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Cozy Apple Dumplings with Cinnamon Sugar Sauce

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These cozy apple dumplings are a simple, comforting dessert made with tender apples wrapped in flaky pie crust and baked in a warm cinnamon sugar sauce. Perfect for last-minute potlucks or weeknight treats, they come together in under an hour with basic pantry ingredients.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 4 medium apples (Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, or Fuji), peeled, cored, and cut into quarters
  • 1 box (14.1 ounces) refrigerated pie crusts (e.g., Pillsbury)
  • 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
  • 1/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/2 cup light brown sugar, packed
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg (optional)
  • 1 1/2 cups water
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • Pinch of salt

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
  2. Prepare the apples: Peel, core, and quarter your apples. Cut each apple into 8 wedges. Toss with 1 tablespoon of lemon juice if desired to prevent browning.
  3. Roll out the pie crusts: Let refrigerated crusts sit at room temperature for 15 minutes. On a lightly floured surface, roll each crust out slightly to make it thinner. Cut each crust into 4 equal pieces (like a pizza) to get 8 pieces total.
  4. Assemble the dumplings: Place 2-3 apple wedges in the center of each pie crust piece. Fold the corners up and over the apples, pinching the edges to seal. Place each dumpling seam-side down in a greased 9×13 inch baking dish.
  5. Brush with butter and sprinkle with cinnamon sugar: In a small bowl, mix 1/4 cup sugar with 1 teaspoon cinnamon. Brush the tops of the dumplings with melted butter, then sprinkle generously with the cinnamon sugar mixture.
  6. Make the sauce: In a small saucepan, combine 1 cup granulated sugar, 1/2 cup brown sugar, 2 tablespoons butter, 1 tablespoon cinnamon, 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg, and 1 1/2 cups water. Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring occasionally. Reduce heat and simmer for 2-3 minutes until sugar is dissolved and sauce thickens slightly. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla and a pinch of salt.
  7. Pour the sauce over the dumplings: Carefully pour the hot sauce around the dumplings (not directly on top) so it comes about halfway up the sides.
  8. Bake for 35-40 minutes until the crust is golden brown and apples are tender. Test by poking a dumpling with a fork—it should slide in easily.
  9. Let them rest for 5-10 minutes before serving to allow the sauce to thicken.

Notes

Don’t overfill the dumplings—2-3 apple wedges per dumpling is perfect. Seal edges well to prevent bursting. Use glass or ceramic baking dish to avoid metallic taste. Let dumplings rest after baking for sauce to thicken. If tops brown too fast, tent with foil. For vegan version, use plant-based pie crust and vegan butter. For gluten-free, use gluten-free pie crust. Can be assembled a day ahead and refrigerated unbaked.

Nutrition

Keywords: apple dumplings, cinnamon sugar sauce, easy dessert, fall dessert, comfort food, apple recipe, pie crust dessert

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