Apple Dumplings with Spiced Rum Caramel Sauce

Flaky puff pastry, tender baked apples, and a buttery cinnamon-sugar filling all wrapped up in a golden crust and finished with warm spiced rum caramel sauce. These Apple Dumplings are everything you want in a fall dessert: comforting, cozy, and guaranteed to make your kitchen smell incredible.

When apple season rolls around, I can’t resist finding new ways to bake with them. There’s just something special about the way cinnamon, brown sugar, and butter come together with crisp apples. The scent alone feels like a hug from the oven. This recipe takes me back to my first job at Wendy’s, when they served the most amazing apple dumplings. I’ve recreated that same nostalgic flavor at home using puff pastry for an extra flaky, bakery-style touch. Then these easy apple dumplings are finished with spiced rum caramel sauce, drizzled over the top before serving.

Apple Dumpling Recipe

This apple dessert is what I love about fall baking. Those warm cozy spices – I can’t get enough! The presentation is impressive enough for Thanksgiving or any holiday gathering, yet simple enough to make on a weeknight. Each dumpling looks like its own little wrapped present, making it a beautiful dessert to serve for an autumn dinner party or family get-together. The best part is that it’s all made with easy ingredients you can find anywhere, and the results taste like something straight from a bakery. When you drizzle that spiced rum caramel over the top, it becomes even more special, the perfect way to end a holiday meal or celebrate apple season in style.

Apple Dumplings with Puff Pastry

The first time I posted this recipe was back in 2017.  I had been wanting to share a recipe for apple dumplings and was part of a little blogger round-up for fall.  I thought it was perfect timing, because next to pumpkin recipes, apple recipes are my favorite during this time of the year.  But when I decided to make them, I wanted to make sure that there was a yummy sauce for the top. I could have done a salted caramel or something similar, but the original posting day fell on National Rum Day, and this spiced rum sauce idea was born. 

Ingredients in Easy Apple Dumplings

Simple ingredients are used for this recipe. You will find the exact measurements and instructions in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post. 

For the dumplings:

• Puff pastry – thawed enough but still cold and easy to handle, store-bought or homemade puff pastry.
• Granny Smith apples –  peeled, cored, and halved. Granny Smiths are my favorite to bake with, but Honeycrisp or Braeburn would be a good alternative.
• Brown sugar – dark or light, your preference
• Spices – Cinnamon and Nutmeg are used here, but you could use my Apple Pie Spice for even more warm spice flavoring.
• Butter

For the spiced rum caramel sauce:

• Butter
• Brown sugar – I am a fan of dark brown sugar
• Spiced rum – regular dark rum or apple juice can be used instead.
• Heavy cream

Optional toppings: 

• vanilla ice cream and chopped walnuts

How to Make Apple Dumplings and Rum Sauce

Preheat your oven to 375°F and lightly grease a shallow baking dish.

Roll out the puff pastry on a floured surface and cut into four squares.

Place one apple half in the center of each square.

In a small bowl, mix brown sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg together. Sprinkle the mixture over each apple and top with a pat of butter.

Wrap the puff pastry around each apple and pinch the top to seal. Place in the prepared baking dish and brush the tops with melted butter.

Bake for about 40 to 45 minutes or until the pastry is golden brown and flaky.

While the dumplings bake, melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Add brown sugar and rum, whisking until the sugar dissolves. Stir in heavy cream and continue to whisk until the sauce thickens slightly and turns smooth and glossy.

Serve the apple dumplings warm from the oven with a drizzle of caramel sauce over each one. A scoop of vanilla ice cream melts beautifully into the sauce and adds a creamy contrast to the flaky crust. A handful of chopped walnuts or pecans gives a little crunch and looks lovely for presentation.

Store leftover dumplings covered in the refrigerator for up to three days. Reheat in a 325°F oven until warmed through and crisp again. The caramel sauce can be stored separately in the fridge and warmed gently on the stove or in the microwave before serving.

To Freeze Apple Dumplings: Bake them as directed, let them cool completely, then wrap each one tightly and freeze for up to two months. Reheat in the oven until warmed through and crisp. The caramel sauce is best made fresh, but it comes together quickly while the dumplings reheat.

Love it? Pin it!

If you love this Apple Dumpling recipe, pin it to your favorite Pinterest recipe board before you go to find it easily. 

Tips and Tricks

• Use cold puff pastry that’s just thawed enough to unfold without cracking. Too warm and it won’t puff up properly.
• Pick firm apples like Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, or Braeburn so they hold their shape while baking.
• Seal the tops well so the filling stays tucked inside as it bakes. A small twist and pinch at the top works best.
• Watch the caramel sauce closely so it doesn’t boil too hard. A gentle simmer is all it needs to come together.
• Make-ahead tip: You can prepare the dumplings a few hours in advance and refrigerate until ready to bake. The sauce can also be made ahead and gently reheated before serving.

FAQs

• What are the best apples for apple dumplings? Granny Smith apples are my go-to because they hold their shape well and have just the right tartness to balance the sweet caramel sauce. Honeycrisp, Braeburn, or Jonagold apples are also great choices if you prefer a slightly sweeter flavor. The key is to pick a firm apple that won’t turn mushy while baking.
• Can I make these apple dumplings without rum? Yes, absolutely. You can substitute apple juice or cider for the rum in the caramel sauce. You’ll still get that same rich caramel flavor without the alcohol.
• Can I make apple dumplings ahead of time? You can assemble the dumplings a few hours before baking and store them in the refrigerator until you’re ready to bake. The caramel sauce can be made ahead as well. Just warm it gently before serving so it’s pourable again.

More Apple Recipes to Love

I love baking with apples, and of course, easy desserts are my jam. Here are a few other recipes you should definitely check out before you go! I love the Apple Kuchen (pictured above). It looks fancy but is actually really easy to make. I can’t make my Apple Crisp without someone asking for the recipe, and the same goes for these Apple Pie Crumb Bars. This rustic Apple Crostata is fun to make, and if you have never made Homemade Applesauce in your crockpot, you have to give it a try!

If you love the flavors of baked apples and caramel, these Apple Dumplings with Spiced Rum Caramel Sauce are a must-try. They taste like something from a cozy bakery, yet they’re simple enough to make anytime the craving hits. It’s a dessert that celebrates everything wonderful about apple season.

This recipe was originally posted on August 15, 2017, and it has been updated to improve user experience and reshared on October 7, 2025.