Amish Apple Dumpling Recipe
This Amish Apple Dumpling Recipe is made with apples, homemade pastry dough, cinnamon, butter, and brown sugar syrup for a warm dessert.
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Servings: 6
Ingredients
For the Apples
- 6 small to medium apples peeled and cored
For the Brown Sugar Syrup
- 1 2/3 cups water
- 2 cups brown sugar or granulated sugar
- 1/4 cup butter
For the Pastry Dough
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 2/3 cup butter softened
- 1/2 cup milk
For the Brown Sugar Filling
- 6 tbsp brown sugar or more if desired
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 3 tbsp butter cut into 6 equal pieces
Instructions
Prepare the Apples
- Peel and core the apples using an apple corer.
- If an apple corer is unavailable, carefully remove the cores manually with a small knife.
- If needed, cut the apples in half to make coring easier.
- Set the prepared apples aside while making the syrup and dough.
Prepare the Brown Sugar Syrup
- In a small saucepan, combine the water, brown sugar, and butter.
- Place the saucepan over medium heat.
- Bring the mixture to a boil.
- Boil for 3 minutes, stirring as needed.
- Remove the saucepan from the heat.
- Set the syrup aside while preparing the pastry dough.
Prepare the Pastry Dough
- In a medium mixing bowl, combine the all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt.
- Stir until the dry ingredients are evenly distributed.
- Add the softened butter to the flour mixture.
- Mix until the butter is incorporated into the dry ingredients.
- Add the milk.
- Mix just until a soft dough forms.
- Do not overmix the dough.
- Divide the dough into 6 equal portions.
- Shape each portion into a ball.
Assemble the Apple Dumplings
- Lightly flour a work surface.
- Roll out one dough ball until it is large enough to fully enclose one apple.
- Place one peeled and cored apple in the center of the rolled dough.
- Repeat with the remaining dough portions and apples.
- In a small bowl, combine the brown sugar and cinnamon for the filling.
- Spoon approximately 1 tbsp of the brown sugar and cinnamon mixture into the core of each apple.
- Place one piece of butter on top of the brown sugar mixture inside each apple.
- Fold the dough up and around each apple.
- Press and pinch the seams together to seal completely.
- Ensure each apple is fully enclosed in the pastry dough.
- Spray a 9 x 13-inch baking pan with cooking spray.
- Place the wrapped apple dumplings into the prepared baking pan.
Bake the Apple Dumplings
- Preheat the oven to 375°F.
- Pour the prepared brown sugar syrup evenly over the dumplings.
- Transfer the baking pan to the preheated oven.
- Bake for 45 to 60 minutes, or until the apples are tender and the pastry is golden brown.
- If desired, baste the dumplings with the syrup every 15 minutes, or at least halfway through baking, to add more flavor to the pastry.
- Check doneness by inserting a knife or skewer into an apple; it should slide in easily when the apple is tender.
- Remove the baking pan from the oven.
- Allow the dumplings to cool slightly before serving.
- Serve warm with milk, cream, ice cream, or whipped topping, if desired.
- Spoon additional syrup from the pan over each dumpling before serving.
Notes
To make this Amish Apple Dumpling Recipe gluten free, replace the all-purpose flour with a certified gluten-free all-purpose flour blend suitable for pastry or pie dough.
Use a gluten-free flour blend that contains xanthan gum or another binder to help the dough hold together.
Confirm that the baking powder, brown sugar, cinnamon, butter, milk, and cooking spray are labeled gluten free.
If using store-bought pastry as a shortcut, choose certified gluten-free pie dough.
Roll gluten-free dough gently between lightly floured sheets of parchment paper, as it may be more delicate than traditional dough.
Use clean bowls, utensils, rolling pins, baking pans, measuring tools, and work surfaces to prevent cross-contamination.
If serving someone with celiac disease, use certified gluten-free ingredients whenever possible.