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Old Fashioned Apple Dumplings

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These nostalgic apple dumplings feature grated Granny Smith apples rolled up in a homemade dough, then baked in a luscious cinnamon-brown sugar syrup until golden and syrupy. The soft, bread-like dough soaks up the caramel sauce while juicy apples melt inside for a comforting dessert that tastes straight from Grandma’s kitchen. Serve warm with vanilla ice cream for an irresistible treat perfect for fall or any cozy gathering.
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Prep Time 40 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 20 minutes
Servings: 12 servings
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Calories: 485
Ingredients Equipment Method Nutrition Notes

Ingredients
  

For the Dough
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 3/4 cup butter room temperature
  • 1/2 cup milk
For the Filling
  • 4 Granny Smith apples grated, skin on, core removed
  • 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1/2 cup white sugar
For the Caramel Sauce
  • 2 cups water
  • 2 cups brown sugar
  • 1/4 cup butter
  • 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon

Equipment

  • 9x13-inch casserole dish
  • Oven
  • Pastry blender
  • Mixing bowl
  • Rubber spatula
  • Rolling Pin
  • Grater
  • Small saucepan
  • Knife
  • Cutting board

Method
 

  1. Set the oven to 400°F (200°C) and mist a 9x13-inch casserole dish with nonstick spray; put aside.
  2. Combine flour, salt, baking powder, and room temperature butter in a bowl. Use a pastry blender to blend until the mixture is crumbly.
  3. Stir in the milk, adding 1/4 cup at a time, and mix with a rubber spatula until a dough forms.
  4. Lightly flour your work surface and roll out the dough into a rectangle roughly 10x14 inches.
  5. Evenly distribute the grated apples over the rolled-out dough.
  6. Sprinkle the apples with cinnamon and white sugar.
  7. Starting from a long side, tightly roll up the dough, making a log similar to a cinnamon roll.
  8. Slice the rolled dough into 1 1/4-inch thick pieces.
  9. Arrange the dumplings in the prepared casserole dish, leaving space between each one for expansion.
  10. For the sauce, combine water, brown sugar, butter, and cinnamon in a small saucepan. Bring to a simmer.
  11. Pour the hot caramel sauce evenly over all of the dumplings.
  12. Bake for 35 minutes, until the tops are golden and the sauce is bubbling.
  13. Serve warm, either plain or with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

Nutrition

Calories: 485kcal

Notes

You can swap Granny Smith apples for other tart, firm varieties like Honeycrisp or Braeburn, but avoid apples that turn mushy when baked. If you want to prepare ahead, assemble the dumplings in the dish (without the sauce), cover, and refrigerate up to 2 days; make and pour the sauce just before baking. Leftovers keep well in the fridge for 3 days and reheat best in the oven at 350°F, covered, to preserve texture. These dumplings also freeze well—just freeze in a single layer before transferring to a freezer bag for up to 3 months. Serve warm with vanilla ice cream or extra caramel sauce for a classic finish.

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