Old Fashioned Apple Dumplings

Name: Old Fashioned Apple Dumplings
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 50 min
Total time: 1 h 20 min
Yield: 6
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 6 large Granny Smith green apples, peeled and cored; 2 9-inch pie crusts; 1/2 cup packed brown sugar; 1 teaspoon cinnamon; 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg; 1/2 teaspoon salt; 6 tablespoons butter; 2 cups apple cider; 3 tablespoons brown sugar; 2 tablespoons butter; 1 teaspoon vanilla extract; 1 teaspoon cinnamon

by: Jessica

published: Feb 6, 2023

updated: Feb 13, 2023

4.3 (3 Reviews)

A Wholesome, Old-Timey Dessert Recipe

Sometimes old recipes are the best, and if you taste a bite of these tender, flaky apple dumplings, I’m sure you’ll agree this is one of them. When fresh apples are in season, this is one of my all-time favorite ways to use them. Each pastry-wrapped apple is a cute, warmly-spiced indulgence!

I also find that this recipe is easy, with just the right amount of “work” involved to be a fun project. Want to get the kids helping in the kitchen? This is great for that! Mixing the filling, stuffing the apples, rolling the pie crust, and pinching the seams shut are all safe, fun things that even smaller children can help with.

(If you like this recipe, be sure to check out these Easy Cranberry Apple Dumplings, Mountain Dew Apple Dumplings, and Rum Apple Dumplings.)

An apple dumpling with sauce on a small plate.

Where Do Apple Dumplings Come From?

In the United States, apple dumplings seem to have originated in Pennsylvania, and they are still a favorite recipe for the Pennsylvania Dutch and Amish. Served for breakfast as well as dessert, they’re a menu staple! Apple dumplings that are boiled (sort of like pierogi or ravioli) have also been popular around the world.

Apple dumpling ingredients measured and arranged on a marble cutting board.

What Are Apple Dumplings Made Of?

Apple dumplings are basically made of apple pie ingredients, so if you have baked apple pies before, this will be very familiar to you. Here’s what you’ll need.

For the Dumplings

Apples: Large, Granny Smith green apples, peeled and cored.
Pie Crusts: You’ll need two 9-inch pie crusts, either store-bought or homemade. (Try my Easy Homemade Pie Crust recipe for a quick tutorial on making your own!)
Brown Sugar: Be sure to pack the brown sugar into your measuring cup for accuracy. Light brown sugar gives a pleasingly warm, homey flavor, while dark brown sugar will add a more intense molasses taste.
Spices: I use cinnamon and nutmeg – you could also go with apple pie spice.
Salt
Butter: Salted or unsalted is fine. If you use salted butter, you may want to slightly reduce the amount of salt in the filling mixture.

For the Sauce

Apple Cider: Plain apple cider, not hard cider.
Brown Sugar: Again, you can choose light or dark depending on how intense you want the molasses flavor to be.
Butter
Vanilla: Pure vanilla extract.
Cinnamon: Or apple pie spice.

Two servings of apple desserts on earthenware plates.

How to Make Old-Fashioned Apple Dumplings

Who wouldn’t adore a juicy, baked apple covered in flaky pastry? Here’s how to make melt-in-your-mouth, homemade apple dumplings.

Get Ready to Bake. First things first: go ahead and preheat your oven to 375°F, and grease a 9×13 inch baking pan with butter.
Roll and Cut the Crusts. Divide the pie crust into 6 equal portions, and roll each one out into a square (or circle) about seven inches across. You want the pieces to be large enough to wrap completely around the apples.

A piece of pie dough with a cored apple in the center and a dish of cinnamon filling.

Place and Fill the Apples. Place an apple in the center of each pie crust, with the center core facing upward. Then whisk together the brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. Divide this mixture between the apples, poking some inside each core, and sprinkling the rest around the base of each apple.

An apple partially wrapped in raw pastry.

Add Butter and Seal the Crusts. Slice the butter into 6 even slices, and place one piece of butter in the opening of each apple. Fold the edges of the dough over the apple, to create the dumpling. Be sure to pinch the edges together to seal the dough, so that the juices and steam stay inside and cook the apple. Carefully move the dumplings to your prepared baking pan.

Six pastry-wrapped apples in a baking dish.

Make the Sauce. Now that the dumplings are ready to bake, place a medium-sized saucepan over medium-high heat, and add all of the sauce ingredients to it. Stir constantly while the mixture comes to a boil. Once the sugar has dissolved, boil the sauce for one more minute, and then take it off of the heat to cool for about five minutes.
Add Sauce to Dumplings, and Bake. Carefully pour the sauce over the dumplings, and then place them in the preheated oven for 50 to 55 minutes, or until the apples are tender and the pie crusts are golden brown.

Unbaked dumplings with sauce in a baking dish.

Rest and Serve. Let the apple dumplings rest for 10 minutes, and then serve them up with ice cream and the sauce from the baking dish drizzled on top.

Baked apple dumplings in a white baking dish.

Do You Eat Apple Dumplings Cold or Hot?

You can serve apple dumplings cold, hot, or anywhere in between. My favorite way to serve them is warm, with ice cream. Whipped cream would also be fantastic!

An old fashioned apple dumpling cut in half on a plate.

Baker’s Notes

So there you have it, a scrumptiously old-fashioned dessert that the whole family will devour. This is a special recipe to pull out during fall and winter when apples are in season! Check out these helpful tips for baking up the perfect batch.

The Best Apples for Apple Dumplings: I like to use green granny smith apples, because they give the perfect amount of tartness. However, you can use any apple you like! Fuji, Honey Crisp, or Snapdragon apples are great in these dumplings too.
Apple Cider: If you don’t have apple cider, you can also use apple juice. Apple cider just adds an extra depth of flavor.
Cinnamon Candies: If you want to switch it up, you can add cinnamon imperials (red hot candies) to the center of your apples before wrapping them. This retro twist on the classic adds a spicy cinnamon center to each dumpling.

A baked apple in pastry with cinnamon sauce and a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

Storing and Reheating

Store leftover apple dumplings in an airtight container in the fridge, for up to 3 days. Reheat before serving in the oven at 350°F.

Can I Freeze This Recipe?

Yes, you can! Just place cooled, individual portions in freezer containers or bags, and keep in your freezer for up to three months. Reheat in a 350°F oven until warmed through, covering loosely with foil if the dumplings start to get too brown.

Yield: 6