Spiced Apple Dumplings

By Kathy Johnson

Ingredients

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp salt
• 3/4 cup shortening
• 6 to 8 Tbsp milk
• 6 large baking apples, peeled, cored and chopped (about 5 1/2 cups)
• 1/2 cup chopped pecans (optional)
• 2 1/4 cups sugar, divided
• 1/4 cup butter
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg

Details

Servings 6
Preparation time 25mins
Cooking time 60mins

Preparation

Step 1

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Inmedium bowl stir together flour, baking powder and salt. Cut in shortening until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Add milk, a alittle at a time, stirring until dough clings together. Form into a ball. Divide dough into sixths. On floured surface, roll each portion of dough into a 7 inch circle.
Stir together apples, pecans and 1/4 cup of the sugar. Top each circle witha a scant 1 cup apples. Moisten edges of pastry with water, gather edges of dough over top of apple, completely enclosing apple. Pinch to seal. Place, seam side down, in 2 quart rectangular baking dish.
In medium saucepan, combine remaining 2 cups sugar, 2 cups water, butter, vanilla, cinnamon and nutmeg. Bring to boiling. Carefully pour over dunplings. Bake 35 to 40 minutes or until golden brown. Serve warm.