Old-Fashioned Apple Raisin Dumplings

Ingredients

• 1.5 cups apple cider 
• 2 teaspoons double-acting baking powder 
• 0.3 cup breadcrumbs fresh
• 0.3 teaspoon cinnamon 
• 2 cups flour all-purpose
• 0.5 pound apples i use 2 granny smith apples cored peeled cut into 1/2-inch pieces
• 3 tablespoons granulated sugar for sprinkling
• 1 cup brown sugar light packed
• 0.5 cup milk whole for brushing
• 0.3 cup raisins 
• 0.5 teaspoon salt 
• 3 tablespoons butter unsalted cold cut into pieces
• 6 servings whipped cream 
• 2 tablespoons shortening cold

Equipment

• bowl
• oven
• blender
• rolling pin
• glass baking pan

Directions

1. Toss together all filling ingredients.
2. Preheat oven to 425°F.
3. Sift together flour, baking powder, salt, and 3 tablespoons granulated sugar into a bowl. Blend in butter and shortening with a pastry blender or your fingertips until mixture resembles coarse meal.
4. Add 1/2 cup milk and stir with a fork just until mixture is moistened.
5. Turn out dough onto a floured work surface and gently knead 7 to 8 times, or until a soft dough forms (do not overwork dough, or dumplings will be tough).
6. Roll out dough on a well-floured surface with a floured rolling pin into a rough 16- by 11-inch rectangle (about 3/4 inch thick). Trim to a 15- by 10-inch rectangle. Halve dough lengthwise, then cut crosswise in thirds (to form 6 squares).
7. Divide filling among centers of squares. Bring all 4 corners together over filling and pinch together to seal.
8. Transfer dumplings to a well-buttered 13- by 9- by 2-inch ceramic or glass baking dish and arrange about 1 inch apart.
9. Brush tops with remaining 1/2 tablespoon milk and sprinkle with remaining 1/2 tablespoon granulated sugar.
10. Bring cider and brown sugar to a boil, stirring until sugar is dissolved.
11. Pour syrup around dumplings, then bake dumplings until golden brown and syrup is bubbling, 20 to 25 minutes.
12. Serve immediately.