Apple Dumplings with Warm Caramel Sauce

I have to say that ice cream is an essential component to this perfect dish. Hot apples, crispy crust, thick cinnamon syrup topped with old-fashioned creamy vanilla ice cream. My mouth is watering, so I may have to sign off soon and put my recipe where my mouth is (so to speak)!


4 medium apples
6 teaspoons sugar
4 tablespoons butter
1/2 teaspoons cinnamon


Sauce
2 cups sugar
3 cups water
1/2 stick butter
1 teaspoon cinnamon


Crust
1 cup flour
1/3 cup and 2 tablespoons Crisco
4 tablespoons cold water


Combine all the ingredients for the sauce in a large sauce pan. Bring sauce to boil over medium-high heat, stirring constantly. Once sauce comes to a boil, reduce heat and let simmer for 30 minutes.

While the sauce is simmering, you can assemble the pie crust. Put 1 cup flour in a large mixing bowl. Cut the Crisco into the flour until in resembles course meal. Add water one tablespoon at a time and mix until the dough holds together. Wrap in plastic wrap and put in the fridge while you prepare the apples.

Meanwhile, peel apples and cut them in half and core out the middle with a melon scooper. Put a dab of butter in the center a of each apple half. Sprinkle each with 1 teaspoon sugar and a shake of cinnamon.

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Pull the dough out of the fridge and roll out on a surface lightly dusted with flour. Roll into a rectangle and cut the dough into eight squares. Set an apple in the center of each dough square and pull the sides up around the apple and pinch the top together to hold in place. After each apple is wrapped, place them all in a 9X13 glass cake pan.


Pour the sauce over all eight apples and bake the entire dish at 350 degrees F for 25-30 minutes or until the dumplings are golden brown. While the apple dumplings are baking, about halfway through the baking time, open the oven and baste the dumplings with the sauce to keep them moist.

Serve with ice cream for a wonderful treat!