Lucy M. Mary Berry’s baked apple dumplings deliver the kind of warmth and comfort that makes people linger at the table. Tender apples wrap in buttery pastry, creating little packages that steam when you cut into them, releasing cinnamon-scented heat and soft fruit. The golden pastry cracks under your fork, revealing the spiced apple filling within. Serve one warm with custard or cream, and suddenly you understand why this dessert never goes out of style.
Berry’s approach keeps these dumplings elegant without making them intimidating. The pastry comes together easily, and the apple filling requires nothing more than fruit, sugar, and spice. The magic happens in the oven, where everything bakes together into something that looks far more refined than the effort involved. The aroma drifting through your kitchen signals that something special is coming.
These dumplings work for casual family dinners or when you want to impress without fussing endlessly. They taste best served warm, their pastry still slightly crisp on the outside while the apples remain juicy within. One dessert and your guests remember why baked apples wrapped in pastry have remained beloved for generations.
Why You’Ll Love This Mary Berry Baked Apple Dumplings
You’ll adore how Mary Berry’s apple dumplings deliver pure comfort in every bite—a golden, flaky pastry exterior that gives way to a tender, spiced apple center. I love that this recipe’s simplicity belies its impressive results. You don’t need fancy equipment or advanced skills; just basic pantry staples and your fingertips create magic.
What makes these dumplings special is their individual presentation. Each dumpling feels like a personal gift, complete with decorative leaf shapes that transform a humble dessert into something elegant. The warm cinnamon and brown sugar filling perfumes your kitchen while they bake, building anticipation.
Whether you’re serving them at a dinner party or enjoying one solo with cream, these dumplings bridge rustic charm and refined taste. They’re proof that the best desserts don’t require complexity—just quality ingredients and Mary Berry’s trusted technique.
No dessert collection is complete without a classic vanilla ice cream recipe. Our Mary Berry Quick Vanilla Ice Cream is the ultimate crowd-pleaser, delivering pure, indulgent flavor in every single scoop.
What Ingredients Are In Mary Berry Baked Apple Dumplings?
Creating Mary Berry’s apple dumplings requires a carefully balanced selection of ingredients that work together to produce the signature flaky pastry and perfectly spiced apple filling. The recipe relies on classic baking fundamentals—quality flour, cold fats, and fresh apples—along with warm spices that complement the fruit.
Each component plays an essential role in achieving the golden exterior and tender interior that makes this dessert so memorable.
Ingredients:
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 6 tablespoons chilled butter, cut into cubes (plus extra for greasing)
- 3 ounces (90g) chilled vegetable shortening, cut into cubes
- 4 tart apples, peeled and cored
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- Milk for glazing
- Cold water (approximately 3–4 tablespoons)
When preparing these dumplings, it’s pivotal to keep your butter and vegetable shortening chilled until the moment you use them.
This guarantees the pastry develops its characteristic flakiness. Tart apple varieties such as Granny Smith work best, as their acidity balances the sweetness of the brown sugar filling. If ground cinnamon loses its potency over time, consider purchasing fresh supplies for maximum flavor. Additionally, having cold water on hand and working swiftly during the dough-making process will help you achieve the best texture in your finished dumplings.
How To Make This Mary Berry Baked Apple Dumplings
- Begin by preheating your oven to 400°F (200°C). In a large bowl, combine 3 cups of all-purpose flour with 6 tablespoons of chilled butter and 3 ounces of chilled vegetable shortening, both cut into cubes. Using your fingertips, rub the fats into the flour until the mixture resembles fine bread crumbs.
- Gradually mix in approximately 3–4 tablespoons of cold water until a soft, pliable dough forms. Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate for about 30 minutes to allow it to rest and firm up, which will guarantee a flakier final product.
- Divide the chilled dough into 4 equal pieces. Roll out each piece on a lightly floured surface and cut into a 7-inch round. Place one peeled and cored tart apple in the center of each round and gather the dough around it to form a dumpling, sealing the edges.
- Reserve any dough trimmings and cut them into decorative leaf shapes. Attach these leaves to the tops of the dumplings using a small amount of water as adhesive, then pierce a small hole in the top of each dumpling to allow steam to escape during baking.
- Lightly brush each dumpling with milk to create a golden glaze, then place them on a greased baking sheet.
- Bake for 35–40 minutes until the pastry is golden brown and the apples inside are tender when pierced with a fork. Before filling the apples, mix together ¼ cup brown sugar and ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon, then spoon this mixture into the cored center of each apple for added sweetness and warmth.
- Serve the dumplings hot, ideally with custard or vanilla ice cream on the side.
Mary Berry’S Flaky Apple Dumpling Recipe
Ingredients
Method
- Begin by preheating your oven to 400°F (200°C). In a large bowl, combine 3 cups of all-purpose flour with 6 tablespoons of chilled butter and 3 ounces of chilled vegetable shortening, both cut into cubes. Using your fingertips, rub the fats into the flour until the mixture resembles fine bread crumbs.
- Gradually mix in approximately 3–4 tablespoons of cold water until a soft, pliable dough forms. Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate for about 30 minutes to allow it to rest and firm up, which will guarantee a flakier final product.
- Divide the chilled dough into 4 equal pieces. Roll out each piece on a lightly floured surface and cut into a 7-inch round. Place one peeled and cored tart apple in the center of each round and gather the dough around it to form a dumpling, sealing the edges.
- Reserve any dough trimmings and cut them into decorative leaf shapes. Attach these leaves to the tops of the dumplings using a small amount of water as adhesive, then pierce a small hole in the top of each dumpling to allow steam to escape during baking.
- Lightly brush each dumpling with milk to create a golden glaze, then place them on a greased baking sheet.
- Bake for 35–40 minutes until the pastry is golden brown and the apples inside are tender when pierced with a fork. Before filling the apples, mix together ¼ cup brown sugar and ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon, then spoon this mixture into the cored center of each apple for added sweetness and warmth.
- Serve the dumplings hot, ideally with custard or vanilla ice cream on the side.
Notes
What To Serve With Mary Berry Baked Apple Dumplings
Mary Berry’s warm apple dumplings deserve complementary sides and accompaniments that enhance their comforting appeal. I’d serve them with vanilla ice cream or clotted cream, which melts beautifully against the warm pastry and tender apples. A dollop of crème fraîche adds subtle tang that balances the sweetness. For a lighter option, I’d pair them with custard sauce or a simple dusting of powdered sugar. Fresh whipped cream works wonderfully too. If you’re serving them for dinner rather than dessert, consider a savory element like a light salad with lemon vinaigrette to cut through the richness. A hot beverage—tea or coffee—complements the dumplings perfectly, while dessert wine or apple cider provides an elegant finishing touch that ties everything together beautifully.Make-Ahead And Storage Tips For Baked Apple Dumplings
Assemble your baked apple dumplings up to forty eight hours in advance by wrapping spiced apples in pastry and placing them on parchment-lined baking sheets. Refrigerate covered with plastic wrap so the dough remains cold and flaky when baked, preventing soggy results and ensuring crispy, golden exteriors. Bake straight from the fridge without thawing, allowing an extra ten minutes for cooking time while flavors meld beautifully inside each dumpling.
Refrigerated leftovers keep fresh for up to five days when stored in airtight containers away from moisture and strong odors. For extended storage, freeze baked dumplings for up to four months in freezer bags or containers, preserving their delicious apple filling and pastry texture remarkably well. Reheat individual dumplings in a toaster oven at three hundred twenty five degrees for twelve minutes until warmed through, or microwave for ninety seconds for quick weeknight desserts that taste homemade.
Mary Berry Baked Apple Dumplings Substitutions And Variations
Since Mary Berry’s classic recipe relies on traditional ingredients, there’s plenty of room to customize it to suit your preferences and dietary needs. I’d recommend substituting all-purpose flour with whole wheat flour for added nutrition, or using coconut oil instead of vegetable shortening for a different flavor profile.
You can swap brown sugar with honey or maple syrup for the apple filling. For spice variations, I’ve found that nutmeg, allspice, or cardamom work beautifully alongside cinnamon. If you’re dairy-free, replace the milk glaze with plant-based alternatives.
You might also experiment with different apple varieties—sweeter Honeycrisp apples pair well with less sugar, while Granny Smith apples benefit from additional sweetness. These adjustments let you create dumplings that align with your taste preferences and dietary requirements.
What To Serve With Mary Berry Baked Apple Dumplings
Mary Berry’s warm apple dumplings deserve complementary sides and accompaniments that enhance their comforting appeal. I’d serve them with vanilla ice cream or clotted cream, which melts beautifully against the warm pastry and tender apples. A dollop of crème fraîche adds subtle tang that balances the sweetness.
For a lighter option, I’d pair them with custard sauce or a simple dusting of powdered sugar. Fresh whipped cream works wonderfully too. If you’re serving them for dinner rather than dessert, consider a savory element like a light salad with lemon vinaigrette to cut through the richness.
A hot beverage—tea or coffee—complements the dumplings perfectly, while dessert wine or apple cider provides an elegant finishing touch that ties everything together beautifully.
Final Thoughts
Once you’ve chosen your ideal accompaniment, you’ll find that Mary Berry’s apple dumplings truly shine as a versatile dessert that works year-round. I’ve found that the combination of buttery, flaky pastry and tender spiced apples never fails to impress. What makes this recipe special is how straightforward it is—you don’t need advanced baking skills to achieve professional results. The key lies in keeping your ingredients cold and handling the dough gently. Whether you’re baking for a casual weeknight dinner or a special occasion, these dumplings deliver comfort and elegance simultaneously. Once you master this recipe, you’ll return to it repeatedly. Your guests will appreciate the homemade touch, and you’ll appreciate how simple it is to create something truly memorable.
