Apple Dumplings

Slices of tart green apple enrobed in pastry and baked in a cinnamon and nutmeg sugar syrup.

Recipe Ingredients:

2 cups granulated sugar
1 cup water
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/4 cup butter
6 Granny Smith or Pippin apples, peeled, cored and quartered
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons baking powder
3/4 cup vegetable shortening
3/4 cup milk
Vanilla ice cream or sweetened whipped cream (optional)

Cooking Directions:

1. Combine sugar, water, cinnamon and nutmeg in a saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium heat, reduce heat and simmer for 3 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat and add butter; stir to combine. Set syrup aside.
2. Combine flour, salt and baking powder in mixing bowl. Cut in shortening with a pastry blender until mixture becomes crumbly. Add milk all at once and stir with fork until just moistened.
3. On a floured surface, roll dough out to 15 x 10-inch rectangle and 1/4-inch thick. Cut into 6 (5-inch) squares. Arrange 4 pieces of apple on each square and sprinkle with additional sugar and cinnamon.
4. Fold corners to center of each square and pinch edges together to seal dumplings, making sure no apple is sticking out. Place dumplings in buttered 13x9x2-inch baking dish. Pour syrup over dumplings.
5. Bake in a preheated oven at 375°F (190°C) for 35 minutes, basting dumplings with syrup occasionally during the baking time.
6. Serve warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a dollop of sweetened whipped cream, if desired.

Makes 6 servings.