Old-Fashioned Apple Dumplings

Old fashioned apple dumplings are one of my family’s favorite apple desserts. These yummy apples are wrapped in a flaky pastry, and baked with a scrumptious caramel syrup that perfectly offsets the tartness of the apples. As with most apple recipes, be sure to use a firm, tart cooking apple and not an eating apple like red delicious.

For Syrup:
3 c water
2 c sugar
2 T butter
1 tsp vanilla extract

Assemble the Apple Dumplings:

1. Roll pastry into a 16″ x 24″ rectangle, on a light floured pastry board. Cut into six – 8″ x 8″ squares. Place 1 Tbsp butter inside each apple, and place one apple on each square of pastry. Evenly distribute the 3/4 c of brown sugar between the six apples, pushing some into the center of each apple and sprinkling the rest around the base of the apples.
2. Sprinkle 1 tsp cinnamon evenly over the 6 apples.
3. Grate about 1 tsp nutmeg evenly over the apples.
4. Bring two opposite corners of the pastry up to meet directly above the apple; with a slightly damp fingertip dampen both tips of the pastry and pinch together to seal well. Repeat with the other two corners. Next, dampen both sides of each seam and pinch together to seal. Repeat on all four seams until the apple is completely enclosed in the pastry shell. Form the pastry around the apple so it fits rather close. Place in baking pan and repeat with the remaining apples and pastry squares.

Make the Syrup:

1. In a large saucepan, combine 3 c water, 2 c sugar, 2 Tbsp butter, and 1 tsp vanilla extract. Bring the mixture to a boil over medium heat; continue boiling for 5 minutes. Carefully pour the hot syrup around the apple dumplings.
2. Bake in 400° F oven for approximately 55 minutes, until the pastry is golden brown and the syrup is thick and bubbly.
3. Serve the hot apple dumplings in dessert bowls; spoon some of the sauce over the top and finish with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

Preparation time: 15 minute(s)

Cooking time: 55 minute(s)

Number of servings (yield): 6

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