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cider basted apple dumplings

(11 ratings)
souxie avatar
Blue Ribbon Recipe by
Susan Bickta
@souxie
Kutztown, PA

This recipe is a version of my husband's Mom-Mom Bessie's recipe. She made the BEST apple dumplings. Of course, she had no measurements and just "dumped" the ingredients. I was lucky enough to have spent a few days with her in her kitchen to learn how she made some of her wonderful dishes. These apple dumplings are the closest I could get to hers. I use cider to make the simple syrup to baste the dumplings but have already made the syrup by adding the apple parings to the boiling syrup and letting it boil for about 4-5 minutes, cool, then strain before pouring over the dumplings.

Blue Ribbon Recipe

Prepare for your kitchen to smell like fall while these apple dumplings bake. We love the flavor the simple cider syrup adds. Sprinkling the pastry-wrapped apples with a cinnamon sugar mixture adds a little crust on top. A wonderful fall dessert.

— The Test Kitchen @kitchencrew
(11 ratings)
yield 4 serving(s)
prep time 20 Min
cook time 1 Hr
method Bake

Ingredients For cider basted apple dumplings

  • SIMPLE CIDER SYRUP
  • 1 c
    sugar
  • 1/2 tsp
    cinnamon
  • 1/4 c
    water
  • 3/4 c
    apple cider (or apple juice)
  • PASTRY
  • 2 c
    all-purpose flour
  • 3/4 tsp
    salt
  • 2/3 c
    butter flavor shortening
  • 6-7 Tbsp
    ice cold water
  • APPLES
  • 4 md
    cooking apples (cortland, macintosh or granny smith)
  • 4 tsp
    butter
  • 4 Tbsp
    cinnamon sugar
  • 4 Tbsp
    sanding sugar, for garnish

How To Make cider basted apple dumplings

Test Kitchen Tips
To make the cinnamon sugar for inside the apples, we combined 4 Tbsp of sugar with about 1 Tbsp of cinnamon. Use less or more cinnamon based on how cinnamony you want it.
  • Oven preheating to 350 degrees.
    1
    Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Generously coat an 8"X8" baking dish with cooking spray. Set aside. (If apples are large and do not fit, use a bigger baking dish.)
  • Sugar, cinnamon, water, and apple cider in a small saucepan.
    2
    Simple Cider Syrup: Combine the sugar, cinnamon, water, and apple cider in a small saucepan. Mix well and bring to a boil. Let boil, stirring often, for 5-6 minutes. Remove from heat and set aside to cool.
  • Rolling pastry dough into a circle.
    3
    Pastry: In a large bowl, stir together the flour and salt. Using a pastry blender, cut in shortening until crumbs are formed and pieces are the size of small peas. Sprinkle 1 tablespoon of water at a time over the flour mixture. Gently toss with a fork and push the moistened dough to the side of the bowl. Repeat until dough holds together. Divide into 4 equal portions, forming each into a ball, and flatten out to make 4 discs. Cover and set aside.
  • Peeled apples cut in half and stuffed with cinnamon sugar and butter.
    4
    Apple prep: Peel apples, cut them in half, and remove seeds. Place 1 teaspoon of butter into each of 4 apple half cavities. Divide cinnamon sugar evenly between apples, placing other half of apple on top of "filled" half. Press lightly together (butter should act as a "glue" to hold halves together). Set aside.
  • Dough wrapped around the apples.
    5
    To prepare pastry: On a lightly floured surface, roll each douch disc into a circle about 1/8" thick. Place a filled apple in the center of each dough circle. Moisten the edges of the pastry with water and bring the dough up around the apples, being careful not to tear the pastry. Press edges together on top of the apple to seal.
  • Apple cider syrup poured over wrapped apples in a baking dish.
    6
    Place wrapped apples in the prepared baking dish. Gently pour cider syrup evenly over apples and sprinkle with sanding sugar.
  • Cider Basted Apple Dumplings baking in the oven.
    7
    Bake for 55-60 minutes or until pastry is golden. Serve warm.
  • Last Step: Don't forget to share! Make all your friends drool by posting a picture of your finished recipe on your favorite social network. And don't forget to tag Just A Pinch and include #justapinchrecipes so we can see it too!
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