Apple & Marzipan Dumplings

Updated 19 March 2024 Published 21 April 2015 73 Comments

Apple and Marzipan Dumplings are both delicious and pretty. Made with homemade marzipan and decorated with pastry leaves, these dumplings are heavenly and easy to make!

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Apple & Marzipan Dumplings are utterly delicious and the perfect autumnal dessert. Apples are stuffed with homemade marzipan wrapped in puff pastry and decorated with puff pastry leaves.

I have many fond childhood memories of Peter’s Tea Room and Baker’s Shop in Weybridge; all the cakes and delicacies are etched in my memory.

One such treat I remember seeing in the window and occasionally having at home was their Apple Dumplings.

Louise Johncox has recreated her father Peter’s recipes in her book The Baker’s Daughter which I used as the basis for my inspiration but I then went completely off-piste and did my own thing.

As half my family just doesn’t like dried fruit I couldn’t go down that route so decided that some homemade marzipan would be a fabulous core for these apple dumplings.

For my first attempt, I tried using a sheet of ready-rolled pastry. This didn’t work as you need a square of pastry and not a rectangle.

I also tried trimming off excess pastry but this just led to the pastry splaying open and leaving gaps in the finished product, and I didn’t let the pastry rest in the fridge!

Another mistake I made was leaving the skin on the apples, resulting in my apples turning mush.

It all felt like my first driving test, you get all your mistakes over and done with in one go and then you know what not to do the second time,

I’m happy to say I passed my driving test 2nd time and also succeeded in making these gorgeous Apple & Marzipan Dumplings 2nd time!

If you don’t have any ground almonds to hand don’t buy them just whizz up some almonds or flaked almonds like I did.

On my first attempt, I used ground almonds but I think the marzipan tasted even better when using freshly ground almonds (I use my herb chopper attachment from my stick blender).

I’m pleased to say everyone loved my Apple and Marzipan Dumplings – even my son who had turned his nose up at my first attempt and doesn’t like marzipan!

Gosh it’s difficult sometimes catering to everyone’s likes and dislikes, isn’t it?

Luckily I often win the taste battle as kids in particular can have preconceived ideas about what they will and won’t like.

I just say “Try it and if you don’t like it you don’t have to eat it”. Once they’ve had the first taste an empty bowl usually ensues!

Do you have a childhood memory of a treat that you’ve yet to bake? Do let me know in the comments.

More Recipes Using Apple and/or Marzipan

Once you’ve tried my delicious Apple & Marzipan Dumplings you should also check out the following recipes!

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