Description
Deliciously tender apple dumplings wrapped in buttery pie crust and baked to golden perfection, drenched in a rich homemade caramel sauce infused with warm spices. This comforting dessert is perfect for cozy gatherings or a delightful treat anytime.
Ingredients
For the Dumplings
- 2 refrigerated pie crusts
- 4 medium apples (Honeycrisp or Granny Smith)
- 2 tablespoons butter, cut into 4 equal pieces
- 5 tablespoons light brown sugar
- ¾ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ¼ teaspoon ground ginger
- ⅛ teaspoon allspice
For the Caramel Sauce
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 6 tablespoons salted butter
- 1 cup heavy cream
- ½ tablespoon vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare Baking Dish. Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) and grease a 9×9 inch baking dish to prevent sticking.
- Roll and Cut Pie Crusts. Combine both refrigerated pie crusts and roll them out into a large rectangle. Cut into four 7×7-inch squares. You may need to re-roll scraps to get the full four squares.
- Mix Spiced Sugar. In a small bowl, stir together light brown sugar, ground cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and allspice until well combined.
- Prepare Apples. Peel and core each apple, making them ready for filling.
- Assemble Dumplings. Place one apple in the center of each dough square. Into the center cavity of each apple, insert one piece of butter and evenly sprinkle one tablespoon of the spiced sugar mixture.
- Seal Dumplings. Carefully gather the dough corners up around each apple and pinch the edges together firmly to seal the apples completely within the dough.
- Place in Baking Dish. Arrange all dough-wrapped apples in the greased baking dish, spaced evenly.
- Make Caramel Sauce – Melt Sugar. In a large saucepan over medium-high heat, pour granulated sugar and whisk constantly until it melts completely and becomes an amber color. Stop whisking once melting begins and watch carefully to avoid burning.
- Add Butter to Caramel. Carefully add the butter and whisk continuously until it is fully incorporated; the mixture will bubble vigorously.
- Add Cream and Flavorings. Remove the pan from heat. Slowly stream in the heavy cream while whisking to combine; be cautious as it will bubble again. Then stir in vanilla extract and salt until smooth.
- Pour Sauce Over Dumplings. Carefully pour the warm caramel sauce over the apples in the baking dish. Sprinkle any remaining spiced sugar mixture over the top of the dumplings.
- Bake Dumplings. Bake in the preheated oven for 50-55 minutes, or until the crust is golden brown and a paring knife inserts easily into the apples.
- Cool and Serve. Let the dumplings cool slightly in the baking dish. Serve warm, spooning some of the caramel sauce over each serving.
Notes
- Use tart apples like Granny Smith or sweet-tart ones like Honeycrisp for the best flavor balance.
- Be attentive when making caramel; sugar can burn quickly once melted.
- You can prepare the dumplings ahead and keep refrigerated until ready to bake.
- Serve with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream for extra indulgence.
- Ensure the dough edges are well sealed to prevent leaks during baking.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 55 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
