If you love warm, buttery comfort desserts but don’t want to spend hours in the kitchen, these Apple Dumpling Biscuits are about to become your new favorite treat.
Imagine tender biscuit dough wrapped around sweet cinnamon apples, baked in a rich, buttery sauce that turns into a caramel-like glaze in the oven.
Every bite is soft, gooey, and packed with cozy fall flavor, but honestly, this dessert is perfect all year long.
This recipe takes simple ingredients and transforms them into something that tastes like you worked all day.
Whether you're serving them for Sunday dinner, a holiday gathering, or just because you're craving something sweet, these dumplings are always a hit.
Many apple dumpling recipes use canned biscuits, but this is a vintage made-from-scratch recipe.
Why You Will Love This Recipe for Apple Dumpling Biscuits
- Super easy to make – Minimal prep and simple ingredients.
- Comfort food at its best – Warm cinnamon apples and buttery biscuits.
- Perfect for holidays or weeknights – Fancy enough for guests, easy enough for family.
- Budget-friendly dessert – No complicated or expensive ingredients.
- Make-ahead friendly – Assemble earlier and bake when ready.
- Crowd-pleaser – Kids and adults both love these! The magic happens in the oven as the buttery sauce bubbles up and caramelizes around the biscuits.
- The result? Soft dumplings with a slightly crisp top and rich syrup underneath.
Serving Ideas Apple Biscuit Dumpling
- Top with vanilla ice cream
- Drizzle with caramel sauce
- Add a dusting of powdered sugar
- Serve with whipped cream
- Pair with a hot cup of coffee or apple cider
Tips for Making Apple Dumpling Biscuits
- Boil water for exactly 6 minutes. Use a timer
- If you're in a hurry, use a baking mix that can be substituted for homemade dumpling biscuits or canned biscuits. Baking times will vary
- Cinnamon and spices enhance the flavors of the biscuits on top
- Choose: Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, Fuji, Pink Lady, or tart like McIntosh
- For fall pumpkin and sweet potatoes, it is recommended to pre-cook around cubed either by boiling or microwave around 4 minutes.
- For the dumpling batter, just stir until combined
- Use a deep casserole for more juice and a 13 x 9 sheet pan
- If using canned fruits, use the juice from the can instead of water, and reduce the sugar
Fruits to Use for Making Dumplings for Dessert
- peaches
- blueberry
- bananas
- apricots
- bing cherries
- berries of any kind
- mango
- pineapple
- plums
- apples
- pears
- cubed steamed sweet potatoes
- steamed pumpkin
- dates
- fresh figs
- fresh cranberries
- If I missed your favorite fruit, please substitute whatever you prefer!!!
Apple Suggestions for this Recipe
- Empire
- Mcintosh
- Rome
- Fuji
- Cortland
- Honeycrisp
- Gala
Fruit and Biscuit Recipes
Pick a fruit you like. This can be made all year long dumplings and fruit no matter which season we're in.
This vintage recipe is a basic recipe that will bring a smile to anyone who remembers this nostalgic recipe, just like mom and grandma used to make. If not, then it will be your new favorite dessert.
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Don't Miss Trying This Old-Fashioned Apple Dumpling Recipe
This vintage recipe from the 1960s is the most comforting dessert I make.
Dumplings infused with fruits and syrup all in one pan is just nothing like you expect.
These dumplings bake in a magical delight, and you will make them often!
Yield: 10
Apple Dumpling Biscuits
This is a biscuit-topped apple drizzled with a cinnamon syrup mixture vintage dumpling style recipe.
Prep time: 15 MinCook time: 30 MinTotal time: 45 Min
Ingredients
- 6-8 baking apples peeled, sliced, and cored (McIntosh preferred)
- Syrup:
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 cup of water boiled for 5 minutes
- Biscuit:
- 1 1/2 cups flour
- 3/4 cup milk
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 6 tablespoons shortening
- 3 teaspoons baking powder
- Topping before baking:
- 3 tablespoons sugar
- 3 tablespoons butter
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees and butter a 13 x 9 baking dish.
- Place the sliced apples in the baking dish.
- Boil the sugar and water for 5 minutes.
- Pour the syrup over the apples.
- In a large bowl. mix the dough ingredients to form a soft dough.
- Drop the dough by tablespoons on top of the apple mixture.
- Mix the topping mixture until combined and drizzle a teaspoon of this mixture over each biscuit mound.
- Bake at 400 degrees in a preheated oven for 30 minutes or until the top of the biscuit dumplings are brown.
- Serve warm with whipped cream, our optional caramel topping (recipe below), or vanilla ice cream with caramel topping. Dust with more cinnamon.
- Caramel Optional Topping:
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 1/2 heavy cream
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 1 tablespoon butter
- Bring to a boil. Cool. Store leftovers up to two weeks in a covered mason jar in the refrigerator.
Notes
Tips for Making Apple Dumpling Biscuits
- Boil water for exactly 6 minutes use a timer
- If you're in a hurry, use a baking mix that can be substituted for homemade dumpling biscuits or canned biscuits. Baking times will vary
- Cinnamon and spices enhance the flavors of the biscuits on top
- Any fruits can be used; some need additional sweetness to taste
- For fall pumpkin and sweet potatoes, it is recommended to pre-cook around cubed either by boiling or microwave around 4 minutes.
- For the dumpling batter, just stir until combined
- Usea deep casserole for more juice and for a thicker syrup 13 x 9 sheet pan
- if using canned fruits, use the juice from the can instead of water, and reduce the sugar
Fruits to Use for Making Dumplings for Dessert
- peaches
- blueberry
- bananas
- apricots
- bing cherries
- berries of any kind
- mango
- pineapple
- plums
- apples
- pears
- cubed steamed sweet potatoes
- steamed pumpkin
- dates
- fresh figs
- fresh cranberries
- If I missed your favorite fruit, please substitute whatever you prefer!!!
Apple Suggestions for this Recipe
- Empire
- Mcintosh
- Rome
- Fuji
- Cortland
- Honeycrisp
- Gala
The default measuring system for this website is US Customary. Unit conversions are provided for convenience and as a courtesy only. While we strive to provide accurate unit conversions, please be aware that there may be some discrepancies.
These are all copyright-protected images and content. Do not reprint/reuse this recipe or its images without my written permission.
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More Recipes We Love Using Apples
Apple Streusel Cake
Apple Pie Cinnamon Topped Muffins
Country Style Apples
Apple Fried Donut Holes
Disclosure: This recipe was originally shared in 2012. It was edited and re-published in 2024.
