National Apple Dumpling Day 🥟

Overview

National Apple Dumpling Day, celebrated annually on September 17th, honors a beloved dessert featuring a cored apple (or apple slices) wrapped in pastry dough, baked until golden, and often served with a sweet syrup or sauce. This comforting dish is a quintessential fall treat, especially popular in American cuisine, and the day encourages enjoying this warm, spiced pastry, often accompanied by ice cream or whipped cream.

Origin and story

Apple dumplings are believed to have originated in England, evolving from similar fruit-and-pastry preparations.

Early American recipes for apple dumplings often utilized cider, molasses, or brown sugar-based sauces.

Quick facts

• DateSeptember 17
• TypeFood / Dessert
• Great forFoodies, Chocolate lovers, Home bakers

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Ways to celebrate

Apple dumplings crossed the Atlantic with British settlers, but they found their real home with the Pennsylvania Dutch, who turned them into a cultural staple still associated with the region today.

Make or order one

Celebrate by:

• Making or buying an actual apple dumpling, whole apple wrapped in pastry.
• Trying one as a breakfast item, the way it's traditionally served in Pennsylvania Dutch country.

Trace where the recipe came from

Helpful resources:

• History and Legends of Apples (What's Cooking America)

Did you know?

Recipes for apple dumplings appear in British cookbooks as far back as the early 1600s, including two versions in Hannah Glasse's influential 1747 cookbook, well before the dessert became an American staple.

Fun facts

• Apple dumplings are believed to have originated in England, evolving from similar fruit-and-pastry preparations.
• Early American recipes for apple dumplings often utilized cider, molasses, or brown sugar-based sauces.
• A popular tradition, particularly in parts of the Midwestern U.S., involves serving apple dumplings with a slice or even a piece of cheddar cheese baked into the pastry.

Sources and attribution

History and Legends of Apples (What's Cooking America)

External links may lead to third-party websites.

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FAQ

When is National Apple Dumpling Day?

It is observed on September 17 each year.

What is National Apple Dumpling Day?

National Apple Dumpling Day, celebrated annually on September 17th, honors a beloved dessert featuring a cored apple (or apple slices) wrapped in pastry dough, baked until golden, and often served with a sweet syrup or sauce. This comforting dish is a quintessential fall treat, especially popular in American cuisine, and the day encourages enjoying this warm, spiced pastry, often accompanied by ice cream or whipped cream.

How do people celebrate National Apple Dumpling Day?

Make or buy an apple dumpling, whole apple wrapped in pastry, the way it's traditionally served in Pennsylvania Dutch country.

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