You don't have to sacrifice that comforting feeling that comes from biting into a warm, gooey apple dumpling just because you're warming up leftovers. Although the microwave is generally the fastest way to heat things up, it's not always the best method. Choose your warming technique based on your appliances, the amount of time you can wait and the desired consistency of the warmed apple dumpling.
Oven Reheating
Warm the apple dumplings in the oven for the added benefit of browning the crust to renew the slightly crisp exterior while heating the inside, giving the dumplings a texture that's similar to freshly baked. Place the dumpling — or dumplings — in an oven safe dish, and bake for approximately 10 to 15 minutes at 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
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Toaster Oven Reheating
Like a tiny oven, the toaster oven warms leftover baked goods to freshly baked perfection. As an added bonus, it provides gentle, even heating that's well suited to warming and reheating baked goods. Set the toaster oven to 350 F and, once it's hot, add the apple dumpling. Heat for approximately 10 to 15 minutes, until the dumpling is warm throughout. To avoid inadvertently burning the outside of the pastry, check on the dumpling every few minutes until it's finished.
Using the Microwave
Although the oven and toaster oven provide browning in addition to heating, you can warm the dumpling up fastest in the microwave. The crust on the exterior won't regain any crispness, so only warm it this way if a slightly soggy dumpling dough won't matter — for example, if you plan to serve the apple dumpling with a warm sauce or cream over the top. Set your microwave to 75 percent power to avoid drying the dumpling out as it warms. Warm the dumpling for 2 to 5 minutes, depending on how hot you like it.
Reheating Frozen Apple Dumplings
If you've baked and frozen your apple dumplings ahead of time, you can use the same methods for reheating and warming them. As a general rule, thaw the frozen dumplings in the refrigerator overnight. Alternatively, defrost the dumplings in the microwave for approximately 5 minutes using the defrost setting. If you're reheating frozen apple dumplings, bake them in an oven or toaster oven set to 350 F. Use a covered baking dish, which helps prevent the dumplings from drying out. In general, plan for the dumplings to take at least twice as long — roughly 20 to 30 minutes — as they would if you warm thawed apple dumplings.
