A great recipe for apple dumplings is this one for
Cranberry Apple Dumplings
This recipe for apple dumplings has a wonderful blending of both sweetened, dried cranberries and Granny Smith apples. It’s perfect for a fresh-from-the-oven apple dessert following any meal, large or small. With these, there’s always “room for dessert.”
I say this because you’ll be making, in comparison to whole-apple dumplings, mini apple dumplings. With the use of quick-and-easy crescent roll pastry, this apple dumpling recipe becomes a very easy recipe as well. Only two apples are required and they’re cut into fourths, so one slice of apple fits easily into one crescent roll pastry. How easy is that to make these mini apple dumplings.
I know it’s way too early to think about fall, winter, and the Holidays, but following the recipe,we’ll add a nice make-ahead suggestion that’s appropriate for any dinner you may be preparing.
This could also be considered a healthy apple recipe because it only sports 295 calories, and for such a delicious apple dessert, that’s exemplary. We’ll include the rest of the nutritional information, too.
Don’t wait for a special occasion to try this recipe for apple dumplings because it will impress family and friends any time--easy but delicious.
Ingredients
Cooking Spray
1 (8-ounce) package refrigerated crescent roll dough
2 medium Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored, and quartered
2/3 cup freshly-squeezed orange juice (about 2 medium oranges)
Note: If you don't have the fresh oranges, orange juice from the dairy case or reconstituted orange juice from the freezer can be substituted.
2/3 cup sugar
1/3 cup butter
1/2 cup sweetened dried cranberries
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Dash of nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
3/4 cup grated, mild, cheddar cheese (3 ounces), optional
Method
Preheat over to 350°F and lightly coat a medium casserole dish with cooking spray.
Separate the roll of crescent pastry into individual sections.
Working with one piece at a time, flatten dough slightly with hands and manipulate the dough to cover a quarter of oneapple. Repeat with the remaining dough and apple quarters; place dumplings in prepared dish.
Combine sugar, butter, cranberries, cinnamon, nutmeg and orange juice in a small pan. Bring to a boil and cook for one minute, stirring constantly. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla.
Pour sauce over dumplings, and bake for 25 minutes in preheated oven.
If desired, sprinkle cheese over dumplings at this point and bake for an addition five minutes or until the cheese is melted.
Make-ahead Suggestions:
Up to 2 days in advance, peel, core and quarter apples; toss with lemon juice. Place in a zip-close bag and refrigerate.
Do not open dough, please.
Prepare orange juice-butter sauce; let cool and refrigerate separately.
Up to 2 hours in advance, wrap apples in dough, pour sauce over dumplings, and refrigerate.
During dinner, bake dumplings. If desired, just before serving, top with cheese and finish baking. Serve warm.
Nutritional Analysis for Cranberry Apple Dumplings:
Calories 295, Total Fat 15g, Saturated Fat 3g, Sodium 424mg, Carbohydrates 36g, Dietary Fiber 1g, Protein 5g, Calcium 80 mg
