Homemade Apple Dumplings

Tuesday was Applesauce Day.  It's considered an official holiday in our family.  My sister-in-law and I have gotten together each fall for many years to can applesauce together.  And we had our kids convinced when they were little that it was actually a holiday.  They got a break from schoolwork and spent the day playing with their cousins - of course it was a holiday!  Well, those kids are rapidly growing up and we're beginning to lose our helpers.  But the oldest two still managed to take part in Applesauce Day in one way or another.  The one at college called in the afternoon and the other one came over after work to crank the last batch through the strainer.

Besides my share of the 80+ quarts of applesauce we canned, my sister-in-law sent me home with 5 large Stayman apples and her homemade apple dumpling recipe to try.  The next afternoon I made up the dumplings, and we had them for dessert later in the evening.  Wow.  Will definitely be making these again!  Autumn in a dish . . .

Homemade Apple Dumplings

Peel and core 5 large baking apples.  Sprinkle the cored hole with cinnamon and a dot of butter.  Set aside.  Mix up the dough.

Dough
2 C. all-purpose flour
1 tsp. salt
2/3 C. shortening
6 tabl. water

Combine ingredients and roll out thinly.  Cut into 5 portions.  Place each apple in the center of 1 piece of dough and gather up around the apple.  Place all in baking dish and put in frig.  Make syrup.

Syrup
1 1/2 C. sugar
1 1/2 C. water
3 tabl. butter
1/4 tsp. cinnamon

Mix and bring to a rolling boil for 8 minutes to thicken.  Pour over dumplings.

Bake at 350 for approx. 45 minutes or until golden brown.  Spoon syrup over dumplings once or twice during baking.