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Cozy Baked Apple Dumplings with Easy Caramel Sauce

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These cozy baked apple dumplings with caramel sauce are the kind of dessert that makes people think you spent hours in the kitchen when really, you just let the oven do the heavy lifting. The apples get soft and jammy on the inside while the pastry turns golden and flaky on the outside, then you pour warm caramel sauce over everything.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 medium Granny Smith apples (or Honeycrisp)
  • 1 box refrigerated pie crust (such as Pillsbury)
  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
  • 1/4 cup brown sugar, packed
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 1/8 teaspoon salt
  • 1 large egg, beaten (for egg wash)
  • 1 tablespoon coarse sugar (turbinado or demerara)
  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter (for caramel sauce)
  • 1 cup brown sugar, packed (for caramel sauce)
  • 1/2 cup heavy cream (for caramel sauce)
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract (for caramel sauce)
  • Pinch of salt (for caramel sauce)

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Peel apples, cut each in half through the core, and scoop out seeds and core to create a hollow in each half. Pat dry with a paper towel.
  2. In a small bowl, mix softened butter, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt into a thick paste. Spoon mixture into the hollow of each apple half, dividing evenly.
  3. Unroll pie crusts onto a lightly floured surface. Roll each crust slightly larger, then cut each into four equal squares (8 squares total).
  4. Place an apple half, cut side up with filling, in the center of a pastry square. Bring corners up to meet at the top and pinch edges to seal. Place seam-side down on a parchment-lined rimmed baking sheet, about 2 inches apart.
  5. Brush each dumpling with beaten egg wash and sprinkle with coarse sugar. Cut a small slit in the top of each dumpling to release steam.
  6. Bake at 375°F (190°C) for 35-40 minutes until pastry is golden brown and filling bubbles through slits. Let cool on baking sheet for 10 minutes.
  7. While dumplings cool, make caramel sauce: Melt butter in a small saucepan over medium heat. Add brown sugar and stir until combined and bubbling, about 2 minutes. Slowly pour in heavy cream while stirring (it will bubble up). Cook for 1 more minute until slightly thickened. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla and salt.
  8. Serve dumplings warm with caramel sauce poured over the top.

Notes

Don’t overfill the apples – a generous tablespoon per half is plenty. If pastry gets sticky, refrigerate wrapped dumplings for 10 minutes before baking. Watch caramel carefully as it can burn quickly. Let dumplings rest 10 minutes after baking for best texture. For dairy-free, use vegan butter and full-fat coconut cream. For gluten-free, use gluten-free pie crust.

Nutrition

Keywords: apple dumplings, baked apple dumplings, caramel sauce, fall dessert, apple dessert, easy dessert, comfort food

Find it online: https://bakebelle.com/cozy-baked-apple-dumplings-with-easy-caramel-sauce/