Apple Dumpling Dessert

By newbaucher

This delicious dessert has a nice bonus-no bites of dry crust without filling. The layers have plenty of apple pieces and are sweetened with a yummy syrup.

Ingredients

• Pastry:
• 4 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 tsp salt
• 1 1/3 cups shortening
• 8-9 Tbls. cold water
• Filling:
• 8 cups chopped peeled tart apples
• ¼ cup sugar
• ¾ tsp. ground cinnamon
• Syrup:
• 2 cups water
• 1 cup packed brown sugar
• Whipped topping or vanilla ice cream, optional
• Mint leaves, optional

Preparation

Step 1

In a bowl, combine flour and salt; cut in shortening until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Sprinkle with water, 1 Tbls. at a time, and toss with a fork until dough can be formed into a ball. Divide dough into four parts.
On a lightly floured surface, roll one part of the dough to fit the bottom of an ungreased 13-in. x 9-in. x 2-in. baking dish. Place in dish; top with a third of the apples. Combine sugar and cinnamon; sprinkle a third over apples. Repeat layers of pastry, apples and cinnamon-sugar twice. Roll out the remaining dough to fit the top of dish and place on top. Using a sharp knife, cut 2-in. slits through all layers at once.
For syrup, bring water and sugar to a boil. Cook and stir until sugar is dissolved. Pour over top crust. Bake at 400° for 35-40 minutes or until browned and bubbly. Serve warm with whipped topping or ice cream if desired.. Garnish with mint if desired.

Yield: 12 servings