Grandma Simpson's Apple Dumplings

Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 45 min
Servings: 6
Yield: 6 servings

Description

Grandma's family-favorite apple dumplings are a incredible treat for a fall dessert but would be a nice treat at any time of the year.

Ingredients

2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
3/4 cup shortening
7 teaspoons ice cold water, or as needed
6 medium apples, peeled and cored
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 cup water
1/2 cup white sugar
1/2 cup light corn syrup
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg

Directions

1 Whisk together flour, salt, and cinnamon for crust. Cut in shortening until very crumbly. Sprinkle enough water over the mixture to just hold the dry ingredients together; mix together and form into a ball. Wrap with waxed paper and chill in the refrigerator for 20 minutes.
2 Roll dough on a lightly floured surface (1/2 batch at a time) to a 1/8-inch thickness. Cut into six 7-inch squares. Reserve any extra dough for decorative garnish, if desired.
3 Place one apple in the center of each square of dough.
4 Combine brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves in a small bowl. Divide mixture evenly between the apple cores and dot the top of each apple with 1 teaspoon butter. Bring the opposite corners of each square together at the top of each apple, pressing gently to seal the seams. Transfer to a large baking dish, making sure the dumplings do not touch.
5 Preheat the oven to 500 degrees F (260 degrees C).
6 Combine water, sugar, corn syrup, butter, cinnamon, and nutmeg for syrup in a pan and bring to a boil. Allow to boil for 3 minutes. Pour syrup mixture over the top of all of the dumplings.
7 Bake immediately in the preheated oven until the crust begins to turn light golden brown, 5 to 7 minutes. Reduce the oven temperature to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) and bake, occasionally spooning hot syrup from the bottom of the pan over the top of the dumplings, until apples are tender, 30 to 35 more minutes.
8 Serve warm.