Warm apple dumplings wrapped in flaky pastry with cinnamon-sugar syrup are a comforting, old-fashioned family dessert. This cozy autumn treat celebrates fresh apples in the most delicious way.
Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Lightly grease a 9x13-inch baking dish.
Roll out the pie crust sheets. Cut each sheet into 3 even squares to get 6 pieces total.
Place a peeled, cored apple upright onto each pastry square. Fill the apple center with 1 tbsp unsalted butter and 2 tsp brown sugar.
Sprinkle each apple with a pinch of cinnamon, then wrap the pastry around the apple, sealing the edges at the top and bottom. Place all dumplings seam-side down in the prepared dish.
In a saucepan over medium heat, combine granulated sugar, remaining brown sugar, water, vanilla extract, ground cinnamon, and salt. Stir constantly until the sugar dissolves and syrup comes to a gentle simmer. Pour the hot syrup evenly over the dumplings.
Bake dumplings in the preheated oven for 35–40 minutes, or until the pastry is golden and the apples feel tender when pierced with a knife. Cool 10 minutes before serving.