Food

The BEST Apple Dumpling Recipe

It’s not quite apple picking time here in Kentucky; but, I visited an orchard last week and it was amazing. Standing right there in the middle of the field of gorgeous apples, my food ideas were flowing on what I could do with each type. My husband’s favorite fruit is an apple; and since he’s allergic to raw apples, my mind was going through what he would love with those cooked ones. Apple cake? Or fried apples? Perhaps apple pie? Nope. I was going to conquer an apple dumpling recipe that would cook them enough for him to eat and yet hold together.

Challenge, I know!

Now, you know that I love “putting up” fresh produce like with the carrot cake jam, freezer corn, fresh herbs or marinara sauce recipes that I have shared. I am always up for creating new recipes with fresh produce and this now included an apple dumpling recipe!

Coal Creek Orchard owners are amazing. With a commercial kitchen at the orchard, I was in love with all of the recipes that she had at her fingertips. They are famous for their fried apple pies and apple fritters that they have available during the Apple Festival. Planning on joining them this year! Check them out on Facebook if you are close by. Seriously! During the year, they take orders for bagels, donuts, breads and many other baked goods. Kristie even has bread making classes. I may have to drive the distance just to learn from her many talents.

These apples will be ready for picking in a couple of weeks. Aren’t these perfect for an apple dumpling?

We looked through her recipes and had a great visit. But, no apple dumpling recipe was among her recipes.

I was so ready to try some of these great picked apples for a new apple dumpling recipe creation of my own.

Now, you can begin with a puff pastry or make your own pie crust; but, I happened to have pie crust in my fridge that needed to be used.

I am a huge fan of fried apples and have made them for decades. Simply peel, slice and add them to a skillet with butter, brown sugar and cinnamon and cook until they are tender. My husband loves them. But, I digress!

Back to the apple dumpling recipe!

First, set out the pie crust to soften for a few minutes before you begin.

Not your usual way to handle pie crust, but helps when you are shaping it around each apple. I rolled out the pie crust and cut it into 4 squares to wrap around the apples, making sure that the size of the apples would be able to be covered by each square. Save one square to cut out little leaves for the top.

To make certain that the pie crust or puff pastry square will cover your apples, keep in mind the size of your apples!

To insure that the apple would hold it’s shape as much as possible for this recipe, I simply cored them, removing most of the cores and seeds; but, not cutting all the way through the bottom. Remember, that apple needs to hold its contents.

Next, I made a mixture of brown sugar, granulated sugar, cinnamon and fresh grated nutmeg mixed in a small mixing bowl.

In the center of each apple, I added a t of softened butter in the bottom and a T of the sugar mixture.

Add the butter and sugar mixture to the center and begin pulling that pie crust around to cover completely.
My crust was in a circle, so I stretched it to make more of a square as I pulled and wrapped it around the apple.

Before I began wrapping the apples with the pie crust, I made an egg wash.

For the egg wash, simply mix one egg and a T of milk together and set aside.

Next, wrap the pie crust around each apple.

As you wrap each apple, make sure to prevent holes from showing apple through the crust.

It’s now time to make leaves from the pie crust section that you aren’t using to wrap each apple.

If you have those cute little miniature leaf cutters, cut out leaves from the pie crust and add them to the top of the apples with egg wash.

TIP: You can cut the shape of a leaf with a knife if you don’t have the cutters.

After adding the leaves to the top of the apple dumpling, brush with egg wash.

Brush the entire apple with egg wash and sprinkle with a bit of sugar.

Before baking, I added a touch of the brown sugar mixture to the leaves.

See the break in the dough? I went back and stretched the dough to completely cover it. Then sprinkle it with sugar and add brown sugar mixture to the leaves. Ready to bake apple dumpling!

Next, just follow the baking directions on the apple dumpling recipe!

I baked mine longer (50 minutes) to make certain that the apple was falling apart and the crust was golden.

Use your own judgment on when you think they are still holding their shape and the crust is baked.

Here’s the apple dumpling recipe I created…husband approved! That always makes my heart happy!

Apple Dumplings

The best apple dumpling recipe for an amazing dessert–especially during apple picking season!
5 from 6 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Course Dessert
Servings 6

Equipment

  • oven
  • Knife or apple corer
  • measuring spoons/cups
  • Miniature leaf cookie cutters

Ingredients
  

  • 6 apples Your choice on your favorite type!
  • 2 pie crusts home made or refrigerated
  • 1/2 C granulated sugar
  • 1/4 C brown sugar, packed
  • 1/2 t cinnamon
  • 1/4 t nutmeg, fresh grated
  • 3 T butter, softened

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  • Set pie crust out a few minutes before beginning to make sure that it is soft enough to wrap around each apple. Cut each crust into 4 sections.
  • Select 6 apples that will fit the size of 1/4 of each pie crust.
  • Peel apples and cut out the core and seeds leaving the core attached at the bottom so contents will not leak out of the bottom of each apple.
  • Make an egg wash by mixing 1 egg and 1 T milk. Set aside until ready to begin.
  • Mix together the brown sugar, granulated sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg in a small mixing bowl.
  • Add 1 t. butter to the bottom of the center of each apple and add 1 T sugar mixture on top of the butter.
  • Carefully stretch and wrap 1/4 of the pie crust around each apple, making sure to cover. You will have a little bit of an opening in the center of the top.
  • Using little cookie cutters or a knife, cut out leaf shapes and add to the top of each apple with egg wash under and on top.
  • Brush a little egg wash on the apple (avoid the bottom) and sprinkle with granulated sugar. I also sprinkled the leaves with a bit more of the brown sugar mixture for color and flavor.
  • Add the dumplings to a butter greased baking dish, making sure that you keep them separated.
  • Bake in a 350 degree oven for 40 minutes or until golden brown and the apple is done.
  • Serve with ice cream or whipped cream while warm. Enjoy!

Notes

The fresh apples with this recipe were amazing–so, don’t miss the opportunity to make these during apple picking season in the fall! 
NOTE: I cooked some of my apples a little longer-50 minutes to insure that they were completely cooked for my husband’s allergies…which meant those “collapsed” and fell apart and looked more like a wonderful apple pie. Cook them less-40 minutes to keep them like those in the featured photo! And, again, the size of your apples will determine baking time.
Hope you will enjoy and pin this one!
Keyword apple dessert, apple dumpling, apple dumpling recipe, apple harvest, apple picking, apples

Here’s the finished apple dumpling!

What do you think? I wish your feet were under my table for this one!

This is the one of the apple dumplings that I cooked longer and “collapsed” letting me know those apples were truly cooked! Perfection!

The miniature cookie cutters I used were purchased from William Sonoma many years ago, but I have linked affiliate linked ones similar to them below for your convenience if you’d love to order them…at no additional cost to you, but will help this blog to grow.

I am now off to discover more apple recipes with these apples. Adding grated apples to that zucchini bread recipe is happening next.

How about you? What apple recipes are you looking forward to making? I’d love to know in the comments.

More of my friends are sharing Apple Picking recipes and inspiration here! I hope you will join all of us as we all prepare for Apple picking time!

Out Tiny Nest - apple cinnamon french toast casserole
Our Tiny Nest
Apple Cinnamon French toast casserole
Midwest Life and Style– Apple Fritter Monkey Bread
Cottage on Bunker Hill– Apple Wreath
Shop at Blue - Apple Cobbler
Shop at Blu
Apple Cobbler
This Dear Casa- Baked Apples for Two
easy crockpot apple butter
A Loverly Life
Easy Crockpot Apple Butter
Blue Sky At Home – Apple Crostata
Ikorn Crafts– Apple Swag

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