The Best Gluten Free Apple Dumplings

There is nothing like baked apples wrapped up in my best pie crust and baked with a caramelized brown sugar sauce. This gluten free apple dumplings recipe is one of my best, and you will love it!

Fall is all about fresh, crisp apples and many recipes to make with apples. It is one of my favorite times of the year. If you are an apple fanatic, you will want to look at all of my incredible gluten free apple recipes to find some new favorites.

Why This Recipe Is Great:

1. This recipe has several components, but they are all really easy to make!
2. My gluten-free pie crust recipe gets rave reviews and has the perfect flakiness for this gluten-free apple dumplings recipe.
3. You can use any variety of apples in making this recipe.
4. Serve this any time. It is fancy enough for a dinner party but easy enough to make for a family dessert.

If you love apples, you may also want to try my tried and true Gluten Free Apple Cake recipe!

Our Pick

Cup4Cup Gluten Free Multipurpose Flour, 3 lbs

This is an awesome gluten-free flour blend for pizza crust, biscuits, and pie crust. It is also great for yeast recipes! Note, this blend does have dry milk powder, so it is not suitable for those who avoid dairy.

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Ingredient Notes:

• Gluten Free Flour Blend - For the flakiest pie crust, you need a good gluten free flour like Cup4Cup. You can also use King Arthur Measure for Measure or other blends, but in taste tests with my friends and family, Cup4Cup was the best flour for pie crust.
• Xanthan Gum - If your blend doesn't contain either xanthan gum or guar gum as a binder, you will need to add one teaspoon.
• Baking Powder - I add a little bit for a little extra puff in the crust. It works well with the baked apples inside.
• Salt - You can use sea salt or kosher salt
• Apples - Any variety of apples works well. I used fuji apples. Apples that are more tart will add more flavor. I recommend using small to medium-sized apples.
• Butter - Be sure to use unsalted butter. It needs to be very cold. Dairy-free butter will work if you are dairy free.
• Brown Sugar - Light or dark brown sugar is fine.
• Cinnamon - Ground cinnamon is needed for flavor. You can also add a dash of nutmeg if you like.
• Apple Juice or Apple Cider - I prefer apple cider, but both make the sauce great.
• Lemon Juice - This is for the crust.

You may also love these incredible Gluten Free Apple Cider Donuts!

Recipe Step By Step Directions:

Step 1: Measure the gluten free flour blend and add it to a large mixing bowl. Mix the baking powder and salt with a wire whisk to blend it all well.

To measure your gluten free flour accurately, I recommend using either the spoon method or leveling method.

Spoon Method: You can also use a spoon to fill the measuring cup. Use a knife to level along the top to remove the extra flour.

Leveling Method: Put the measuring scoop into the flour and fill. Do not pack the flour. Use a knife to scrape along the top to remove the extra flour.

Add the cold butter chunks and use a pastry cutter to cut the butter into fine crumbs.

Step 2: Add the eggs, lemon juice, and water. Mix into a soft pie crust and wrap it in plastic. Put it into the refrigerator while you prep the rest of the recipe.

Step 3: Very carefully, remove the core from all six apples. Peel the apples and set them aside.

HINT: If you do not want your apples to turn yellow, you can put water and two teaspoons of lemon juice into a large bowl and soak the apples while you prep the dumpling crust and sauce.

Step 4: Add the apple juice, brown sugar, and butter to a small saucepan. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to simmer. Simmer for 5 minutes, then turn off the stove and let it cool.

Preheat the oven to 375ºF, and be sure the oven rack is set to the middle position.

Step 5: Remove the crust from the refrigerator. Dust a surface with flour. Depending on the flour blend, you may need to use a lot or a little. Use a rolling pin to flatten the dough, which is about the same thickness as a pie crust.

Step 6: Cut the dough into six large squares. Place a small apple on a square. Add butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon in the cored middle.

Gently wrap the dough around the apple and pinch closed any seams. Place them onto a greased 9x13 baking dish.

Step 7: Pour the cinnamon brown sugar syrup over each apple dumpling. You want the sauce thick on the bottom of the pan as well.

Step 8: Bake the apple dumplings for 40-45 minutes, depending on the size of the apples you use. If you notice the tops getting too brown, you can cover the apples with foil for the last 15 minutes to prevent them from burning.

To serve these gluten free apple dumplings, place a dumpling on a plate and use a large spoon to pour some of the sauce over the dumpling.

Variations:

• Add walnuts or pecans for some crunch to the middle of the apple core area.
• Add raisins to the empty core area before baking.
• Dust the apple with nutmeg before wrapping it in the crust.

Tips and Recipe FAQ:

More Gluten Free Apple Dessert Recipes:

• Easy Gluten Free Apple Cobbler
• Gluten Free Apple Fritters
• The Best Gluten Free French Apple Cake
• Gluten Free Apple Galette

📖 Recipe

Easy Gluten Free Apple Dumplings

Sandi Gaertner

Sweet, decadent baked gluten free apple dumplings. They are topped with a cinnamon brown sugar syrup.

5 from 7 votes

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Prep Time 20 minutes mins

Cook Time 45 minutes mins

Total Time 1 hour hr 5 minutes mins

Course Gluten Free Dessert Recipes

Cuisine American

Servings 6 servings

Calories 725 kcal

Ingredients

  

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Crust

• ▢ 3 cups gluten free flour blend * see note
• ▢ ½ teaspoon baking powder aluminum-free
• ▢ ½ teaspoon salt
• ▢ 1 cup butter cold
• ▢ 2 large eggs
• ▢ 2 teaspoons lemon juice
• ▢ ⅔ cup water * see note

Apples

• ▢ 6 apples
• ▢ 3 tablespoons butter
• ▢ 4 tablespoons brown sugar
• ▢ 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Syrup

• ▢ 1 ¼ cups apple juice
• ▢ ¾ cup brown sugar
• ▢ ¼ cup butter

Instructions

 

• Preheat the oven to 375ºF, and be sure the oven rack is set to the middle position.
• Add the gluten free flour blend to a large mixing bowl. Mix the baking powder and salt with a wire whisk to blend.
• Add the cold butter and use a pastry blender to cut the butter into tiny crumbs in the flour.
• Add the eggs, lemon juice, and water. Mix into a soft pie crust and wrap it in plastic. Put it into the refrigerator while you prep the rest of the recipe.
• Very carefully, remove the core from all six apples. Peel the apples and set them aside. 
• Add the apple juice, brown sugar, and butter to a small saucepan. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to simmer. Simmer for 5 minutes, then turn off the stove and let it cool.
• Remove the crust from the refrigerator. Dust a surface with flour. Depending on the flour blend you use, you may need to use a lot or a little. Use a rolling pin to flatten the dough, about the same thickness as a pie crust.
• Cut the dough into six large squares. Place a small apple on a square. Add a little piece of the butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon in the cored middle. 
• Gently wrap the dough around the apple and pinch closed any seams. Place them onto a greased 9x13 baking dish.
• Pour the cinnamon brown sugar syrup over each apple dumpling. You want the sauce thick on the bottom of the pan as well.
• Bake the apple dumplings for 40-45 minutes, depending on the size of the apples you use. If you notice the tops getting too brown, you can cover the apples with foil for the last 15 minutes to prevent them from burning. 

Notes

1. I recommend using a good gluten free flour blend. The Cup4Cup brand is my favorite for a flaky pie crust. Other gluten free flour blends work, too, I haven't tested other brands.
2. If your flour blend doesn't contain either xanthan or guar gum, add one teaspoon.
3. Store leftover dumplings in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.

SPECIAL NOTE

Please know that every gluten free flour blend has a different starch to grain ratio. If you use a blend I didn't test, you may need to adjust your moisture levels in your baked goods.

Nutrition

Serving: 1dumplingCalories: 725kcalCarbohydrates: 110gProtein: 9gFat: 48gSaturated Fat: 28gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 12gTrans Fat: 2gCholesterol: 171mgSodium: 579mgPotassium: 364mgFiber: 11gSugar: 61gVitamin A: 1536IUVitamin C: 9mgCalcium: 125mgIron: 3mg

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Nutrition Disclaimer

Nutritional information is an estimate provided to you as a courtesy. You should calculate the actual nutritional information with the products and brands you are using with your preferred nutritional calculator.