Goodbye Basic Pie — Wrap This Sweet, Creamy Filling In Dumpling Skins For A Decadent, Mini Treat

Dumplings are one of those comfort dishes that can take many forms. From gyozas to potstickers, these pillowy bites can be enjoyed in various ways. While dumplings often have a savory stuffing, sweet fillings deserve just as much recognition. Take, for example, a Southern-style cozy dumpling filled with sweet potato. Chocolate, fruit, and other creamy additives wrapped in the soft dough make for a similarly delicious sweet treat. In fact, there's even a mixture that will give an apple pie-twist to your dumplings: apple jam and cream cheese. 

While a classic apple pie hits the spot, turning this dessert into a bite-sized treat is even better. Plus, it's so easy to make. Simply add a generous teaspoon of jam and cream cheese to each dumpling wrapper and seal it up by brushing water around the perimeter. Pan-fry the dumplings for about a minute in a little bit of oil, then add a splash of water to cover their bottoms and steam them for a few minutes. The final result will be dumplings with crisp bottoms, soft and tender tops, and a luscious and gooey inside. Alternatively, you could also deep fry or air fry the dumplings if you want them to be crisp all around.

These sweet dumplings don't have to stop at just apple jam and cream cheese — there are plenty of ways you can upgrade them. You can add other warm flavors to your filling, such as brown sugar or cinnamon, to give the mini treats a cozy touch. Or, coat your dumplings in cinnamon sugar for a crunchy exterior. You could also add in diced apples for more texture in your filling. If you want to switch up the flavor, feel free to swap the apple jam for another fruit jam, such as berry, apricot, or peach. You could even make your own jam out of frozen berries.  

Whatever filling you choose, just be sure not to overstuff your dumpling, or it may explode in the cooking process. From there, serve these treats with dipping sauces like caramel or chocolate, or simply enjoy them with a scoop of ice cream. These dumplings are fantastic for a late night treat, or even as a pie replacement for the holiday table.