Apple Dumplings

Oh my goodness gracious!
I made apple dumplings and they were DELICIOUS!!
Really...seriously...you have GOT to try this recipe! You will love it!
There are five separate steps to making this recipe.
Each step is very easy so don't let that discourage you.

1) make the dough...very easy
2) prep the apples...very easy
3) assemble the dumplings...very easy
4) make the sauce...very easy
5) bake the dumplings...really easy

Ok...so you see...it's all very easy...but there is a process.

The Dough Recipe:
2 C. flour
2 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. salt
2/3 C. Crisco shortening
1/2 C. milk

Mix the flour, baking powder and salt in a bowl. Cut shortening into flour mixture with a pastry blender or 2 knives. Add the milk all at once and then quickly mix with a fork until dough comes together and all milk is absorbed. Do not over mix. Quickly shape dough into ball with your hands and roll dough into 8 x 12 rectangle on a floured surface. Cut dough into 6 sections with knife and leave on floured surface.

Prepping The Apples:



Peel 6 small Macintosh apples.
Cut apples in half.
Core the apples by removing seeds and stem.

Assembling the dumplings:



Take 2 apples halves to create one apple and place on a square of dough.
Holding the apple together with one hand, pour sugar down in between the 2 halves filling almost to the top.
Sprinkle with a nice dose of cinnamon.
Sprinkle with a dash of nutmeg.
Top apple with a pat of butter or margarine.



Continue with the remainder of apples until all dough squares are used.
Wet the edges of each square with water using a pastry brush or your finger.
Bring sides of dough up to top of apple and pinch together at sides.
Sometimes the dough breaks or won't fit....just work with it and don't fret...cover that apple as best you can...it will all turn out beautiful and yummy in the end. The sloppier it looks, the more homemade it looks...we don't want these to look like they were made in a factory do we?? No way!

Place dumplings in a 9 x 13 casserole dish or use two pie pans.





Sauce Recipe:
1 C. sugar
1 C. water
1/8 tsp. cinnamon
1/8 tsp. nutmeg
2 Tbsp. butter or margarine

Mix sugar, water, cinnamon and nutmeg in a small saucepan. Heat and stir until sugar is completely dissolved. Turn off heat and add the butter. Stir butter into mixture until it melts. Pour sauce mixture over uncooked apple dumplings and bake in oven at 375 degrees for 35 minutes. Remove from oven and allow to cool. Leave dumplings sitting in the thickened sauce. That's the best part!!!



Enjoy!