Pauline’s Old-Fashioned Skillet Apple Dumplings
An authentic 1940s recipe for homemade apple dumplings baked in a cast iron skillet with a rich, bubbling brown sugar syrup. A true Southern comfort dessert!
Equipment
- 10-inch Cast Iron Skillet
- Rolling Pin
- Knife or pastry cutter
Ingredients
- 1 recipe double pie crust homemade, chilled
- 3 to 4 firm tart green apples (Wolf River, Early Harvest, or Granny Smith)
- 1 1/4 cups brown sugar packed
- Water enough to fill skillet 1 1/4 inches deep
- 6 to 8 tbsp granulated sugar about 1 tbsp per dumpling
- Ground cinnamon for dusting
- Butter cut into 1/4 inch pats, 1 pat per dumpling
Instructions
- Prepare your favorite double pie crust dough and keep it refrigerated.
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
- In a 10-inch cast iron skillet, add water until it is about 1 1/4 inches deep. Stir in the 1 1/4 cups of brown sugar.
- Place the skillet on the stove over medium-low heat and slowly bring the syrup to a gentle boil.
- Peel, core, and slice the apples. (If large, cut slices in half).
- Roll the chilled pie crust dough out to 1/8-inch thickness. Cut into 4 1/2-inch squares.
- Place 4 to 5 apple slices in the center of each square. Top with 1 tbsp granulated sugar, a light dusting of cinnamon, and a chopped pat of butter.
- Bring the corners of the dough up to the center and pinch the seams tightly to seal the pouch. Repeat until 6-8 dumplings are formed.
- Once the syrup is boiling, gently place the dumplings into the skillet. Drop any extra apple slices between the dumplings into the syrup. Let sit on medium heat for 3 minutes.
- Carefully transfer the hot skillet into the preheated 350°F oven.
- Bake until the dumplings are golden brown and the syrup is bubbling thick (approx. 35-50 minutes).
- Remove from oven and let cool until very warm before serving.
Notes
Apples: It is critical to use a firm, tart apple so it holds its shape inside the dumpling during baking. Serving: The original creator recommends serving without ice cream to fully enjoy the authentic apple flavor!
