Apple Dumplings

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Amish Apple Dumplings are apples wrapped in a buttery, homemade dough and baked in a cinnamon-brown sugar syrup. One of the best apple recipes to make for a delicious fall dessert!

3 apple dumplings in a pan with a spoon

Apple Dumplings. Although we often share with you our best “grandma” recipes, this is unfortunately not one of those. But it is every bit as good and deserves to be passed on to the next generation.

Apple dumplings are fresh apples that have dough wrapped around them, then baked in a sweet sauce. If you’ve never had one, drop what you’re doing and try one today. They are my favorite apple dessert.

This recipe came from my favorite Amish Cooking cookbook that I got the year I was married (from my grandma! 😊).

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ Reader Kim says, “Hands down match to the real deal. Followed the recipe EXACTLY. I live in Lancaster county, pa and know Amish food. Do not change anything to the dough. I got six smaller Apple dumplings out of the recipe.”

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ Reader Janet says, “I’ve made this recipe several times, with RAVE REVIEWS!! I sell my baked goodies, and Apple Dumplings are 1 of my best sellers. I use ½ an apple to make 6 Dumplings, since my apples were larger. They are fun to make too!!”

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ Reader K Vernon says, “WOW and WOW! These are truly amazing. My 10 year old said this is one of the best desserts he’s ever had, and we eat a lot of dessert around here. Thank you for sharing!”

Why you’ll love this apple dumpling recipe:

  • It’s a traditional Pennsylvania Dutch recipe eaten for breakfast (brilliant) or a dessert.
  • Soft homemade dough.
  • Sweet syrup that pairs well with a tangy apple.
  • Delicious served warm with a scoop of ice cream.
ice cream over an apple dumpling on a plate

What are the best apples for apple dumplings?

Choose any type of apple that is good for baking such as Granny Smith apples (which we love for their tartness), Honeycrisp apples, Pink Lady, Braeburn, Jonathan and Gala. Granny Smith will stay firmer in the dumpling. Galas will soften up a bit more.

Preparing Apples for Dumplings

I use a a peeler tool to quickly prepare the apples. It will peel, slice and core apples. I use a whole apple which makes 6 large dumplings. You can use half an apple and get 12 smaller dumplings if you’d like.

Do you have to peel apples for dumplings? You definitely want to get the core and stem out, but you may not have to peel them if you don’t mind the peel. I don’t like the peel in my apple baked goods, so I peel them.

How to Make Amish Apple Dumplings

There are three main parts to this recipe.  Your prepared apple (of course!), the pastry dough and the syrup.

  • Start with the dough. In a medium size bowl, combine the flour, baking powder and salt. Mix in the butter, then add in the milk and mix just until a soft dough forms.
  • Wrap the apples. Roll out the dough into 6 circles (or rectangles…either work) and put a cored and peeled apple in the middle. If you are using half an apple, place the apple slices in the center of the dough. Fold the sides of the dough around the apple and press to seal. Place them in a greased 9×13″ baking dish.
  • Make the syrup. In a small saucepan over low to medium heat, combine the brown sugar, water, butter and cinnamon. Heat it just until it barely comes to a boil and stir often. Pour this mixture over the dumplings.
photo collage showing how to make Amish apple dumplings from scratch
  • Bake the dumplings. Ours take about 40 minutes to bake. Cover the top of the pan loosely with foil if they look like they are getting too brown.

Need a shortcut?

If you don’t want to make homemade pastry dough, use store bought pie crust instead. You can also try crescent roll dough, although I recommend using just a few apple slices to make small dumplings if you choose this. (And remember the small dumplings won’t take as long to bake. Check them at 20 minutes.)

BAking Tip

Some have mentioned they wait until half way through baking to pour the syrup over the dumplings. Read the reviews and choose which method you’d like. We pour it all on at the beginning of baking.

overhead view of apple dumpling with ice cream

Do you eat Amish apple dumplings cold or hot? I’m sure you could do either, but I recommend hot apple dumplings with vanilla ice cream on top.

Storage Instructions

  • Room temperature: Do not store the amish apple dumplings at room temperature.
  • Refrigerator: Apple dumplings will last in the fridge about 4 days. Be sure you store them in an airtight container. We also prefer to warm them in the microwave before eating them.
  • Freezer: These freeze for up to two months in an airtight container. Allow them to defrost fully in the container before reheating. Once the apple dumplings are thawed, reheat them in the microwave.

For a quicker recipe, try our crescent roll apple dumplings with soda (like Mountain Dew) poured over the top.

closeup of amish apple dumplings in a pan with a spoon in caramel sauce
closeup of amish apple dumplings in a pan with a spoon in caramel sauce

Apple Dumplings

4.62 from 315 votes
Amish Apple Dumplings. Apples wrapped in a homemade dough and baked in a cinnamon-sugar syrup. The best way to eat an apple!
Servings 6
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes

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Ingredients
 

For the dough:

For the apples:

  • 6 apples peeled and cored

*For the sauce:

  • 2 cups brown sugar 400 grams
  • 2 cups water 16 ounces
  • 1/4 cup salted butter 2 ounces
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Instructions
 

Make the dough:

  • In a medium size bowl, combine the flour, baking powder and salt. 2 cups all-purpose flour, 2 ½ teaspoons baking powder, ½ teaspoons salt
  • Mix in the butter, then add in the milk and mix just until a soft dough forms. Divide the dough into 6 balls. 2/3 cup salted butter, ½ cup 2% milk

Assemble the dumplings:

  • Roll out each ball of dough on a floured surface. Place an apple in the center of each piece of dough. Fold the dough around the apple and press it together to form a ball. 6 apples
  • Spray a 9×13 pan with cooking spray. Place the dumplings in the prepared pan. Preheat the oven to 350º Fahrenheit.

Make the sauce:

  • In a small saucepan over medium-low heat, combine the brown sugar, water, butter and cinnamon. Heat it just until it barely starts boiling, stirring often. 2 cups brown sugar, 2 cups water, ¼ cup salted butter, ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • Pour this mixture over the dumplings.
  • Bake in the preheated oven for 30-40 minutes, or until the apples are soft and the dough is golden brown. You can baste the dumplings with the syrup several times during baking if you'd like.
  • Serve warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

Video

Notes

*Want to add spices to the sauce? Try a dash of freshly grated nutmeg or apple pie spice.
*Try this recipe with peaches for peach dumplings.
You can make these dumplings any size you’d like. If you’d like smaller dumplings, use only half an apple and less dough. If you’d like a thinner layer of dough around the apples, peel and core two more apples, make 8 dough balls and roll the dough thinner.
Refer to the article above for more tips and tricks.
The calories shown are based on the recipe making 6 large dumplings, with 1 serving being 1 apple dumpling. Since different brands of ingredients have different nutritional information, the calories shown are just an estimate. **We are not dietitians and recommend you seek a nutritionist for exact nutritional information. The information in the nutrition box are calculated through a program and there is room for error. If you need an accurate count, I recommend running the ingredients through your favorite nutrition calculator.**

Nutrition

Calories: 785kcal | Carbohydrates: 131g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 29g | Saturated Fat: 18g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 7g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 76mg | Sodium: 455mg | Potassium: 542mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 91g | Vitamin A: 985IU | Vitamin C: 8mg | Calcium: 186mg | Iron: 3mg
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Calories 785
Keyword apple dessert, apple recipes, dumplings recipe, easy apple dumplings
About JulieJulie Clark

About Julie Clark

I'm Julie Clark, CEO and recipe developer of Tastes of Lizzy T. With my B.A. in Education and over 30 years of cooking and baking, I want to teach YOU the best of our family recipes.

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4.62 from 315 votes (271 ratings without comment)
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KatieS
17 days ago

5 stars
I am so happy you actually peel your apples for your recipes first. I hate the way the peel tastes on cooked apples. That being said I love your recipe. I added cinnamon, nutmeg and a pinch of allspice. I made it with puff pastry and did smaller portions for a gathering. Big hit! Thanks!

Mark
5 months ago

5 stars
This is the best and ONLY apple dumplings recipe you’ll ever need. No other dumplings come close to these. I make them 3 or 4 times a year and everyone who tries one wants the recipe ASAP. 5 🌟 s.

Jane Murray
1 year ago

I love apple dumplings and can’t wait to try your recipe. In the video you say you are adding baking soda, but the recipe says baking powder. Please clarify which is the correct ingredient.

Cathy
1 year ago

5 stars
VERY GOOD! I made the recipe exactly and will not change a thing on the second time I bake them. Much appreciated 🤩

K Vernon
1 year ago

5 stars
WOW and WOW! These are truly amazing. My 10 year old said this is one of the best desserts he’s ever had, and we eat a lot of dessert around here. Thank you for sharing!

I’m glad I watched your video before I made them. I believe you say in the video to add 1 tsp cinnamon to the sauce instead of the 1/2 tsp in the recipe, so that’s what I did plus a sprinkle of nutmeg.

I also cooked them for 60 min, which made the apples the consistency of chunky applesauce. Pure magic!

Mark
1 year ago

4 stars
The sauce was much thinner than I expected it to be.

Ans235
2 years ago

What kind of apples are best?

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