Craze-E Apple Dumplings!

Description: Sunday morning and Baby It's Cold Outside...so have a bowl of de-constructed apple dumplings! How Craze-E! is that? You can start this hearty dessert earlier in the day and have it on low, and turn the setting up to high when you're ready for the final hour of cooking. Spiced just right, this yummy dessert is the best way to ward off the chill of Autumn and Winter. If you're feeling extravagant, you can pour a little heavy cream over the dumplings and apple sauce, or whip some up and serve on the side.

Ingredients:

• 4 granny smith apples, peeled and sliced thin
• 1/4 cup golden raisin
• 1 1/2 tablespoons flour
• 1/2 cup apple juice
• 1/3 cup sugar
• 2 tablespoons butter, melted
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 3/4 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
• 4 ounces cream cheese
• 1/3 cup plain yogurt (I used a thick, greek-style)
• 1 egg, beaten
• 1 cup flour
• 1/3 cup quick-cooking oatmeal
• 1/3 cup sugar
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1 dash salt
• chopped toasted walnuts or pecans

Steps:

1. Grease crockpot liner.
2. Toss apple slices and raisins with flour. Place in crockpot.
3. Combine apple juice, melted butter, sugar, vanilla extract and spices and pour over the apples.
4. Cook on low for 5 hours.
5. For dumplings: Beat together all dumpling ingredients. Spoon generous teaspoonfuls of the dumpling batter onto the apple mixture in the crockpot (I got 12 generous teaspoonfuls - or 2 dumplings per serving). Turn temperature to HIGH setting and cover and continue to cook for 1 more hour.
6. To serve: I served 2 dumplings with lots of applesauce per serving in a deep bowl and topped with toasted, crunchy walnuts and a little whipped cream.