If nothing warms your soul quite like apple dumplings, you’re in good company! For many who’ve grown up with PA Dutch food traditions, apple dumplings are the epitome of comfort, and conjure memories of cozy winter breakfasts and Sunday suppers. This iconic dessert is also a wonderful way to use apples that are slightly bruised or past their prime — reducing food waste has always been a part of PA Dutch culture, long before it was an eco-friendly, on-trend buzzword!
Serve these delicious dumplings doused in milk at breakfast, or with a scoop of ice cream or a swoop of whipped cream for dessert.
PA Dutch Apple Dumplings
| Yield |
|---|
| Serves 4 |
| Prep Time | Cook Time | Total Time |
|---|---|---|
| 15 min | 50 min | 65 min |
Dough
Ingredients
- 3 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
- 10 tablespoons ice water
Method
- In a large bowl, combine flour, sugar and salt. Cut butter into flour mixture using tines of fork, until butter resembles pea-size shapes. Stir in 10 tablespoons ice water until dough comes together. Form dough into a disc. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.
Apples & Assembly
Ingredients
- 4 apples, such as Honeycrisp, Gala or Fuji, peeled
- 4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Method
- Preheat oven to 375°F and line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper or aluminum foil. Cut apples in half and remove the cores using a paring knife.
- Cut dough disc into 4 equal pieces. Using a rolling pin or large bottle, roll out each piece of dough on a lightly floured surface into a 7- to 8-inch square. Place apple halves, cut-side-together, on each square. Fill center of apple halves with 1 tablespoon butter, 1 tablespoon brown sugar and 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon.
- Brush edges of squares with water. Fold corners of squares over apples, pinching edges to seal.
- Place on prepared baking sheet and bake until golden-brown and apple are tender, about 40-50 minutes. Serve warm.
- Recipe and photo: Dish Works
