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Easy Baked Apple Dumplings with Homemade Caramel Sauce

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These easy baked apple dumplings feature flaky puff pastry wrapped around tender, cinnamon-spiced apples, all swimming in a rich homemade caramel sauce. Ready in about 45 minutes, they’re the perfect weeknight dessert that tastes like a special occasion.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 medium Granny Smith apples (or Honeycrisp)
  • 1 sheet frozen puff pastry (about 9x9 inches), thawed
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
  • 2 tablespoons brown sugar, packed
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 1 large egg, beaten
  • 1 tablespoon turbinado sugar (optional)
  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter (1 stick)
  • 1 cup brown sugar, packed
  • 1/2 cup heavy cream
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/4 teaspoon sea salt

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). Line an 8-inch square baking dish with parchment paper.
  2. Peel apples and cut each in half through the stem. Remove core and seeds to create a clean cavity. Place apple halves in a microwave-safe bowl and microwave on high for 2 minutes. Let cool.
  3. On a lightly floured surface, unfold puff pastry and cut into four equal squares (about 4.5 inches each). If pastry feels warm, refrigerate for 5 minutes.
  4. In a small bowl, mix softened butter, brown sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg into a paste. Spoon mixture into the cavities of the apple halves, dividing evenly.
  5. Place one apple half, cut-side up, in the center of a pastry square. Bring corners up and over the apple, pinching edges to seal. Repeat with remaining apples and pastry. Place wrapped dumplings in prepared dish.
  6. Brush tops and sides of each dumpling with beaten egg. Sprinkle with turbinado sugar if using.
  7. In a small saucepan over medium heat, melt butter. Add brown sugar and stir until incorporated and bubbling, about 2 minutes. Slowly pour in heavy cream while stirring constantly. Simmer for 2-3 minutes until slightly thickened. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla and sea salt.
  8. Pour caramel sauce around the dumplings in the baking dish, not directly over the pastry tops.
  9. Place dish on a rimmed baking sheet. Bake at 400°F for 25-30 minutes, until pastry is puffed and deep golden brown and caramel is bubbling. Halfway through, spoon some caramel over pastry tops.
  10. Let cool in pan for 5 minutes. Serve warm with a drizzle of pan caramel sauce and vanilla ice cream if desired.

Notes

Par-cooking the apples is essential to prevent soggy pastry. Make a double batch of caramel sauce for extra drizzling. For best results, serve warm with vanilla ice cream. Leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days and reheated in a 350°F oven for 8-10 minutes.

Nutrition

Keywords: apple dumplings, baked apple dumplings, easy apple dessert, puff pastry apple dumplings, homemade caramel sauce, fall dessert, weeknight dessert

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