A few years ago, my husband’s grandmother (Gross mommy) made apple dumplings for us at a family gathering. I distinctly remember her apple dumplings because they were beyond delicious. Unfortunately, I never got the recipe from her, but this recipe using homemade flaky Amish style pie crust and halved apples (the way she taught my mother-in-law) is as close as I could get to those warm, melt-in-your mouth apple dumplings.
This recipe is easier than it looks, especially if you prep your pie crust ahead to save time. I personally don’t recommend using storebought pie crust for this recipe because using homemade Amish pie crust will give you simply the best apple dumplings!
For more apple and pumpkin desserts, keep scrolling below the recipe card.
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Amish Apple Dumpling Recipe
Ingredients
Pie Crust:
- 4 1/2 cups flour sifted
- 2 cups vegetable shortening (Crisco)
- 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
- 3/4 teaspoon baking powder
- 1- 1 1/4 cups warm water *see note
Caramel sauce:
- 3/4 cup butter
- 1 1/2 cups brown sugar
- dash salt
- 1 1/2 cups water
Apples:
- 6 large apples peeled, cored and halved
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1/4 cup butter
Instructions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees:
- Pie Crust: Sift flour into a bowl, then stir in the rest of the dry ingredients. Add shortening and cut through with dinner knives until shortening is reduced to smaller clumps. Gently mix by hand until only pea sized crumbs remain. Add 1 cup water, then mix gently until well combined and you are able to form a soft ball of dough. Add more water if the dough is too crumbly to roll.
- Caramel Sauce: Place butter and sugar into a 2-quart saucepan and bring to a boil while stirring rapidly to dissolve the sugar. Allow the mixture to cook just long enough to dissolve the brown sugar, then remove from heat and stir in a dash of salt and the water. The sauce will seem thin but thickens during the baking and cooling process.
- Apples: Peel and core the apples, then cut in half by slicing through the center (not top to bottom). Dust the countertop with flour, then portion the pie crust into 6 sections and roll each section into 2, 8 by 8-inch squares (rectangular shapes work too). Place the apples into the center of the dough and sprinkle cinnamon and brown sugar (combined) on top. Press a pat of butter into the center of each apple, then fold the dough over top sealing the apple inside. *See note.
- Pour the caramel sauce into a 13 by 9-inch baking dish and place the wrapped apples on top. If needed, you can use an additional 8-inch pan and divide the sauce between both pans.
- Bake the apple dumplings in the preheated oven for 45-50 minutes. During the last ten minutes of baking, remove the apple dumplings from the heat and brush the sauce liberally over the tops, then return the dumplings to the oven to finish baking. Dumplings are done when the sauce is bubbling, the crust is golden, and the apples are soft in the center.
Notes
More apple and pumpkin treats for you to try this fall:
- Oatmeal apple pie bars
- Spiced apple pie
- Apple cupcakes with salted caramel frosting
- Cinnamon apple pumpkin bread
- Pumpkin whoopie pies
- Pumpkin cookies with caramel frosting
- Pumpkin custard pie
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Step 1: Combine the flour, salt and baking powder for the pie crust. Add shortening and cut through with dinner knives until nice and crumbly. I also mix it by hand until only pea sized lumps remain. Add enough water to create a soft dough that does not split easily when rolled.
Step 2: Caramel Sauce: Place butter and brown sugar into a 2-quart saucepan and bring to a boil while stirring rapidly to dissolve the sugar. Allow the mixture to cook just long enough to dissolve the brown sugar, then remove from heat and stir in a dash of salt and the water. The sauce will seem thin, but thickens during the baking and cooling process.
Note on cooking the caramel sauce:
The caramel sauce can burn easily so be sure to cook the brown sugar and butter just until the brown sugar has dissolved. You will also need to whisk the mixture frequently while it is cooking to avoid burning on the bottom of the pan.
Step 3: Peel and core the apples, then cut in half by slicing through the center (not top to bottom). Dust the countertop with flour, then portion the pie crust into 6 sections and roll each section into 2, 8 by 8-inch squares (rectangular shapes work too). Place the apples into the center of the dough and sprinkle cinnamon and brown sugar (combined) on top. Press a pat of butter into the center of each apple, then fold the dough over top sealing the apple inside.
Will the apple dumplings split open while baking?
I have not had trouble with the dough splitting apart much while baking. To ensure the dough stays sealed, use plenty of dough to seal the apple inside and use water or egg wash to seal the edges.
I rolled my dough for the dumplings into a rectangular shape. While the rectangular shape worked ok, it wasn’t as uniform and pretty as the photos I have seen with 8 by 8 inch square sheets of dough. Feel free to use whichever method works best for you!
Steps 4-5: Pour the caramel sauce into a large 13 by 9-inch baking sheet, then arrange the dumplings on top. Bake the apple dumplings in the preheated oven for 45-50 minutes. During the last ten minutes of baking, remove the apple dumplings from the heat and brush the sauce liberally over the tops, then return the dumplings to the oven to finish baking. Dumplings are done when the sauce is bubbling, the crust is golden, and the apples are soft in the center.
Serve the apple dumplings warm with milk or a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top! These are such a treat on a chilly fall day, especially if you can use freshly harvested apples from your local orchard. 🙂
A note of encouragement for your day:
Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him and he shall direct thy paths. Proverbs 3:5-6
My friend, if you are struggling with discouragement or fear, turn to the bible. So many beautiful verses of encouragement and strength are to be found within its pages!
Happy baking! Feel free to pin this recipe for later and be sure to tag me on Instagram to show off a photo of your creation if you give these apple dumplings a try. Thank you for your support!
