Recipe: Apple Dumplings with Freezing Info (4)

Dear Deb,

I haven't frozen apple dumplings but maybe someone that has a 'tried and true' method will share it with us. In the meantime, here are four recipes with freezing instructions for you to compare.

Apple Dumplings

Pastry for double crust pie
6 apples, peeled and cored
Cinnamon/sugar mixture
Butter

CINNAMON SYRUP:
1 c. sugar
2 c. water
3 tbsp. butter
1/4 tsp. cinnamon

Roll pastry thin. Place 1 apple in the center of a section of dough equivalent to 1/6 of the pastry. Sprinkle the apple with some of the cinnamon/sugar mixture and place a dot of butter in the center of the apple. Wrap dough up and, covering all sides, bring the dough edges together at the top of the apple. At this point, you can freeze the dumplings until later. Put in 9x13 inch pan. Bake unfrozen dumplings at 350 degrees F. 15 minutes. If frozen, bake at 450 degrees F. 15 minutes; then lower to 350 degrees F. for 25 minutes or until done. Pour cinnamon syrup over each dumpling and continue baking until apple is fork tender, about 25 minutes longer. Serve with milk or ice cream topped with heated cinnamon syrup.

Old-Fashioned Apple Dumplings

Pastry for 2 crust pie
1/3 c. granulated sugar
1 tsp. cinnamon
4 lg. McIntosh apples
2 tsp. butter or margarine
2/3 c. granulated sugar
1 whole cinnamon stick
1 1/3 c. water
Few drops red food coloring
1 egg yolk, slightly beaten (optional)

Make, then freeze any time up to 2 month ahead. Start heating oven to 425 degrees. Make, then divide pastry in fourths; roll out each fourth into square. Mix 1/3 cup sugar with cinnamon. Pare and core apples; center an apple on each pastry square. Fill cavities of apples with cinnamon - points of each pastry square, then bring points up over apple, overlapping them, and sealing well all around. Place in 4 individual 15 or 16 ounce baking dish, or a little apart in a 12 x 8 x 2 inch baking dish. Make syrup by boiling 2/3 cup sugar with cinnamon stick and water 3 minutes; remove cinnamon stick, then add food color, a drop at a time, until syrup is of desired color. Pour this syrup around dumplings, brush tops of dumplings with egg yolk is brown. Cool; freezer-wrap and freeze. About 425 degrees. Unwrap dumplings, heat, unthawed, with a piece of foil laid over top to prevent further browning, about 35-40 minutes. Serve warm as is, or top with light cream or vanilla ice cream. Makes 4 servings.

Jackye’s Apple Dumplings

Make large amount of pie crust: 1 1/4 c. shortening 1 tsp. salt 1 well beaten egg 5 tbsp. water 1 tbsp. vinegar Roll about the size of a regular saucer. Place in hand. Put in crust about 1/2 apple, peeled and sliced thin. Press crust over apple and make a ball. Freeze. Make as many or as few as you wish. They keep really well. When ready to cook, place in rectangular pan. Heat in another pan 2 cups sugar and 2 cups water; add cinnamon and butter. Pour over apples and bake in 350 degree oven for an hour or until lightly brown.

Apple Dumplings

Make pie dough, chill. Core, then peel, 6 apples (any good baking apples). Roll egg sized balls of pastry into squares. Place whole apple in center of each square. Fill center of apple with cinnamon/sugar mixture (1/2 cup sugar mixed with 1 teaspoon cinnamon). Divide 1 1/2 tablespoons margarine into 6 equal pieces. Place 1 piece on top of each filled apple. Pull up corners of pastry, overlapping them on top of apple. Place in baking dish 13x9. Make syrup by boiling together for 3 minutes 2 cups water, 1 cup sugar, 4 tablespoons margarine, 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon. Pour over dumplings. Bake in preheated 425 degree oven about 40 minutes or until golden brown. Great served with ice cream. Good served hot or cold. My mom made these often when I was growing up. I started making them for my family, who loved them. About 8 or 9 years ago, I began making them for our choir's Christmas party and they've now become a favorite tradition at our church. I usually make at least 3 dozen! These can be frozen. Place dough wrapped apples in pan, cover well and freeze. When ready to bake, remove from freezer, make syrup, pour over frozen dumplings and bake as directed.

Apple Dumplings

Combine:
2 cups sugar
2 cups water
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1/4 tsp. nutmeg

Boil 5 minutes. Add:
1/3 cup butter
Set aside. Combine:
2 c. flour
1/2 tsp. salt
2 tsp. baking powder
Add 3/4 c. shortening; mix
Add 1/2 c. milk; mix

Roll out dough and cut in 6 inch squares (6). Peel and core 6 apples (Golden Delicious). Wrap each apple in a square of dough bringing points together at top of apple. Press top and sides of dough together to seal. Place in a deep pan. Pour syrup over dumplings and bake at 375 degrees for 30 minutes. Dumplings may be made and frozen. Prepare as directed, wrap well and freeze. When ready to use bake frozen and lengthen baking time.

Source: Cookbook USA

Happy Holiday Baking,

Betsy
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