put together anytime. You can of course, make the pie pastry from scratch if  you prefer to.  

My mom and Grandma used to often use this recipe to use up pie crust.  If they were making a pie, they'd make a little extra and put a batch of these together with the extra dough.  You can freeze the dumplings at this stage too for another day.  My mom would sometimes make them up, little quarter pieces of apple wrapped in a blanket of pastry and tuck them in the freezer.  It felt like such an unexpected treat when she would pull them out, let them thaw on the counter and then bake them with the sauce for an after dinner treat.  

Store Bought Pastry

Some quick versions of this recipe like to use store bought crescent rolls as an easy replacement of the pastry.  The crescent roll dough is more bready, and not as flaky as a pie dough.  It's just as quick and easy to purchase store-bought pie dough as it is to buy the crescent dough, and I think it makes a more authentic apple dumpling, then the crescent roll apple dumplings.  Some People also like to use biscuit dough, or puff pastry, but I feel frozen pie crust is much closer to authentic old-fashioned apple dumplings.

Some people don't like a store bought pie pastry, finding it tough and not flaky compared to homemade pie pastry dough.  I think for this recipe, where the dumplings are cooked in the sauce, it really isn't very noticable.  I'd say save your homemade pastry efforts for apple pie, and save yourself the effort with this recipe, which turns out really great with the store bought pastry.

This easy recipe is made from simple ingredients, so other than picking up the frozen pastry, during apple season you probably have everything else on hand.This easy recipe is made from simple ingredients, so other than picking up the frozen pastry, during apple season you probably have everything else on hand. 

easy apple dumplings recipe

Apples

I usually make these apple dumplings with Macintosh apples.  They're a great baking apple, and the apple variety my mom and Grandma always favored for making apple pies, and apple crisp and all of their favorite apple desserts.  You can also use granny smith apples.  These are a more of a tart apple, but delicious in baking and favorite apples of many for apple pies, and dumplings.

apple dumplings
easy recipe for apple dumplings
what to do with all the apples you picked

These homemade apple dumplings are  best served warm, and I like to add a little scoop of vanilla ice cream. If you're making them ahead of time, just re-heat before serving -easy peasy.  These are such a delicious apple dessert.  In fact, I much prefer these over traditional apple pie.  Warm dumplings served with a scoop of ice cream are one of life's great pleasures.

These homemade apple dumplings are  best served warm, and I like to add a little scoop of vanilla ice cream. If you're making them ahead of time, just re-heat before serving -easy peasy.  These are such a delicious apple dessert.  In fact, I much prefer these over traditional apple pie.  Warm dumplings served with a scoop of ice cream are one of life's great pleasures.  They are so yummy and they're so easy to make they're sure to become a fall favourite of yours too.

Storing Leftovers

If you have any leftover apple dumplings store them in the fridge in an airtight container, or in the baking dish wrapped with plastic wrap.  Reheat to serve..

easy apple recipe

This is one of my favorite easy dessert recipes.  It's always a crowd pleaser at a dinner party.  Put it into the oven just before having dinner, and enjoy it hot afterwards for a delicious dessert.  If you love all things apple, this is sure to become one of your favorite recipes.  Next time you are looking for an apple dessert, give this fabulous recipe a try.

Recipe

apple dumplings

Easy Apple Dumplings Recipe

Pastry pascals of apples in a sweet sauce.
4 from 1 vote
Print Pin Rate
Course: Desserts
Cuisine: American
Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 45 minutes minutes
Total Time: 55 minutes minutes
Servings: 12
Calories: 273kcal
Author: Dannyelle Nicolle-Ramjist

Ingredients

  • 2 frozen pie shell defrosted -or make your own
  • 3 Macintosh Apples peeled and quartered to make 12 pieces
  • 2 cups white sugar
  • 6 tablespoon flour
  • 4 tablespoon butter
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • 6 cups boiling water
  • sprinkling of cinnamon and nutmeg

Instructions

  • Peel the apples, remove the apple core, and cut each apple into quarters.
  • Cut the pie dough into wedges and wrap each of the 12 pieces of apple in pie dough, trying not to overlap the dough, but making sure the apple is completely covered.
  • Mix sugar, flour, and salt in a large casserole baking dish. Add butter. Slowly add boiling water, and whisk out any lumps of flour.
  • Float dumplings in the sauce, and sprinkle with cinnamon and freshly grated nutmeg over the top of the dumplings.
  • Bake at 350 for about 45 min until the dumplings are golden brown on top. Let cool slightly. Serve warm with vanilla ice cream or whip cream.

Nutrition

Serving: 1g | Calories: 273kcal | Carbohydrates: 55g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 10mg | Sodium: 127mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 43g
Tried this Recipe? Tag me Today!Mention @LifeisaParty or tag #lifeisaparty!

With this easy apple dumpling recipe, life really is a party, even on a rainy day. 😉

easy apple dessert idea

More Apple Recipe Inspiration

You might also like our Homemade Caramel Apples here.

Caramel Apple Recipe: Easy, homemade Caramel Apples, perfect for Christmas gift giving, or anytime of year. Add your favourite toppings.

Also check out our Caramel Apple Trifle here.

Caramel Apple Trifle: layers of cake, caramel, cooked apples, custard, and whipped cream create the perfect fall dessert.

You might also enjoy our Slow Cooker Apple Butter here.

Slow Cooker Apple Butter: this easy recipe using the slow cooker to make delicious apple butter that is smooth, rich and delicious.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Heather Benjamin says

    September 18, 2012 at 9:02 am

    I tried this for a party and was thrilled that I could bake them ahead of time and keep them warm in a regular cooler wrapped in a towel. By the time we were ready to eat them they were the perfect temperature! It was super quick and easy and was a real treat for our guests.

Trackbacks

  1. Top Picks From Happy Hour #2! - Design, Dining + Diapers says:
    October 5, 2016 at 3:13 am

    […] Apple bites by Echoes of Laughter  5) Peanut butter candy cup cookies by Gallamore West  6) Apple Dumplings in a jar by Life is a party  7) Dutch Crumb Cake by Silver Boxes  8) Caramel Apple Granola Bars by Bru Crew Life  […]

  2. Happy Hour 2 -Linky Party Features…. | Craftberry Bush says:
    December 6, 2014 at 12:44 am

    […] by Echoes of Laughter  5) Peanut butter candy cup cookies by Gallamore West  6) Apple Dumplings in a jar by Life is a party  7) Dutch Crumb Cake by Silver Boxes  8) Caramel Apple Granola Bars […]

  3. Top Picks From Happy Hour #2! | Design, Dining + Diapers says:
    September 22, 2012 at 8:17 pm

    [...] Apple bites by Echoes of Laughter  5) Peanut butter candy cup cookies by Gallamore West  6) Apple Dumplings in a jar by Life is a party  7) Dutch Crumb Cake by Silver Boxes  8) Caramel Apple Granola Bars by Bru Crew Life  [...]

  4. Happy Hour Link Party Features {2} | Crafty Scrappy Happy says:
    September 22, 2012 at 7:23 pm

    [...] Apple bites by Echoes of Laughter  5) Peanut butter candy cup cookies by Gallamore West  6) Apple Dumplings in a jar by Life is a party  7) Dutch Crumb Cake by Silver Boxes  8) Caramel Apple Granola Bars by Bru Crew Life  [...]

4 from 1 vote (1 rating without comment)

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