Easy Apple Dumpling Dessert

All the deliciousness of apple dumplings but without all the work!  You’ll love these Easy Apple Dumplings!

As a child, I loved watching my mom make old fashioned apple dumplings.  Seeing her skilled hands mix up the dough from scratch, cut it into squares and then carefully wrap each square around a big, cored apple, filled with sugary goodness, totally fascinated me.

I can still see her bending over the open oven using her baster to spread the syrup over the dumplings as they baked.  We all loved when she took the time to make her apple dumplings, but it didn’t happen often because of how time-consuming they were to make.

Several years ago an older friend of mine, who is known for her good cooking, told me that she had made a dessert that tasted like old fashioned apple dumplings, but was much easier.  I was all ears and of course, had to get the recipe and try it myself!

And goodness, these Easy Apple Dumplings are just perfectly delicious!  I mean, how could they not be with all that gooey, caramel like syrup?!

We love eating this easy apple dessert piping hot with lots of vanilla ice cream.  But some people prefer pouring milk over it instead.  Either way, I think you’ll find that it’s quite delicious!

Oh, and if you are like me and not so good at remembering to get the butter out ahead of time to soften, try this easy method of softening butter quickly!  So simple!

Can this be made gluten-free?

I have never tried it, but a reader, Christina, left a comment on Pinterest saying that she substituted King Arther gluten-free flour cup for cup and it turned out beautifully. She did say that she would recommend doubling the sauce as the gluten-free flour seems to soak it up a bit more.

Other desserts that you’ll love:

• Apple Dump Cake from Scratch
• No Bake Pumpkin Cheesecakes
• Pumpkin Crunch Cake from Scratch
• Best Ever Moist Chocolate Cake- no eggs, no milk, no oil
• Classic Blueberry Buckle

Easy Apple Dumplings

Save This Recipe Form

Δ

Want to save this recipe?

Just enter your email & get it sent to your inbox. You’ll also get new recipes and money-saving tips from me every week!

SAVE RECIPE

Print Recipe

4.73 from 81 votes

Easy Apple Dumpling Dessert

All the deliciousness of apple dumplings but without all the work!  You’ll love these Easy Apple Dumplings!

Prep Time20 minutes mins

Cook Time40 minutes mins

Total Time1 hour hr

Course: Dessert

Servings: 12

Author: Lydia @ ThriftyFrugalMom.com

Cook ModePrevent your screen from going dark

Ingredients

SAUCE

• 1 1/4 c. brown sugar
• 1 Tbsp. cornstarch
• 2 c. cold water
• 1 tsp. vanilla
• 1 Tbsp. butter

DUMPLING MIXTURE

• 2 c. flour
• 1/4 c. sugar
• 1 Tbsp. baking powder
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1/3 c. butter, softened (or shortening)
• 5 c. apples, peeled and chopped
• 3/4 c. milk
• 1/2 tsp. vanilla

TOPPING

• 3 Tbsp. sugar
• 2 1/2 tsp. cinnamon

Instructions

FOR SAUCE:

• Combine the first 3 ingredients in saucepan and cook until slightly thickened. (It won’t thicken much at all.)
• Add vanilla and butter. Stir until butter is melted.
• Pour into a greased 9×13 baking dish.

FOR DUMPLINGS:

• Meanwhile, make dumpling mixture by mixing together first 5 ingredients until crumbly. (A pastry blender makes this really easy!) You’ll want to use a really large bowl for this since you’ll be adding the apples too. Something 10 cups or so works well…even a kettle!
• Add apples and stir.
• Combine milk and vanilla and stir into the mixture just until moistened.
• Drop by spoonfuls over sauce in dish.

FOR TOPPING:

• Combine sugar and cinnamon and sprinkle over the top of dessert.
• Bake at 350° for 35 to 40 minutes.
• Serve warm with ice cream or milk.

Notes

Make it gluten free: Reader Christina left a comment on Pinterest saying that she substituted King Arthur gluten free flour and it worked wonderfully. She recommended doubling the sauce though, as the gluten free flour seems to soak up more of the liquid.