Rustic Apple Dumplings with Cinnamon Sauce

I'll admit it...I'm afraid to attempt making a pie crust from scratch. I'm not sure why I freeze up when my husband asks me to make him an apple pie. For now, this is as close to an apple pie that I think he is going to get from me.

I must say that I am thrilled with the word "rustic" because it takes my "not-so-perfect-looking" apple dumplings and makes them look like they are supposed to be bumpy and pieced together. lol! Although they may not look perfect, they taste so very good! (and that's the important thing, right?)

Rustic Apple Dumplings with Cinnamon Sauce

Ingredients:

Dough
2 C. flour
2/3 C. butter-flavored shortening
1 tsp salt
5 TBSP ice water

Apple Filling
2 C. Granny Smith apples, peeled and chopped into small pieces1 TBSP apple pie spice

Cinnamon Sauce
2 C. brown sugar, packed firm
1 C. water
1/4 C. butter, cubed small
1/4 C. Red Hot candies

To Assemble:

Combine flour and salt. Cut in shortening until crumbly. Slowy add water, mixing with a fork until the dough forms into a ball.

Lightly flour your work surface. Roll the dough into a 12 x 18 rectangle. Cut dough into 6 squares.

Toss together the cubed apples and apple pie spices. Scoop 1/3 cup of apples into the center of each square.

Working with the opposite corners of each square of dough (top left and bottom right-top right and bottom left), fold the dough corners over the apples and pinch together on the top of the apples. Pinch the dough together around the apples forming a dumpling shape.

Grease a 9 x 13 baking dish. Place dumplings into the dish. Bake at 350* for 25 minutes.

While the dumplings are baking, prepare the sauce. In a medium, non-stick saucepan combine the brown sugar, water, butter and Red Hot candies. Bring to a boil and simmer for 5 minutes--Stir constantly!

Remove dumplings from the oven. Pour the sauce over the dumplings and bake for another 25 minutes or until the dumplings are golden brown and the apples are soft. Serve warm.