A simple, three-ingredient brown sugar sauce is the key to Chef John's version of American apple dumplings using Honeycrisp apples and pie crust dough.
Preparation Time
30 mins
Cooking Time
60 mins
Total Time
1 hr 30 mins
Calories
545 Calories
Recipe Instructions
Step 1
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Grease a baking dish with 1 teaspoon butter.
Step 2
Combine white sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl; set aside. Core unpeeled apples; set aside.
Step 3
Place apples in center of each dough round; spoon about 3 teaspoons cinnamon sugar into each apple core. Fill each hole with 1 teaspoon butter.
Step 4
Bake in the preheated oven, basting with sauce occasionally, until pastry is browned and cooked through and apples are tender, 50 to 60 minutes. Remove from oven; baste with more sauce. Serve warm.
Step 5
Combine brown sugar, water, and 3 tablespoons butter in a small saucepan over medium-high heat. Bring to a boil, stirring occasionally; boil until sugar is dissolved. Turn off heat; swirl pot gently to combine. Set sauce aside.
Step 6
Divide pie dough into 4 portions. Roll each dough portion out on a lightly floured surface into a circle large enough to fully wrap an apple, about ⅛-inch thick and 7 inches in diameter.
Step 7
Wrap up apples in pie dough; seal dough together at the top. Be careful not to pull and stretch dough too tightly around apples as you wrap, or it might break apart when it bakes; brush dough lightly with water if it won't stick together. Even out tops and trim any excess dough; shape into decorative leaves if desired.
Step 8
Place wrapped apples seam-sides up into the prepared baking dish. Spoon sauce to completely cover surface of each wrapped apple.
