A pandowdy is one of a family of old-fashioned deep-dish desserts, known by quaint names such as slumps, grunts, buckles, duffs, crumbles, or sonkers, made with seasonal fruits, that are all variations of a cobbler, and all of which came to America with the Colonists. Like Shoo-Fly Pie, pandowdy (the name is believed to refer to its “dowdy” appearance) is made with simple, primarily non-perishable, ingredients that were easy to keep on hand. You can make a pandowdy out of different fruits, but it’s traditionally made using apples sweetened with molasses (or brown sugar). The crust is a biscuit-type dough which can be baked on top, broken up near the end of the baking time and poked (“dowdied”) into the fruit, or even baked on the bottom, inverting the dish before serving. (Take your pick!) I’m fascinated with old-fashioned desserts, so expect to see more of them here. Apple Pandowdy is quick and easy, and baking it will make you feel like an early American settler, so go grab some apples and bake it today!
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How to make Apple Pandowdy:
Step One–
3 cups sliced, peeled apples
1/2 cup molasses
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon salt
Core, slice, and peel three cups of apples and place in a bowl. Add 1/2 cup of molasses.
Add nutmeg, cinnamon, and salt. Mix well.
Butter a one-and-a-half quart baking dish and dump in the apple mixture. Bake at 350-degrees for 20 minutes.
Step Two–
1/2 cup butter, melted
1 egg
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup sugar
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons baking powder
Melt butter. Add egg, milk, and sugar. Stir well.
Add flour, salt, and baking powder. Mix together.
Spread evenly over baked apple mixture. Place back in the 350-degree oven for an additional 30 minutes.
Ohhhh my……….
Serve with ice cream or whipped cream.
When Georgia asked me to bring an extra dessert to the big party, I baked this at the very last minute. It really is that fast–and that good!
See this recipe at Farm Bell Recipes and save it to your recipe box.
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Heidi says:
That looks SO GOOD!! If I was not already pregnant I would have its baby!! 🙂 I LOVE LOVE LOVE apple crisp, apple pie, apple dumplings, anything apple – now I have to explain to my husband I want to have a pandowdy affair!!! LOL thanks for the recipe, I will be making this later this week, if I dont break down and go get stuff today!!!
On June 9, 2008 at 6:33 am
Carolyn says:
Yum! Yum! Suzanne, this is going on my list of “have to bake right away.” Can’t wait. Keep these fabulous recipes coming. Also, might we have the ham recipe? Mine turns out dry sometimes, but the pic of yours made my mouth water. xxoo
On June 9, 2008 at 6:34 am
Kristen says:
I love old fashioned desserts….thanks for sharing this one! :hungry:
On June 9, 2008 at 7:32 am
Kacey says:
Wow that looks good! And I always have those ingredients around! Thanks for sharing.
On June 9, 2008 at 7:33 am
happyathome says:
O.k., there is nothing wrong with eating that for breakfast. It has all the food groups that qualify! I am ready to attempt this, as soon as I go out and get some apples…..
https://lifeislikechampagne.blogspot.com/
On June 9, 2008 at 7:39 am
Blaze says:
I have never actually heard of this but it looks goooooood! :thumbsup:
OH!
I gave making pumpkin bread a try, it turned out pretty decent!
Not great but I think I can improve on it when its not HOMG hot and having the oven on doesn’t feel like a very dumb thing
On June 9, 2008 at 7:48 am
MARY says:
:butterfly: I love Apple pandowdy, and have not had it since I was 16 and worked at Farrells ice cream parlor. Since you are interested in old-fashioned desserts, you should look up “Summer Pudding.” It will make good use of your berries!!! I’m hungry!!! LOL! :sheepjump:
On June 9, 2008 at 8:12 am
Kathryn says:
Thank you for the recipe! It looks wonderfulwonderful! I am thinking this is perfect for Saturday breakfast! Biscuits and fruit. What could be better? Thanks!
On June 9, 2008 at 8:40 am
Sarah in Sanford says:
Thank you so much for the recipe. I have everything on hand to make it which is out of the ordinary for me. My husband will probably kill me when he gets home and there is dessert sitting on the counter. He is low carbing it right now.It’s worth the risk :o)
On June 9, 2008 at 8:55 am
Kathleen in MI says:
I had heard of pandowdy but never knew what it was exactly, so thanks for the explanation. It looks very good and so like something I will make.
On June 9, 2008 at 9:26 am
Remudamom says:
Wow that looks good. My mil makes something like that and calls it apple crumbles, I think. Hers has got some oats in it.
On June 9, 2008 at 9:53 am
Lisa Lucchese says:
This looks so yummy! Thanks for sharing!
On June 9, 2008 at 10:02 am
Amy Addison says:
That looks FANTASTIC! OMG. When our apples come in in Sepember, I’m going to have to make this!
On June 9, 2008 at 10:07 am
Sharon Elkins says:
Man, I’ve got to start reading your site AFTER lunch. Now I’m really starving.
On June 9, 2008 at 10:30 am
Donna says:
Ohhhh that looks scrumptious!!!!! I loved your presentation too Suzanne. You really take the time to make it all look so nice and then I love seeing the steps – I need simple. LOL I think you should be a Food Network Host, for Food tv! That or open your own photography studio! (plus a bakery).
This recipe sort of reminded me of an easy peach cobbler I used to make. I can’t wait to try this and have really craved applie pie alot lately, so I am ready! Thank you!
On June 9, 2008 at 10:55 am
Karen B says:
:hug: Thanks for the recipe!
On June 9, 2008 at 11:43 am
pticester says:
I’ve never made it, but sure looks yummy.
On June 9, 2008 at 11:58 am
Jodie says:
Sounds good. Have you ever made a treacle pudding? I just read a recipe for it in a Susan Wittig Albert book (fiction about Beatrix Potter). I was always intrigued by the English food in the Harry Potter books.
On June 9, 2008 at 12:33 pm
Crystal B. says:
Looks yummy! Thanks for the recipe.
On June 9, 2008 at 12:50 pm
Susan says:
It looks delicious! I love apples so this will definitely be made for me by my mom. :hungry:
On June 9, 2008 at 1:36 pm
Sasha White says:
WOW. I remember as a kid when my Grandma used to make this. Thanks for the recipe.
On June 9, 2008 at 1:56 pm
Egghead says:
I have made something similar but using brown sugar instead of molasses. Looks yummy!
On June 9, 2008 at 2:04 pm
Jen (aaron-n-jen.com) says:
This sounds delicious, and I have all the ingredients on hand…
On June 9, 2008 at 2:12 pm
Shimmy Mom says:
I love apples and this looks so good! Thanks for the recipe!
On June 9, 2008 at 2:18 pm
TeresaH says:
mmmm…I always get hungry when I come in here! :hungry:
On June 9, 2008 at 2:37 pm
Minna says:
Ooh, that looks good! I must try that. Now I just have to convert those cups into deciliters…
On June 9, 2008 at 2:42 pm
Brandy says:
Hmm, never hear of using molasses. Looks and sounds lovely.
On June 9, 2008 at 2:56 pm
Kathryn says:
I forgot to ask if you have an apple peeler. I have had one for about seven-thousand years, and it is just getting broken in! Here is a link to the one I have.
https://tinyurl.com/aykmg
This is from the Vermont Country Store, and I took the link to Tiny URL because it was so long! I can use the peeler for potatoes, too. It is very heavy, and sits very nicely on the table.
On June 9, 2008 at 3:24 pm
Estella says:
I love anything made with apples!
On June 9, 2008 at 3:41 pm
Shirley says:
The apple pan dowdy looks great. But I found a blog that has a recipe for garden tea.
https://www.blindpigandtheacorn.com/
This site tells how to make this compost tea stuff to put on your garden. Thought you might like to try it since you are always trying new stuff.
On June 9, 2008 at 4:00 pm
Marissa Ann H says:
wow I’m hungry now!
On June 9, 2008 at 4:03 pm
Dejoni says:
:rockon: How can I be from the south and never made this. My husband will love this. I have been trying to master your grandmother bread forever….I’m starting to give up. Could you just mail me a loaf?
Dejoni
http://www.southernfriedmomma.blogspot.com
On June 9, 2008 at 4:46 pm
Donna says:
I wish I lived close and you taught cooking classes. I would be the FIRST to sign up!
On June 9, 2008 at 7:48 pm
catslady says:
I never bake anymore but if I ever do, it’s going to be this!!!! There used to be a restaurant called Sorry Charlie’s that served all you can eat shrimp and apple pan dowdy. We used to go every Friday for years until it closed. They served their apple pan dowdy in a sundae glass, warm and topped with vanilla ice cream and whipped cream. Oh they were sooooooo good.
On June 9, 2008 at 10:45 pm
Tina L says:
Looks yummy. Do you deliver? LOL
On June 9, 2008 at 10:50 pm
Meghan Rosenstengel says:
Yum! I have to go put apples on the grocery list now.
On June 10, 2008 at 6:10 am
Donna says:
I am making this tomorrow!!! Can’t wait! :hungry:
:shimmy: :cattail: :snoopy: :purr:
On June 11, 2008 at 2:05 pm
Donna says:
I made this, this morning and my husband and I liked it! It’s good. We put whipped cream on it..we had to try a tiny bit before lunch and then a bigger piece after lunch! I used a tiny bit more than 1/3 cup of dark brown sugar, packed, because I didn’t have Molasses. I also used just a tiny bit less of the Nutmeg. I baked it in a glass Pyrex pie plate!
On June 12, 2008 at 2:37 pm
Suzanne McMinn says:
Donna, thanks for letting me know! That’s a great idea to substitute brown sugar if you don’t have any molasses.
On June 12, 2008 at 3:02 pm
Rachael says:
wow.that looks sooooo good. My moms friend had said he wanted it, and my mom was lie “Will you look it up on the internet?” I was like ok, mom! So i guess i have some apple pan dwdy to make……lol
:shimmy: :shimmy: :shimmy: :shimmy: :shimmy: :shimmy: :shimmy: :shimmy: :shimmy: :shimmy: :bananadance: :flying: :woof: :birthday1: :butterfly:
On December 14, 2008 at 2:52 pm
nursemary says:
:shimmy: :shimmy: :shimmy: :shimmy: :shimmy:
looks soo good
On January 31, 2009 at 6:39 pm
zteagirl71 says:
Ha ha! Ask and ye shall receive, but even though this looks very good, it doesn’t look exactly like the one from my school days – it had a crumbly base and top. Even so, I can’t wait to give this recipe a try! Thanks Suzanne :hungry:
On February 8, 2014 at 5:31 pm