Cracker-barrel hamburger steak recipe was the first recipe of Cracker barrel that I tried myself at home. The result was much better than the expectation. I succeeded in bringing Cracker-barrel-like taste within a few trial-and-error processes. After that, I decided to try another from the Cracker barrel’s, the Cracker barrel apple dumpling recipe.
To this day, I’m a massive fan of the Southern restaurant chain Cracker Barrel. I love their hash brown casserole, chicken, buttermilk biscuits, hamburger steak, and, of course, the apple dumplings, and I have tried them all myself. But the one that amazed me the most and which I think to be their most decadent menu item is this apple dumpling. I have tried a few different versions of baked apple dumplings, but I found this version to be the best yet.
This recipe is pretty easy, except for the fact that some may struggle to shape and wrap the apples properly. Let’s see what it takes.
Cracker barrel apple dumpling ingredients
- Halved, cored, and finely peeled granny smith apples (4 pieces)
- Frozen puff pastry, preferably thawed (1 package; around 17 and a half ounces)
- White sugar (1 cup)
- dry breadcrumbs (3⁄8 cup)
- Beaten egg (1 piece)
- Confectioners’ sugar (1 cup)
- Ground nutmeg (1 pinch)
- Freshly ground cinnamon (3 tablespoons)
- Vanilla extract (1 teaspoon)
- Milk (3 tablespoons)
Ingredients for PECAN STREUSEL
- All-purpose flour (2⁄3 cup)
- Brown sugar, packed (2⁄3 cup)
- Finely chopped toasted pecans (2⁄3 cup)
- Melted butter (5 tablespoons)
Directions for preparing apple dumpling
- Step 01: Grease a baking sheet lightly and preheat your oven to 220-degree Celsius or 425-degree Fahrenheit. Then roll out the sheets of pastry in 12×12 inches size and cut into quarters, which will yield in 8-6 inches squares.
- Step 02: Take a medium-size bowl and mix cinnamon, sugar, nutmeg, and bread crumbs properly. Brush a square of pastry with beaten egg. Place 1 tablespoon of this mixture (breadcrumbs mixture) in the pastry square center.
- Step 03: Take half of an apple, core its sides down over the breadcrumbs, and top with 1 tablespoon of the mixture again.
- Step 04: Pull four corners of the pastry up, pinch the pastry side carefully and make sure a proper seal of the seams. Do the same with the remaining pieces of apples and ensure proper seal.
- Step 05: Now, brush each of the dumplings using beaten eggs and top the dumplings with Pecan Streusel.
- Step 06: Place the dumplings into the preheated oven and keep baking for 15-18 minutes. Then, reduce the temperature to 350-degree Fahrenheit (175-degree Celsius) and keep baking for another 25 minutes until the dumplings turn slightly brown.
- Step 07: Drizzle the dumplings with icing and place in a room temperature so that they cool down thoroughly. And with this step, you have finished cooking the Cracker barrel apple dumpling recipe.
Prepare the PECAN STREUSEL
Take a small bowl and combine all the ingredients all-purpose flour (2⁄3 cup), brown sugar, packed (2⁄3 cup), finely chopped toasted pecans (2⁄3 cup), melted butter (5 tablespoons). Stir with a fork until you get a moist crumb-like mixture. Then use the pecan streusel as per the instruction, in step 04, in the recipe. You can make a little more or little less as per your need.
Prepare the Icing
To prepare the icing, mix vanilla, confectioners’ sugar, and enough milk, which will make you a drizzling consistency. Then drizzle it over the cooled dumplings.
Tips and Tricks
To retain the best texture and taste of this recipe, we have to use drizzling of icing. So, I always recommend serving this recipe the same day it is prepared. It is better not to store it in the refrigerator or anyhow.
Nutritional Information
Apple dumpling recipe is full of sodium and carbohydrates, each measuring 1600 mg and 247 mg. It also offers a vast amount of, 7155 kJ calories, most of which, 95.8%, comes from carbohydrates and fat.
| Nutrient Fact (PER Serving) | Value | Daily Value |
| Calories | 1710 (7155 kJ) | – |
| Protein | 18 g | 23% |
| Alcohol | 0g | – |
| Carbohydrates | 246 g | 82% |
| Dietary Fiber | 8 g | 32% |
| Sugars | 118 g | 58% |
| Total Fat | 73 g | 112% |
| Saturated Fat | 30 g | 150% |
| Trans Fat | 0g | – |
| Cholesterol | 95 mg | 32% |
| Alcohol | 0 g | – |
| Niacin Equivalents | 5.9mg | 56% |
| Iron | < 1 mg | – |
| Potassium | 123mg | 13% |
| Sodium | 1600 mg | 67% |
FAQ
How do you make apple dumplings from scratch?
To make apple dumplings from scratch, you will need flour, butter, salt, and baking powder. Then mix these ingredients and create soft dough forms. Then divide the dough into 6 balls. At last, place apples into the balls after rolling them out on the floured surface.
As an apple dumpling fan, I could not resist preparing the Cracker barrel apple dumpling recipe over and over again. Cracker barrel indeed has added a new dimension to this recipe. Optimal taste and texture with a pack of healthy I ingredients! It is one of the best apple dumpling recipes there ever was.
If you have your version of any cracker barrel recipe, including this one, don’t forget to share it with me. Good luck!