Puffy Apple Dumplings

In her book, The Blue Castle, author L.M. Montgomery wrote, "a plate of apples, an open fire and a jolly good book are a fair substitute for heaven.” If a lowly plate of apples could inspire such delight, imagine how she might describe this autumn treat - little pockets of sweetness with golden crust flavoured with cinnamon.

Prep time: 30 minutes I Baking time: 40 minutes I Yield: 6 dumplings

Ingredients

Dough

• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for work surface and rolling pin
• 3 tsp. baking powder
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 5 tbsp (75 g) butter
• 1/2 cup 2% milk

Filling

• 6 small apples, peeled, cored and sliced
• 6 tsp sugar, plus more for sprinkling
• 1 1/2 tsp butter, plus more for dotting
• ground cinnamon, for sprinkling

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 400 °F (200°C).
2. To make the dough: Sift the flour, baking powder and salt into a medium bowl.
3. Mix in the butter with your fingers until it is well distributed. Add the milk to make a soft dough.
4. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured board or countertop. Flour a rolling pin and roll out the dough, about 1/4" thick. Divide the dough into 6 equal pieces.
5. To make the filling: On each dough piece, place some sliced apples, pressing them tightly together, then add 1 teaspoon sugar and 1/4 teaspoon butter. 
6. With fingers dipped in water, moisten the edges of the dough and fold it up around the apple filling. Please the dumplings on an ungreased baking sheet. 
7. Sprinkle each dumpling with cinnamon and sugar and dot with a little more butter.
8. Bake for 40 minutes until golden brown. Use oven mitts to remove the baking sheet from the oven and set on a cooling rack.
9. Serve warm and enjoy with vanilla ice cream or fresh whipped cream.

Source: The Anne of Green Gables Cookbook by Kate MacDonald and L.M. Montgomery