Caramel Dumplings

This is a dessert that my grandmother taught me. Now, I will be the first to admit that this dessert is not pretty, but what it lacks in beauty it certainly makes up for in taste. It's perfect for those cold winter nights, huddled up with your friends around the fire.

Step 1 Ingredients

You will need:

For the dough:
1 1/4 cups flour
1 1/4 teaspoons of baking powder
1 oz butter
1 teaspoon vanilla essence
1/3 cup sugar
1/3 cup milk
1 pinch of salt

For the syrup:
1 1/2 cups of water
1 1/2 cups of brown sugar
1 oz butter

A heavy bottomed pot
A bowl and stirring spoons
A bent & rusty old sifter
Measures: cup (250ml), teaspoon (5ml), tablespoon (15ml)

Note: 1 ounce (oz) of butter ~ 30 grams or 2 tablespoons

Comments

[Rhi-Rainbow]

Would it be possible to form the dough around pieces of apple?
Just an idea to make it a tad more healthier :3
Rhi.x

[justjonty]

Rhi, Now that sounds like a great idea. I'll use your apple idea next time I make them. Thanks for your comment!

[bowow0807]

idea to "improve" the looks is to use one of those pipets that they use in chocolate and cake decorating and just cut a larger hole into the pipet put the dough in and squeeze into the pot of caramel to give it a "pro" look to it when serving to guests :)

p.s.
i have yet to test this, just a little thought for the brain and to give people some ideas

[justjonty]

Good idea bowow... good to have thoughts... my wee brain is certainly in need of them... :)

[bowow0807]

Oh yeah could you try a remake of this using vanilla beans? i have about 5 beans laying around and i want to try this using them

[winkwink;)]

for the dumplings can you use just bisquik? thats how we make them with sourkraut.

[justjonty]

I'm sure bisquik would work (though would be a little more savory)... if you add 1:3 sugar to bisquik (plus a touch of vanilla) it might taste similar... if you try it out please post how they went... :)

[prickly vegan]

I finally got around to trying this, and I have to say it's a great idea. It was waaaaaay too sweet for me, but my partner loved it.

Problems: My dumplings fell apart a bit, but cooked fine. I think maybe I should have resisted the urge to stir them at all, or maybe the syrup wasn't hot enough.

Substitutes: I replaced the butter with the same amount of veg oil, and replaced the milk with soy milk. Worked just fine. I didn't have any vanilla, so I used rum extract and cinnamon. It was pretty good! I didn't have any brown sugar either, so used a bit less reg sugar and a spoonful of molasses.

I look forward to experimenting with this one! Anyone try a fruit syrup? Something less sweet? whole flours?

[justjonty]

Well done on the substitutions, prickly vegan!! I know what you mean about resisting turning them... I find I just ladle the syrup over the dumplings without disturbing them. Cinnamon would be fantastic... for me cinnamon improves any dessert... I find the brown sugar doesn't seem as sweet (or at least it seems less dense) than normal sugar... I'd love to see anyone's posts re: a fruit syrup etc... thanks for your feed back!!

[O Dude]

just made these they were the best afternoon tea i have ever had
thanks for the great recipe

[justjonty]

O Dude... glad you made the dumplings... and liked them!

[volve]

I made this for dessert Friday night and had it with vanilla ice cream; it was delicious, thank you! (Incidentally you don't mention when to add the vanilla essence, but it seemed obvious to go in with the milk).

[justjonty]

Thanks volve... so glad you enjoyed them (and thanks for pointing out the vanilla essence - now corrected)

[stormyberetta]

These were great! I had to make a half-batch because I'm only one person...I had to add more flour than the recipe called for to get a good consistency on the dumplings (but maybe I halved an ingredient or two improperly...). Very good! *applauds*

[justjonty]

Hey stormyberetta... so glad you tried them out... glad you liked them too!

[Dr.Squirrel]

Oh my, what do we have here?=) Can't wait to get my parents to make some! 5*

[justjonty]

Thanks for the vote of confidence Dr. Squirrel... if your parents let you in the kitchen, you could surprise them with your cooking skills! Let me know if you try it out and like it.

[Dr.Squirrel]

They would never let me in the kitchen, due to a burnt pie incident, but it surly tastes good! my mom made it and it was SWEEEET!!!!!!!! Thanks!

[justjonty]

Hey Dr. Squirrel... so glad you liked them!!!

[mokcarthy]

In Australia we do the same but with golden syrup instead of part of the brown sugar. I don't think we put sugar in the dumplings themselves, but might be misremembering. "Golden syrup dumplings", or sometimes just "golden dumplings".
I love how they expand, and are light and fluffy. And the sauce!
Delicious!

[justjonty]

The golden syrup sounds an interesting twist... I bet they taste very similar... and yummy!

[hjhapje7]

what's the best hight for the fire to do this (low/mid/high) ?

[justjonty]

Basically, adjust the gas so that the sauce continues to gently simmer. It will depend on your pot and stove... if you keep the heat at the low end of simmering your sauce will not burn... this is a pretty forgiving recipe, it's always turned out really well... if you make them and have time, let me know what you think :)

[hjhapje7]

yeh thank you I'll try to make some time this weekend , so I can try them :)

[matriarchy]

Love your venerable old sieve.

[justjonty]

Thanks matriarchy! So embarrassing... only really noticed how munted it was while putting the 'ible together :)

[matriarchy]

It just shows that sturdy craftsmanship stands up to a lot of use. Wish they still made them as well. My newer one gets crap stuck under the rim.

[baymir]

Hope you enjoy them... I think you are right... they are great winter comfort food :)

[justjonty]

Thanks baymir...

[weaponscollector94]

this is making my mouth water! i am going to make this in the winter when it is stormy out, and there is a nice warm fire blazing inside!

[justjonty]

Hope you like them :)

[rionmv]

This looks very similar to a recipe my family has. The main difference seems to be in how it's served. When we make this we pour some half-and-half over the dumpling and caramel before we eat it. The smooth, cool half-and-half creates a nice contrast to the warm and thick dumpling and caramel. It's fantastic.

[justjonty]

That does sounds like a tasty way to serve them... thanks for sharing rionmv.

[hjhapje7]

it may sound a bit silly but I'm from Holland and I don't really know howmany an "oz" of butter is. can you tell me?

but great instructable and when I know what a oz is I'm certainly going to make them!
5+ :)

[justjonty]

Hi hjhapje7... thanks for your encouragement... 1 ounce (oz) is around 30 grams

[thelandlord]

This might not 'look' pretty, but it sounds lush... my wife & I will most probably have a go at this one because it sounds like the perfect comfort food for winter. :-)

[justjonty]

Hope you enjoy them... I think you are right... they are great winter comfort food :)

[lmd514]

These look delish! I am going to link this in my blog :)

[justjonty]

They don't taste as good on a blog... will you make them??? Thanks for your encouragement lmd514!

[lmd514]

Yes, I will be making them! Probably this week or weekend. :)