I have a few autumn apple recipes to share today in case you're looking for something to offer along with pumpkin pie on Thanksgiving. The apple dumplings are an easy-peasy option that I have made many times over the years. My mother got the recipe from a friend at church years ago and it's always popular when served. I recently prepared these for a guests at my home.
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| This appears overdone, but it really was golden. I guess it's the lighting?? |
Easy Apple Dumplings
2 tubes (8 count each) crescent rolls
1.5 sticks butter
1.5 cups brown sugar
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1 T. cinnamon
1 can (21 ounce) 7-Up
2 large Granny Smith apples, peeled and cored
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Wash, peel and core apples; cut into 8 equal pieces. Unwrap the crescent rolls and separate into triangles. Place a slice of apple on the wide end and roll into crescent roll to make an apple dumpling. Lightly spray a 9 by 13 pan. Place all apple dumplings in pan. In a separate bowl, whisk softened butter, sugar, vanilla and cinnamon until there are no lumps and it's all blended. Pour over the apple dumplings. Carefully pour can of soda between dumplings. Immediately bake for 35-45 minutes, or until golden brown. Serve warm with whipped cream or ice cream.
This recipe is new to me and was recently shared by my cousin. She highly recommended this bread and once you taste it, you'll understand the reason! I made three mini loaves (rather than one large) so that I could freeze them in preparation for an event in a few weeks.
Caramel Apple Bread
1 cup smooth unsweetened applesauce
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
2 large eggs
1/4 cup canola, or vegetable, oil
1 tsp. vanilla extract
2 cups flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1/8 tsp. nutmeg
1 cup (1 medium) apple peeled, cored and finely chopped
caramel sauce ingredients:
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 T. milk
Spray a large loaf pan (I used three small instead) and set aside. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine applesauce, sugars, eggs, oil and vanilla extract. Whisk to blend. Add flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon and nutmeg. Stir just enough to combine, but don't overmix. Fold in apples. Transfer batter to prepared pan(s). Bake on center rack for about 60 minutes. Test for doneness with a toothpick inserted in the center. Remove pan from oven and place on cooling rack for 15 minutes. Remove bread from pan and allow to completely cool on rack.
Prepare sauce by melting butter in small saucepan. Add brown sugar and milk and whisk constantly. Bring to a gently-rolling boil and boil for 2 minutes, still whisking constantly. Remove from heat and let cool for about 30 minutes, making sure you whisk every 5-10 minutes. Pour over bread and allow to sit 2-3 hours.
Bread may be frozen for 2 months.
*I followed the directions exactly and the sauce came out perfectly, without any graininess.
If there is some graininess, though, the directions said it will disappear within the few hours that it sits (as long as you've followed the instructions).
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May your day be apple-lutely wonderful!