By Becky Hardin
Updated Mar 14, 2025
Apple dumplings are the perfect fall treat! I love eating anything apple during autumn, and this apple dumpling recipe is a total classic. These dumplings have the best texture and just the right amount of sweetness. They’re so good fresh out of the oven with a scoop of ice cream!
Easy Recipe for Apple Dumplings
This apple dumpling recipe is something I enjoy making on chilly fall afternoons and sharing with my family. It brings everyone together because no one can resist these! They’re super easy to make with simple ingredients like store-bought pie dough and crisp apples. Plus, they look super impressive.
5-Star Review
“I love that this recipe is half of the usual size of an apple dumpling but a perfect portion… There was some seepage as I underestimated the size of my pastry squares but we just called them “brown sugar candy” and had fun eating it as well. Overall, success!!” -Emily Peacock-Nilsen
Ingredients1x2x3x
- ▢ 2 packages refrigerated pie crust 850 grams, or puff pastry
- ▢ 4 small apples
- ▢ 4 tablespoons unsalted butter 57 grams, cold and cubed (½ stick)
- ▢ ½ cup granulated sugar 100 grams
- ▢ 2 tablespoons ground cinnamon 18 grams
Video
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Set aside.
- Roll out the pastry to ⅛-inch thickness and cut into 8×8-inch squares. 2 packages refrigerated pie crust
- Cut out leaf shapes with a sharp knife and press leaf veins into the leaves with the back of the knife. Keep the remaining pastry cold until ready to use.
- Peel each apple and core down to the bottom, but not all the way through. Make sure to get all seeds and as much core out as possible. Cut each apple in half lengthwise. 4 small apples
- Mix together the sugar and cinnamon (a little apple pie spice is a nice extra ingredient). Toss the cubed butter in the cinnamon. ½ cup granulated sugar, 2 tablespoons ground cinnamon, 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
- Drop butter cubes and cinnamon sugar into the middle of each apple filling the space where the core was. and place cut-side down on a square of pastry.
- Working with one apple at a time, bring the edges of the pastry up to the top of the apple until the apple is covered.
- Crimp the edges together and pinch the dough together to seal firmly. If needed, use a little egg wash or water to moisten the edges so the pastry will stick together.
- Dip the ends of each leaf into water and press into the top of the apple. You can add a little stem if desired.
- Place the apples on the prepared baking sheet and chill until ready to bake.
- When all apples are prepared, brush with an egg wash (1 egg mixed with 1 tablespoon water).
- Bake for 15 minutes.
- Glaze the apples with the egg wash again and sprinkle with cinnamon-sugar if desired.
- Bake another 10-15 minutes, until golden brown and beautiful. If the apples are browning too quickly, reduce the heat to 375°F for the last 10-15 minutes.
Equipment
- Kitchen Scale (optional)
- Baking Sheet
- Rolling Pin
Becky’s Tips
- Pie Crust: I made this recipe super easy with premade refrigerated pie crusts, but you could also use homemade or (thawed) frozen puff pastry sheets.
- Apples: I like Granny Smith apples because they have a great balance of tart and sweet flavors and hold up well to baking.
- Butter: Unsalted butter keeps the filling nice and moist.
- Sugar: Granulated sugar helps sweeten the apples and keeps them moist.
- Cinnamon: Ground cinnamon adds a warm, spicy flavor to the dumplings.
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
How to Make Apple Dumplings Step by Step
Cut the Leaves: Preheat oven to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Set aside. Roll out 2 packages of refrigerated pie or puff pastry to ⅛-inch thickness and cut into 8×8-inch squares. Cut out leaf shapes with a sharp knife and press leaf veins into the leaves with the back of the knife. Keep the remaining pastry cold until ready to use.
Cut the Apples: Peel 4 small apples and core them down to the bottom, but not all the way through. Make sure to get all seeds and as much core out as possible. Cut each apple in half lengthwise.
Toss the Butter: Mix together ½ cup of granulated sugar and 2 tablespoons of ground cinnamon (a little apple pie spice is a nice extra ingredient). Toss 4 tablespoons of cubed unsalted butter in the cinnamon.
Stuff the Apples: Drop butter cubes and cinnamon sugar into the middle of each apple filling the space where the core was. and place cut-side down on a square of pastry.
Seal the Dumplings: Working with one apple at a time, bring the edges of the pastry up to the top of the apple until the apple is covered. Crimp the edges together and pinch the dough together to seal firmly. If needed, use a little egg wash or water to moisten the edges so the pastry will stick together.
Egg Wash the Dumplings: Dip the ends of each leaf into water and press into the top of the apple. You can add a little stem if desired. Place the apples on the prepared baking sheet and chill until ready to bake. When all apples are prepared, brush with an egg wash (1 egg mixed with 1 tablespoon water).
Bake the Dumplings: Bake for 15 minutes. Glaze the apples with the egg wash again and sprinkle with cinnamon-sugar if desired. Bake another 10-15 minutes, until golden brown and beautiful. If the apples are browning too quickly, reduce the heat to 375°F for the last 10-15 minutes.
Tips for Success
- Make sure to carefully pinch together the edges of the pastry to minimize leaks. I like to use egg wash (1 egg mixed with 1 tablespoon of water) to act as glue.
- Sprinkle the dumplings with cinnamon sugar as soon as they come out of the oven for a little something extra.
How to Store and Reheat
Once your apple dumplings are baked, let them cool completely, and then wrap each one with plastic wrap. You can then store them in an airtight container or Ziplock bag for up to 4 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months. To reheat, let them thaw in the refrigerator or defrost in the microwave. You can then bake them in the oven or just heat them in the microwave for a few minutes.
Serving Suggestions
I always serve my apple dumplings with a scoop of ice cream (my pumpkin ice cream is so good!) and a drizzle of caramel sauce . Yum!
More Apple Recipes to Try!
Homemade Apple Pie Recipe
Fried Apples
Apple Pie Overnight French Toast Casserole
Apple Cupcakes
Apple Dumplings Recipe
Equipment
- Kitchen Scale (optional)
- Baking Sheet
- Rolling Pin
Ingredients
- 2 packages refrigerated pie crust 850 grams, or puff pastry
- 4 small apples
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter 57 grams, cold and cubed (½ stick)
- ½ cup granulated sugar 100 grams
- 2 tablespoons ground cinnamon 18 grams
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Set aside.
- Roll out the pastry to ⅛-inch thickness and cut into 8x8-inch squares. 2 packages refrigerated pie crust
- Cut out leaf shapes with a sharp knife and press leaf veins into the leaves with the back of the knife. Keep the remaining pastry cold until ready to use.
- Peel each apple and core down to the bottom, but not all the way through. Make sure to get all seeds and as much core out as possible. Cut each apple in half lengthwise. 4 small apples
- Mix together the sugar and cinnamon (a little apple pie spice is a nice extra ingredient). Toss the cubed butter in the cinnamon. ½ cup granulated sugar, 2 tablespoons ground cinnamon, 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
- Drop butter cubes and cinnamon sugar into the middle of each apple filling the space where the core was. and place cut-side down on a square of pastry.
- Working with one apple at a time, bring the edges of the pastry up to the top of the apple until the apple is covered.
- Crimp the edges together and pinch the dough together to seal firmly. If needed, use a little egg wash or water to moisten the edges so the pastry will stick together.
- Dip the ends of each leaf into water and press into the top of the apple. You can add a little stem if desired.
- Place the apples on the prepared baking sheet and chill until ready to bake.
- When all apples are prepared, brush with an egg wash (1 egg mixed with 1 tablespoon water).
- Bake for 15 minutes.
- Glaze the apples with the egg wash again and sprinkle with cinnamon-sugar if desired.
- Bake another 10-15 minutes, until golden brown and beautiful. If the apples are browning too quickly, reduce the heat to 375°F for the last 10-15 minutes.
Video
Notes
- Pie Crust: I made this recipe super easy with premade refrigerated pie crusts, but you could also use homemade or (thawed) frozen puff pastry sheets.
- Apples: I like Granny Smith apples because they have a great balance of tart and sweet flavors and hold up well to baking.
- Butter: Unsalted butter keeps the filling nice and moist.
- Sugar: Granulated sugar helps sweeten the apples and keeps them moist.
- Cinnamon: Ground cinnamon adds a warm, spicy flavor to the dumplings.
Nutrition
By Becky Hardin
Published Jul 12, 2017
This Essential Grocery List is an absolute life saver for my family on the busy weeks. When I started this journey to learn how to cook, I quickly realized that the first step in cooking is having staple ingredients on hand. I want to avoid having to run out to the grocery store every single time I prepare a new recipe. Having a well-stocked pantry has made my life in the kitchen so much simpler, because when it’s time to cook, I have what I need.
Essential Grocery List
It’s so helpful to have a basic grocery list to help me remember which foods to buy at the store. This food shopping list is my go-to!
It’s better to stock up on things like grains, seasonings and spices, baking essentials, oils, condiments, canned and frozen foods, etc. so I can just grab them when I need them. These things have a long shelf life , so I keep them in my kitchen for convenience.
However, I do have to go to the supermarket sometimes, and there’s a way to make that trip easy and hassle-free: I keep a grocery list! If I go in blindly, I’ll leave with things I don’t need, and nothing that actually helps me prepare a good meal.
In the list below, I’ve compiled everything I always have on my stock-up grocery list.
I’ve got you covered! I created an easy grocery list filled with all of the essentials. Plus there’s a free printable version that you can take with you to the grocery store. It has everything you need to stock your pantry, your freezer, and your refrigerator.
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List
What to Buy at the Grocery Store
This is the perfect grocery list filled with all the basics and essentials. It should help get you going if you’re new to cooking, or if you’re just left staring helplessly at an empty pantry and don’t know how to fill it.
When I first started cooking, things could seem overwhelming. I quickly realized that they more prepared I could be, the more confident I felt. If you already have the basics in your kitchen, then you can shop stress-free.
So print out our easy grocery list, stock up your pantry and fridge, and you’ll be cooking in no time!
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Fresh Produce
- Apples
- Bananas
- Strawberries
- Avocados
- Bell Peppers
- Carrots
- Broccoli
- Garlic
- Lemons/Limes
- Onion
- Parsley
- Cilantro
- Basil
- Potatoes
- Spinach
- Tomatoes
GRAINS
- Breadcrumbs
- Pasta
- Quinoa
- Rice
- Sandwich Bread
- Tortillas
MEAT/PROTEIN
- Chicken
- Eggs
- Ground Beef
- Sliced Turkey
- Lunch Meat
DAIRY
- Butter
- Sliced Cheese
- Shredded Cheese
- Milk
- Sour Cream
- Greek Yogurt
BAKING GOODS
- Baking powder
- Baking Soda
- Granulated Sugar
- Brown Sugar
- Flour
- Honey
- Vanilla Extract
- Dry Yeast
- Chocolate Chips
- Cocoa Powder
- Powdered Sugar
FREEZER
- Fruit and Berries
- Frozen Veggies (Corn, Peas, Broccoli, etc)
- Juice Concentrate
- Pizza or Other Convenience Meals
- Pie Crust
- Cookie Dough
CANNED/DRIED GOODS
- Chicken stock/broth
- Salsa
- Diced Tomatoes
- Jam/Jelly
- Peanut Butter
- Pasta Sauce
- Beans (Black Beans, Chickpeas, Baked Beans, etc)
- Soups
- Tuna
- Green Chiles
- Canned Veggies
- Coffee or Tea
Get more details on the best non-perishable and pantry foods
CONDIMENTS/SPICES
- Black Pepper
- Chili Powder
- Cinnamon
- Crushed Red Pepper
- Cumin
- Garlic Powder
- Ketchup
- Mustard
- Mayo
- Nutmeg
- Paprika
- Salt (Course Sea Salt and Kosher Salt)
- Soy Sauce
- Steak Sauce
- Hot Sauce/ Buffalo Sauce
- Salad Dressings
OILS/VINEGARS
- Apple cider vinegar
- Balsamic vinegar
- Coconut Oil
- Olive Oil
- Vegetable/Canola Oil
- Red Wine Vinegar
- White Vinegar
- Cooking Wine
- White Wine Vinegar
SNACKS
- Crackers
- Nuts
- Quick Oats
- Popcorn
- Tortilla Chips
- Cereal
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Click ☝🏻 for my FREE Grocery List Printable!
I hope this essential grocery list can help you buy what you need and make your home cooking so much easier!
Stock Your Kitchen
Find more ideas for your grocery list, stock up your kitchen, and print more cooking guides and charts to keep handy!
Non-Perishable Foods to Stock Up On
Frozen Vegetables to Stock Up On (and Recipes to Make)
Ultimate List of Cooking Herbs for Your Kitchen
Ultimate List of Cooking Spices for Your Kitchen
Cooking Oil 101: Types of Cooking Oils to Use
26 Types of Pasta and When to Use Them
What Fruits and Vegetables are in Season?
Meat Temperature Chart (Free Printable)
How to Meal Prep (Guide for Beginners)
Basic Cooking Measurements & Kitchen Conversion Chart
