Gluten-Free Caramel Apple Dumplings
Nothing says autumn quite like the aroma of warm apples, cinnamon, and caramel baking in the oven. These Healthy Gluten-Free Caramel Apple Dumplings capture all the cozy flavors of the season while using wholesome ingredients that make this classic dessert a little lighter. Tender apples are wrapped in a flaky gluten-free pastry and baked until golden before being drizzled with a naturally sweetened homemade caramel sauce.
Perfect for crisp fall afternoons, Thanksgiving gatherings, or a cozy dessert after dinner, these apple dumplings are comforting without being overly sweet. For an extra special treat, serve them warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, allowing it to melt into the caramel sauce for the ultimate autumn dessert.
Gluten-Free Caramel Apple Dumplings
Ingredients
For the Dumplings:
- 2 cups gluten-free all-purpose flour with xanthan gum
- 2 tsp baking powder
- ¼ tsp sea salt
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- ¼ cup cold unsalted butter, cubed
- ¼ cup plain Greek yogurt
- 1 egg
- 2 Tbsp pure maple syrup
- 2 Tbsp unsweetened applesauce
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 3 medium Honeycrisp apples, peeled, cored, and halved
Apple Filling:
- 2 Tbsp chopped pecans
- 2 Tbsp rolled gluten-free oats
- 1 Tbsp coconut sugar
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- ¼ tsp ground nutmeg
Healthy Caramel Sauce:
- ¼ cup pure maple syrup
- 2 Tbsp almond butter
- 2 Tbsp unsweetened almond milk
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- ¼ tsp sea salt
Optional for Serving:
- Vanilla ice cream
- Chopped pecans
- Ground cinnamon
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375°F. Lightly grease a baking dish.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the gluten-free flour, baking powder, sea salt, and cinnamon.
- Cut in the cold butter until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
- Stir in the Greek yogurt, egg, maple syrup, applesauce, and vanilla until a soft dough forms.
- In a small bowl, combine the chopped pecans, oats, coconut sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg.
- Fill the center of each apple half with the filling mixture.
- Divide the dough into 6 portions and gently roll each into a circle large enough to wrap around an apple half.
- Place an apple in the center of each dough circle and wrap the dough around it, sealing the edges underneath.
- Arrange the dumplings in the prepared baking dish.
- Bake for 30 to 35 minutes until the pastry is golden and the apples are tender.
- While the dumplings bake, whisk together the maple syrup, almond butter, almond milk, vanilla, and sea salt in a small saucepan over low heat until smooth.
- Drizzle the warm caramel sauce over each dumpling before serving.
- Add a scoop of vanilla ice cream, if desired, and garnish with chopped pecans and a sprinkle of cinnamon.
Notes
Chef Tips:
- Honeycrisp and Pink Lady apples hold their shape well during baking and provide the perfect balance of sweetness and tartness.
- Chill the dough for 15 minutes if it becomes too soft to work with. This helps create a flakier crust.
- Warm the caramel sauce just before serving so it pours easily over the dumplings.
- Serve the dumplings warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream for a classic fall dessert that feels extra indulgent.
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Hi, my name is Kate.
I love food. Real food. We eat all of the things that nursing school taught me were bad for you: butter, eggs, bacon, and raw milk.
I am a Nurse, a Mom, and a Real Food loving blogger. Just trying to save the world.