Hot Apple Dumplings Recipe

Sweet & Cozy Hot Apple Dumplings Recipe for Fall Comfort

Warm, golden apple dumplings dance with sweet cinnamon and buttery pastry, making this classic hot apple dumplings recipe a dessert that promises pure comfort.

Flaky dough wraps tender apples in a loving embrace, creating a treat that melts in your mouth.

Autumn’s bounty shines through each carefully crafted dumpling, bursting with rich flavors and homemade charm.

Generations have treasured this simple yet extraordinary dessert, passing down its delicious secrets.

Crisp apples and delicate pastry merge into a symphony of warmth and sweetness that beckons everyone to the table.

Each bite promises a delightful journey through traditional baking magic.

You’ll find this recipe irresistibly simple and wonderfully satisfying.

Prepare to fall in love with a dessert that turns ordinary ingredients into an extraordinary experience.

Hot Apple Dumplings: Cozy Orchard Dessert

  • Gather everyone around this delightful dessert that transforms simple ingredients into a magical treat everyone will love.
  • Minimal preparation steps make these apple dumplings perfect for bakers of all skill levels, from beginners to seasoned pros.
  • Warm cinnamon, tender apples, and buttery biscuit dough combine to deliver a nostalgic, heartwarming dessert that feels like a warm hug.
  • Works brilliantly for casual family dinners, weekend gatherings, potlucks, or spontaneous dessert cravings without complicated techniques.

Ingredients For Warm, Sweet Apple Dumplings

Main Ingredients:
  • Apples: Fresh, firm apples that hold their shape during baking and provide a sweet, tangy base for the dessert.
  • Biscuit Dough: Soft, flaky dough that wraps around the apple slices to create a golden, tender pastry shell.
Liquid Components:
  • Water, Sugar, Butter, Vanilla Extract: A sweet syrup that adds moisture, caramelization, and rich flavor to the apple dumplings.
Finishing Touches:
  • Cinnamon, Sugar: A classic spice and sweetener combination that creates a warm, aromatic topping for the dumplings.

Dumpling Kitchen Tools

  • Baking Pan (9×13 inch): Essential for holding and baking the apple dumplings.
  • Saucepan (medium): Perfect for creating the sweet syrup mixture.
  • Knife: Needed to peel and slice apples precisely.
  • Cutting Board: Provides a clean surface for preparing apples.
  • Measuring Cups: Crucial for accurate sugar and water measurements.
  • Measuring Spoons: Helps measure vanilla extract and cinnamon precisely.
  • Mixing Spoon: Useful for stirring syrup ingredients while heating.
  • Peeler: Makes apple preparation quick and easy.

Steps To Baked Apple Dumpling Bliss

Step 1: Prepare Apples

Wash and dry the apples.

Carefully peel each apple, removing the skin completely.

Remove the core by cutting around it.

Slice each apple into 8 equal wedges.

Set the apple slices aside in a bowl of cold water to prevent browning.

Step 2: Create Delicious Syrup

Grab a medium saucepan and combine:
  • Water
  • Sugar
  • Butter
  • Vanilla extract

Heat the mixture over medium temperature.

Stir continuously until sugar dissolves completely.

Bring the liquid to a rolling boil, then remove from heat.

Step 3: Wrap Apple Treasures

Take refrigerated biscuit dough and gently separate each biscuit into two thin layers.

Carefully wrap each apple slice with a layer of biscuit dough.

Make sure to seal the edges by slightly overlapping the dough at the bottom.

Place the wrapped apple slices sealed-side down in a 9×13 inch baking dish.

Step 4: Pour Magical Syrup

Slowly drizzle the hot sugar mixture over the wrapped apple slices, ensuring each dumpling gets an even coating.

Step 5: Sprinkle Cinnamon Magic

In a small bowl, mix:
  • Remaining sugar
  • Ground cinnamon

Generously sprinkle the cinnamon-sugar mixture over the top of each apple dumpling.

Step 6: Bake to Golden Perfection

Place the baking dish in a preheated oven at 375°F (190°C).

Bake for 35 minutes until the dumplings turn a beautiful golden brown and the dough looks fully cooked.

Step 7: Serve and Enjoy

Remove the dumplings from the oven.

Let them cool for a few minutes.

Serve warm with a scoop of creamy vanilla ice cream for an absolutely irresistible dessert.

Tips For Tender, Spiced Dumplings

  • Soak apple slices in cold water with a splash of lemon juice to keep them fresh and white during preparation.
  • Gently stretch biscuit dough to fully cover apple slices, ensuring no gaps for a clean, sealed appearance.
  • Simmer sugar mixture until slightly thickened for a richer, more glossy coating on the dumplings.
  • Sprinkle a pinch of nutmeg with cinnamon sugar for a warm, complex taste profile.
  • Insert a toothpick into the dough's center to confirm it's fully cooked and not doughy inside.

Dumpling Flavors & Fruit Twists

  • Gluten-Free Apple Dumplings: Replace biscuit dough with gluten-free pie crust or almond flour pastry for celiac-friendly option.
  • Vegan Apple Delight: Substitute butter with coconut oil, use plant-based biscuit dough, and replace sugar with maple syrup or agave nectar.
  • Low-Sugar Apple Wrap: Use sugar substitute like stevia, reduce syrup quantity, and incorporate fresh apple juice for natural sweetness.
  • Nutty Apple Bundle: Add chopped walnuts or pecans inside the dough wrap for extra crunch and nutritional boost.

Ways To Serve Apple Dumplings

  • Cozy Comfort Companions: Serve these warm apple dumplings with a generous scoop of vanilla ice cream, creating a delightful contrast between the hot pastry and cold, creamy sweetness.
  • Breakfast Transformation: Pair the dumplings with a strong morning coffee or chai tea, turning this dessert into a delectable breakfast treat that feels like a special weekend indulgence.
  • Rustic Dessert Plating: Arrange the golden-brown dumplings on a wooden board, dust with extra cinnamon sugar, and garnish with fresh mint leaves for a charming, homemade presentation that enhances the rustic appeal.
  • Family Sharing Style: Place the entire baking pan in the center of the table, letting everyone scoop their own dumpling and create a warm, interactive dining experience that brings everyone together.

Storing Dumplings For The Next Day

  • Store leftover apple dumplings in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Cover the container with plastic wrap or a tight-fitting lid to maintain freshness and prevent absorbing other food odors.
  • Warm individual dumplings for 20-30 seconds on medium power. Check the temperature and add 10-second intervals if needed to reach desired warmth without drying out the pastry.
  • Preheat oven to 350F. Place dumplings on a baking sheet, cover loosely with aluminum foil to prevent excessive browning. Warm for 10-15 minutes until heated through, restoring some of the original crispy texture.

FAQs

  • What ingredients do I need for hot apple dumplings?

You’ll need fresh apples, refrigerated biscuit dough, sugar, butter, vanilla extract, water, and ground cinnamon. Simple pantry staples work perfectly for this delicious dessert.

  • Can I use homemade biscuit dough instead of refrigerated?

Yes, homemade biscuit dough works great. Just ensure it’s rolled thin enough to wrap around apple slices easily and has a similar consistency to store-bought dough.

  • How do I prevent my apple slices from turning brown?

Immediately after slicing, cover the apple pieces with cold water. This helps prevent oxidation and keeps the apple slices looking fresh and white during preparation.

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Hot Apple Dumplings Recipe

Hot Apple Dumplings Recipe


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4.7 from 25 reviews

  • Total Time: 1 hour
  • Yield: 6 1x

Description

Comforting hot apple dumplings bring classic Southern dessert charm to your table. Warm spices and buttery pastry wrap tender apples in a sweet, nostalgic embrace you’ll savor with each delightful bite.


Ingredients

Scale

Fruits:

  • 2 Granny Smith apples

Pastry:

  • 8 Pillsbury buttermilk biscuits (canned)

Seasonings and Liquids:

  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1 cup water
  • 1 stick (113 grams) butter
  • 4 teaspoons ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C), preparing a spacious baking pan for the upcoming dessert.
  2. Carefully peel and core the apples, slicing each vertically into eight uniform segments. Immerse the apple slices in cold water to preserve their pristine appearance.
  3. Craft the aromatic syrup by combining water, sugar, butter, and vanilla extract in a saucepan. Gently heat the mixture, stirring until the sugar completely dissolves and the liquid reaches a rolling boil.
  4. Delicately separate each biscuit layer, enveloping each apple slice with the soft dough. Ensure the edges are securely sealed to prevent any filling from escaping during baking.
  5. Arrange the wrapped apple segments in the prepared baking pan, positioning them with the sealed side facing downward.
  6. Lavishly drench the apple dumplings with the hot, glistening syrup, allowing it to cascade over and around each morsel.
  7. Create a tantalizing cinnamon-sugar topping by thoroughly blending the remaining sugar with ground cinnamon.
  8. Generously dust the cinnamon-sugar mixture across the surface of the dumplings, ensuring an even, appetizing coating.
  9. Transfer the pan to the preheated oven and bake for 35 minutes, watching for a golden-brown transformation and complete pastry cooking.
  10. Remove from the oven and serve immediately while piping hot, optionally crowned with a luxurious scoop of vanilla ice cream for an indulgent finale.

Notes

  • Prevent apple browning by submerging slices in cold water mixed with a splash of lemon juice for extra protection against oxidation.
  • Use refrigerated biscuit dough for quick assembly, or swap with homemade pastry dough for a more traditional texture and richer flavor profile.
  • Customize sweetness by adjusting sugar levels or substituting with alternative sweeteners like honey or maple syrup for a different taste experience.
  • Create gluten-free version by using gluten-free biscuit dough or making a grain-free pastry wrap with almond flour for those with dietary restrictions.
  • Prep Time: 25 minutes
  • Cook Time: 35 minutes
  • Category: Desserts, Snacks
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: American

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 6
  • Calories: 360
  • Sugar: 22 g
  • Sodium: 410 mg
  • Fat: 17 g
  • Saturated Fat: 10 g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
  • Trans Fat: 0 g
  • Carbohydrates: 54 g
  • Fiber: 1 g
  • Protein: 3 g
  • Cholesterol: 30 mg
Marcus Reed

Marcus Reed

Founder & Food Content Creator

Expertise

Single-recipe development, Seasonal and local ingredient utilization, Food photography and styling, Culinary writing and content creation​

Education

Culinary Arts Certificate, Blue Ridge Community and Technical College, WV
Focus: Fundamentals of culinary techniques, emphasizing hands-on experience in small-scale kitchen settings.


Marcus’s story begins in Asheville, where good food and family kitchens shaped his earliest memories. After hands-on culinary training and a lot of trial (and a little error), he realized that real cooking isn’t about perfection, it’s about connection.
At Pan and Oven, Marcus crafts recipes that are easy to follow, packed with flavor, and built for real kitchens.

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