Trisha Yearwood Apple Dumplings Recipe

The apple dumplings recipe is a cherished inclusion in Trisha Yearwood’s cookbook, “Home Cooking with Trisha Yearwood,” which showcases a collection of family recipes passed down through generations. The apple dumplings recipe is a cherished inclusion in Trisha Yearwood’s cookbook, “Home Cooking with Trisha Yearwood,” which showcases a collection of family recipes passed down through generations.

Ingredients

• 2 Granny Smith apples: Chosen for their tartness and firm texture, these apples hold up well during baking and offer a perfect contrast to the sweet sauce.
• 1 lemon: The lemon juice prevents the apple slices from browning and adds a subtle brightness to the dish.
• 1 cup sugar: Essential for creating the rich, caramel-like sauce that envelops the dumplings.
• 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter: Adds richness and depth to the sauce, enhancing the overall flavor of the dessert.
• 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract: A hint of vanilla adds warmth and complexity to the sauce.
• 8 canned buttermilk biscuits: The convenience of canned biscuits simplifies the recipe, providing a soft and fluffy wrapping for the apple slices.
• 4 teaspoons ground cinnamon: Cinnamon introduces a spicy warmth, complementing the apples and sugar beautifully.

Step-by-Step Cooking Guide

Preparing the Apples

1. Start with the Apples: Choose 2 firm Granny Smith apples for their tartness and ability to hold up during baking. Peel, core, and slice each apple into 8 equal pieces. This ensures that each dumpling has a consistent amount of apple.
2. Lemon Bath: Squeeze the juice of one lemon into a bowl of water. Soak the apple slices in the lemon water to prevent them from browning and to add a slight zesty flavor that complements the sweetness of the dumplings.

Making the Sugar Mixture

1. Combine Ingredients: In a medium saucepan, mix 1 cup of water, 3/4 cup of sugar, 1/2 cup (1 stick) of butter, and 1/4 teaspoon of vanilla extract. This combination will create a rich, caramel-like sauce that’s integral to the dumplings’ flavor.
2. Heat: Bring the mixture to a boil over medium heat, stirring occasionally. Once the sugar has fully dissolved and the mixture is boiling, remove it from the heat. The sauce should be smooth and golden.

Wrapping the Apples in Biscuits

1. Prepare Biscuits: Open a can of buttermilk biscuits and separate each biscuit into two layers. This thin layer of dough will wrap around the apple slices more easily.
2. Wrap: Place an apple slice on one layer of biscuit dough. Stretch the dough slightly to wrap it around the apple, overlapping the edges and sealing them at the bottom. This ensures the apple is fully encased in the dough.
3. Arrange: Place the wrapped apples, seal side down, in a 9×13 inch baking dish. This arrangement allows the dumplings to be evenly coated with the sugar mixture.

Baking Instructions

1. Preheat Oven: Ensure your oven is preheated to 375°F (190°C) for even baking.
2. Pour and Sprinkle: Pour the hot sugar mixture over the arranged apple dumplings in the baking dish. Then, mix the remaining 1/4 cup of sugar with 4 teaspoons of ground cinnamon and sprinkle this mixture over the dumplings. The cinnamon sugar will create a beautifully spiced crust as they bake.
3. Bake: Place the dish in the oven and bake for 35 minutes, or until the dumplings are golden brown and the sauce is bubbly. The dough should be cooked through, and the apples should be tender.