Apple Raisin Stew with Spiced Dumplings

Every time I make homemade applesauce in my house, I can never seem to make enough. And then, last week when I was making dumplings, I thought...hmmm, what if I made a sweet spiced dumpling to go with my homemade applesauce. So, I'm combining the two for a fantastic warm finish to a meal. The jury is out in our house on which dried fruit to use -- cherries or raisins. The girls voted for cherries and the boys liked the raisins. You'll have to decide for yourself.

Raisin Apple Stew with Spiced Dumplings           print recipe

Apple stew
6 medium apples (3 soft, 3 firm)
1 1/4 c. water
1/2 t. lemon juice
2 T. agave or 3 T. sugar
3/4 t. cinnamon
1/3 c. raisins
     (or dried cherries, chopped)
1 T. cornstarch
1 T. water

Spiced Dumplings
1/2 c. brown rice flour
1/4 c. tapioca starch flour
1/4 c. brown sugar
1/2 t. zanthan gum
3/4 t. baking powder
1/2 t. cinnamon
1/4 t. allspice
1/4 t. nutmeg
1/8 t. ginger
1/8 t. salt
1/3 c. non-dairy milk
1 T.  canola oil

Wash, core, peel (if desired), and chop apples into 1/2 to 1 inch pieces. Combine all apple stew ingredients, except for the cornstarch and water, in a large saucepan. Bring to a boil and simmer while covered for 20- 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Mix together cornstarch and water in a small cup. Set aside. Towards the end of the above cooking time, make dumplings. In a small bowl, mix all dry ingredients together well. Make a well in the middle and add milk and oil. Stir together until just blended.

When the apples are cooked down enough to make a sauce, stir in cornstarch mixture stirring sauce thoroughly. Drop dumpling batter by tablespoonfuls in hot sauce. Cover and simmer on low/medium heat for 20 min.without lifting cover. Remove cover. Allow time for dessert to cool before eating.

Notes:  We chose not to peel the apples. The peels do separate from the apples. I used 3 Macintosh apples and 3 Granny Smith apples for a nice combination of flavors and textures. If you do not need gluten-free foods, use your favorite dumpling recipe and add the brown sugar and spices. 

Serves:  6