Apple Dumplings......yum yum!

Last weekend, the perfect winter day to be inside, cozy, and warm by the fire.  Only one thing was missing.....something warm and cozy to eat by the fire.  :)  The order of the day was apple dumplings.

My favorite two cousins who are sisters and who are renowned cooks are known for their delicious apple dumplings.  Last month, I was visiting with one of the cousins and she told me how to make them. They are really very easy and one thing that is so wonderful about this dessert...you can freeze it raw.  Put the dumpling on a cookie sheet and freeze it then store it in zip lock freezer bags.  Take out and let thaw then put in baking dish and pour in sauce and bake.

Make a pie crust or buy the ready made.  Cut a square about 6x6 or 5x5, I just eye balled it.  My apples were on the small size but you peel your apple and then dice the apple.  Put the diced apple in a bowl and add about 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon, 1 tablespoon sugar, 1tablespoon brown sugar and toss the apple in this mixture and then pile in the middle of the square of dough.  Put a piece of butter on top of the apples. Go around the edge of the dough with water and then bring up the dough. Pick up one corner and then go across and bring up another corner and press the sides together. Put the apple dumplings in a baking dish.  Then take a small sauce pan and put in 1/2 stick of butter, 1/4 teaspoon of cinnamon, 1/2 cup of honey, 1/4 cup brown sugar.  Stir until butter and brown sugar have dissolved and the pour over dumplings. 

If you are not going to eat all of the dumplings that you prepare don't use honey.  The honey will become hard after it sits.  I would suggest using 1/4 cup brown sugar and 1/4 cup regular sugar along with the butter.  I really like the taste of the honey though.

You can serve these with a scoop of ice cream or a rum sauce would be wonderful and a vanilla sauce would also be fantastic too.

My cousin also told me you can peel an apple and leave it whole and stuff the sugar and cinnamon and butter in the center of the apple and a little around the sides and then bring your dough up over the apple.  She said the diced apple is just a little easier.

I don't know how many more wintery days we have left but apple dumplings are wonderful anytime.