Trixie Silvertale’s Holiday Apple Dumplings Recipe

The Christmas Catastrophe Mysteries by Trixie Silvertale is a festive culinary cozy mystery series featuring Cindy Claus, a lovable amateur sleuth who dreams of leaving the North Pole and opening a bakery filled with holiday treats. This recipe for Holiday Apple Dumplings is featured in Apple Dumpling Murder, the second book in the series.

Holiday Apple Dumplings (Recipe from Apple Dumpling Murder by Trixie Silvertale)

Yield: 6 dumplings

Ingredients For the Dough:

• 3 cups (375 grams) unbleached flour

• 1 teaspoon (6 grams) salt

• 1/2 teaspoon (3 grams) ground cinnamon

• 1/2 teaspoon (3 grams) ground nutmeg

• 1/4 teaspoon (2 grams) ground clove

• 1 cup (216 grams) butter, chilled and cut into small pieces

• 2 Tablespoons (30 ml) of apple cider vinegar

• 1/2 cup (118 ml) iced water

Ingredients For the Filling:

• 3 Tablespoons (54 grams) butter, cut into six 1/2 Tablespoon (9 grams) chunks

• 6 pitted prunes, diced small

• 6 dried apricots, diced small

• 2 1/2 Tablespoons (30 grams) dried cranberries

• Additional Ingredients:

• 6 medium-sized Granny Smith apples, peeled and cored (substitute your favorite)

• 1 egg, beaten to glaze the pastry-wrapped apples

Instructions

Make the filling:

1. Dice prunes and apricots. Mix with cranberries. Set aside.

2. Butter cubes will be pushed into cored apples, on top of fruit filling.

Make the dough:

1. Pulse flour, spices, and salt in a food processor to combine. Add butter and pulse until mixture resembles coarse breadcrumbs with pieces of butter still visible. About 25 pulses.

2. Combine vinegar and 1/2 cup iced water in a measuring cup. While pulsing, drizzle in vinegar mixture; pulse until dough comes together. Dough should be pliable, but not sticky. About 15 pulses.

3. Turn out dough and divide into 6 equal parts. Place each part on a sheet of plastic wrap and roll each part into approx. 8-inch square. Cover with another layer of plastic wrap and chill until firm, about 1 hour.

4. Peel and core the apples.

5. Preheat oven to 350°F/177°C. Line a large half-sheet baking pan with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.

6. Remove dough squares from refrigerator. Place one prepared apple in the center of each dough square. Stuff each core with equal parts fruit filling and one 1/2 Tablespoon (9 grams) butter chunk.

7. Brush the edges of the dough square lightly with water. Bring the edges up around the apple and seal with additional water. Trim off excess.

8. *OPTION: Roll out trimmings and cut decorative leaves to decorate each dumpling.

9. Place each wrapped apple on parchment-covered baking tray. Glaze each apple with beaten egg.

10. Bake for 30–45 minutes, or until golden brown, and pierce easily with a sharp skewer.

Serve:

Serve hot with fresh whipped cream or ice cream and a cinnamon stick.

Copyright © 2023 by Trixie Silvertale. All rights reserved. Sittin’ On A Goldmine Productions, L.L.C. and Trixie Silvertale. This recipe was reprinted with permission from Trixie Silvertale. Additional reprint requests should be directed to Trixie Silvertale.

See a printable PDF of the Holiday Apple Dumplings Recipe.