Old-fashioned Apple Dumplings with Pecan Raisin Sauce
Old-fashioned apple dumplings are a dessert that are super fun to make and it looks adorable wrapped in a flaky, golden brown, pastry shell, smothered in a “secret sauce.”
Traditional dipping sauce for apple dumplings is a brown sugar sauce. However, adding roasted pecans and raisins to the sauce adds an elegance to a rich nutty taste.
This Ambrosial dessert leaves you feeling full and completely satisfied with each scrumptious bite.
Another favorite is Baked Apple Cobbler or Baked Brown Sugar Apples
Among all apple inspired desserts Apple Crisp with Oats is my favorite.
Recipe Highlights
- This old-fashioned apple dumpling recipe yields 4 servings.
- You may use any apple you prefer, however, my favorite is honey crisp. Tart apples like golden delicious and pink lady are ideal for baking, too.
- For quicker prep time, use an electric peeler and an apple slicer.
- This dish is a great way to use freshly picked apples from the orchard.
- When using pre-made pie crusts this recipe is easy to put together.
How to Make Apple Dumplings
- Peel and core apples. Peel and core apples, by using an apple corer or pairing knife.When using a pairing knife Poke the tip of a pairing knife into the top of the apple. Carefully cutting around the core of the apple. After you swivel the knife around the core of the apple, push the core out with your thumb, and swivel the knife around the inside of the apple. Lastly, remove any seeds or stringy pieces of apple.
- Soak apples in salted water or lemon-lime soda. Place apples in a bowl of lemon-lime soda or salted water. Generally, apples tend to brown fast, by soaking apples in salted water or lemon lime soda you will prevent unwanted browning.
- Flour surface and roll. Lightly flour the surface and roll out the pie crust. Place one apple on one square of pie crust. You should be able to fold in each side diagonally and cover the entire top of the apple. Do not over-stretch dough or over bend dough. A rule of thumb for apple dumplings is to have a 7-inch square to cover each apple. Make sure you have enough dough to cover each apple.
- Season and fold. Place each apple into a 7 inch square of pie crust, season apples generously with cinnamon sugar, and fill the inside of the apples about halfway with the cinnamon sugar mixture. Top with 1/4 tablespoon of butter and place it on the inside of each apple.
- Fold pie crust over apples. Fold pie crust over each apple, take a corner of pie crust and fold over diagonally. Make a stem with excess pie crusts or cut off and fold in designs. Some people enjoy making leaves out of excess remains of pie crust.However, I just made a design and winged it. Needless to say, the apples turned out great.
- Put in a pan and bake. Place apples into a pan and bake dumplings for 1 hour. Every 20 minutes be sure to spoon ” secret sauce” over each dumpling. Making for a tasty golden browned crust. Warmed dumplings go best with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. Yummy!
Ingredients & Substitutions
- 4 Honey Crisp Apples ( or any apple you prefer)
- Cinnamon sugar
- Pie crusts
- Butter
- Brown Sugar
- Water
- Roasted Chopped Pecans
- Raisins
Can Apple Dumplings Be Frozen?
Yes, you can freeze-baked or unbaked apple dumplings. Place apple dumplings on baking sheet and place in freezer. Allow apples to harden then wrap each dumpling with parchment paper and aluminum foil to prevent freezer burn. Lastly, Place apples into a freezer friendly bag. Apples should store well for three months.
How do you store leftover Apple Dumplings?
You can store apple dumplings in an airtight container and keep them out at room temperature for two days or store apple dumplings in an airtight container and store them in the fridge for about 4 days.
How long can you keep Apple Dumplings in the fridge?
Four days if stored in an airtight container or kept at room temperature in an airtight container for two days.
What is the origin of Apple Dumplings?
The first recorded apple dumplings were made in England in the 18th century and known to be native to the northeastern united states around Pennsylvania.
When enjoyed the apple is baked in a pastry shell seasoned with cinnamon, sugar, and topped with butter. And who can forget about the “secret sauce?” Yum!
It’s by no surprise this decadent treat has its own holiday. National apple dumpling day, which is celebrated on September 17th .Where apple lovers all over the world enjoy this dessert in a variety of ways.
How do you heat Apple Dumplings?
First ,bake apples covered in foil at 350 degrees for about 10-12 minutes.Covering apples with aluminum foil prevents pie crust from overcooking. You may reheat in a toaster oven covered with foil as well.
Old-fashioned Apple Dumplings
See how easy it is to make apple dumplings using pre made pie crusts. This dessert is ready to bake in no time and the "secret sauce" makes this dessert a savory treat.
Ingredients
- For Apples
- 4 honey crisp apples
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 2 pie crusts
- Cinnamon sugar seasoning
- For Sauce
- 2 cups of brown sugar
- 2 cups of Water
- 4 tablespoons butter
- 3 tablespoons chopped pecans
- 1 tablespoon raisins
Instructions
- Peel and core apples. Peel and core apples, by using a pairing knife or an apple corer. If using a pairing knife, poke the tip of a pairing knife into the top of the apple while holding the apple. Cut around the core of the apple. Once you swivel the knife around the core of the apple, push the core out with your thumb. Once the core is removed take your pairing knife and swivel around the inside of the apple, removing any seeds or stringy pieces of apple.
- Soak apples in salted water or lemon-lime soda. Placing apples in a bowl of lemon-lime soda or salted water will prevent apples from browning. while you prep the sauce and prepare the apples. Apples tend to brown fast, so soaking apples in salted water or lemon lime soda will prevent unwanted browning.
- Flour surface and roll. Lightly flour the surface and roll out the pie crust. Place one apple in the middle of the pie crust. Cut a square that is large enough to fold over the whole apple. You should be able to fold in each side diagonally and cover the entire top of the apple. Do not over-stretch dough or over bend dough. A rule of thumb for apple dumplings is to have a 7-inch square to cover each apple.
- Season and fold. Place each apple into a 7-inch square pie crust, season apples generously with cinnamon sugar, and fill the inside of the apples about half way with the cinnamon sugar mixture. Once seasoned, take 1/4 tablespoon of butter and place it on the inside of each apple.
- Fold pie crust over apples. Fold pie crust over each apple, take a corner of pie crust and fold over diagonally. Fold in each side. Once folded, you can cut off the excess top and make a stem or push inward and make a design. Some people enjoy making leaves out of excess remains of pie crust. I just made my own design and winged it. Needless to say, the apples turned out great. The pecan raisin sauce also added a decorative touch over top of the dumplings.
- Put in a pan and bake. Place apples into a pan and bake dumplings for 1 hour. Every 20 minutes be sure to spoon "secret sauce" over each dumpling.
For Sauce
- Add ingredients to the saucepan and heat to a simmer. Add all ingredients to a medium-sized saucepan and heat to a soft boil. Once the sauce reaches a soft boil, remove from heat, stir, and set aside. Viola! your " secret sauce" is done.
- Spoon sauce over apples. Spoon sauce over apples every 20 minutes for a golden browned crust. Once the apples are done, pour the desired amount of brown sugar sauce over the apple dumpling serving and enjoy.
Notes
- Make sure to coat apples with "secret sauce" every 20 minutes.
- For an extra crispy crust bake apples for an additional 10 minutes at 450 degrees.
- Add apples to a bowl of cold salted water to prevent browning.
- The rule of thumb is 1/2 teaspoon of salt per 1 cup of water and soak for about 5-10 minutes.
- You may also soak apples in lemon-lime soda. Do so by submerging apples in lemon-lime soda and soaking them for 5 minutes. Rinse and pat dry with a paper towel.
- Recipe tip: You may have extra pie crust left over depending on the size of your apples. Store pie crust wrapped in parchment paper,and covered in saran wrap. Additional Dishes using pre-made pie crusts: chicken pot pie, empanadas, apple pie, cherry pie, or buttery crackers.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 4 Serving Size: 1 cupAmount Per Serving: Calories: 458Total Fat: 23.08gSaturated Fat: 12gCholesterol: 47mgSodium: 155.7mgCarbohydrates: 166.7gFiber: 17.8gSugar: 127.2g