What could be a better dessert on a crisp Fall evening? I love the smell of the apples and cinnamon in the oven. It seems to warm the entire house.
6 medium tart apples, peeled and cored
Pastry
4 ounces cream cheese
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter
1 cup unbleached white flour
Filling
1/4 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 cup raisins
1/2 cup chopped walnuts or pecans
Mix the above ingredients together.
Syrup
1 cup sugar
2 cups water
3 Tbsp. butter
1/4 tsp. cinnamon
For the pastry, cream together cream cheese and butter until fluffy. Add the flour and mix until combined. Roll out the pastry and cut into 8-inch squares. Place a peeled and cored apple in the center of the square; fill the core with prepared filling. Place a pat of butter on top of the filled core. Pull opposite corners of the pastry over the top of the apple and seal closed, using a little water on your finger if necessary. Combine the ingredients for the syrup in a one quart saucepan and boil for 3 minutes.
Place apples in a 9x13 glass baking dish so that they are not touching each other. Pour the syrup around the dumplings in the pan. Bake at 425 degrees for 40-45 minutes. Serve warm with the syrup poured over it. Serves 6.
