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Afternoon Kaffee, No Bake Dessert, Recipes  /  July 14, 2021

Marillenknödel (Apricot Dumplings)

by Red Currant Bakery
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Marillenknödel are technically Austrian dumplings, filled with apricots and sugar, rolled in toasted breadcrumbs and dusted powdered sugar.

One marillenknödel cut in half in a pink bowl so that the apricot is visible.

These are perfect dessert or snack on a rainy summer evening! Knödel can be made with either a potato based dough or a quark based dough. This recipe is made with quark or greek yogurt because it is quick and simple. One of the best parts of this recipe is that it is a small batch because they taste best when eaten immediately but if you’re serving lots of people it can be scaled up very easily. If you can’t find quark at your store, I have a recipe for quark so you can make it at home!

Marillen vs. Aprikosen?

These dumplings are most traditionally called Marillenknödel but they are filled with what we call Aprikosen (apricots) – so what’s the difference. Well, truthfully there isn’t a difference, Marillen and Aprikosen both refer to an apricot they are just called something different depending on where you live. However, in Germany, apricots or marillen are generally smaller than they are here in the US.

Can Marillenknödel be made in advance?

No, I would not recommend making these in advance. They definitely taste best immediately after being removed from the water bath when they are still hot. That’s not to say that you can’t store left overs in the fridge and heat them up in the microwave the next day – but if you are serving them to guests you probably want to make them fresh.

What kind of bread crumbs should I use?

I have found that plain, unseasoned bread crumbs work best. You can make your own by letting bread dry out and then pulsing it in a food processor (beware this is really loud!) or you can buy them at the grocery store. Panko bread crumbs work too but they have a slightly different texture. Traditionally, semmel brösel are used, which are the bread crumbs from semmeln (German buns), but unfortunately those are almost impossible to find here in the US.

How can I tell if the Apricot Dumplings are fully cooked?

To be completely honest, there is not a perfect way of telling when they are fully cooked other than taking one out of the water and cutting into it. The dough should still be nice and damp but it should no longer be goopy – if it is leave the dumplings in the water for a few more minutes.

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Tips for making Marillenknödel

  • Mix the dough well. Unlike cookie dough, which will get tough when over mixed, this dough wants to be really well mixed to the point where it holds together in a ball in the center of the bowl and no longer readily sticks to the side of the bowl.
  • When forming the dumplings, use plenty of flour on your hands and work station, this will prevent the dough from sticking which can then cause tears in the dough. If the dough tears simply patch it up with a little extra dough. Preventing tears is important because otherwise the juices and sugar will leak out of the apricot and the apricot will become water logged.
  • Once the apricots are fully enclosed in the dough, roll them around in your hands (make sure to use plenty of flour) as though you are making a snow ball, to make sure the dough is evenly distributed around the apricot.
  • Don’t freak out if one of them tears as you remove them from the water, they will still taste great! Plus, once you add the butter, bread crumb mixture on top, no one will notice.
Ingredients needed to make marillenknödel portioned out into individual bowls.

Ingredients

  • Greek yogurt: Traditionally marillenknödel are made with quark but if you can’t find it use greek yogurt instead.
  • All Purpose Flour: Any all purpose flour should work for these knödel! I have not yet tried any other flours with this recipe.
  • Cream of Wheat: Cream of wheat acts similarly to oats – so it absorbs some of the liquid in the dough and helps hold everything together.
  • Butter: Melted butter is used in the dough and more butter is used in the breadcrumb topping.
  • Sugar: These dumplings have a very small amount of sugar in the batter but then more sugar is added to the topping which works so well with the apricots.
  • Apricots: For best results, use ripe apricots. These will make it easier to pit them as well as give the marillenknödel better flavor.
  • Bread Crumbs: The breadcrumbs are toasted in a pan with butter and then mixed with cinnamon sugar for the topping. Be careful – you’ll probably want to eat it all but make sure to save it for the dumplings.
  • Cinnamon Sugar: Cinnamon sugar is used in this recipe for the filling of the apricots.
  • Vanilla Extract: Vanilla adds a little bit of extra flavor to the dough.
One marillenknödel in a bowl cut open with vanilla custard sauce poured over the top.

How to make Marillenknödel

Make the Dough

  • In a medium bowl, stir together the melted butter, sugar, and vanilla.
  • Add in the flour and cream of wheat and stir together with a fork until a crumbly mixture forms. Stir in the yogurt or quark to create a thick dough. Keep stirring with a fork until everything is well combined and the dough starts to hold its shape without sticking too much to the sides of the bowl.
  • Cover the dough and let it rest for 20 minutes.
Process images showing how to make knödel dough.

Make the Breadcrumb topping

  • In a large pan, combine the breadcrumbs and butter. Heat over medium heat and stir frequently until the breadcrumbs are golden brown.
  • Remove the pan from the heat and pour the breadcrumbs into a large shallow bowl or plate for later.
A medium pan with bread crumbs and butter.

Cooking & Assembling the Marillenknödel

  • Add water to a large pot until it is at least 5″ deep. Add 2 tablespoons of salt to the water and bring it to a boil over high heat.
  • While the water heats up, assemble the apricot dumplings.

Assembling the German Apricot Dumplings

  • Using the end of a spoon, press through the top of each apricot (where the stem would be) into the center of the apricot where you will hit the pit. If the apricots are ripe enough you should be able to push a little harder and have the pit pop out through the bottom. If your apricots are still a little hard, use an apple corer to remove the pit.
  • Dump the rested dough out onto a lightly floured surface. Sprinkle the dough with more flour and then shape the dough into a thick log. Divide it into 3 equal portions.
  • Pat each portion out into approximately a 4″ wide disk. Place one apricot in the center of each disk and pour 1-2 tsp of the cinnamon sugar into the center hole of each apricot. Gently bring up all sides of the dough, up and around the apricot, and pinch them shut at the top. The apricot should now be fully enclosed in the dough.
  • Gently roll the dumpling between your hands in a circular motion to round out the ball and evenly distribute the dough around the apricot. Repeat with each dumpling.
Process images showing how to assemble and cook the marillenknödel.

Cooking the Dumplings

  • Once the water is boiling and the dumplings have all been formed, turn the heat down to medium. Gently lower each dumpling into the water with a large spoon – leaving at least a few inches between each one. Set a timer for 15 minutes and leave the dumplings to cook in the water.
  • The water should not be boiling, more just steaming. If it is bubbling, turn the heat down slightly.
  • Gently move them around every few minutes so that they don’t get stuck to the bottom of the pot.

Finishing touches

  • When the timer goes off, use a slotted spoon to remove each dumpling from the water and place them, one at a time, into a bowl with the toasted breadcrumbs.
  • Very gently press the crumbs on to the dumplings.
  • Serve them warm with a dusting of powdered sugar and optionally a drizzle of Vanille Soße.
Image that requests readers to rate and review the recipe.
Overhead image of a pink bowl with one apricot dumpling cut open so that the inside is visible with a drizzle of vanilla sauce.
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5 from 1 vote

Marillenknödel | Apricot Dumpling

Marillenknödel are quick and easy, sweet Austrian dumplings filled with apricots and sugar and topped with a butter and breadcrumb mixture.
Prep Time10 mins
Cook Time15 mins
Resting Time20 mins
Total Time45 mins
Course: Afternoon Kaffee, Dessert, Snack
Cuisine: German
Keyword: apricot, knödel
Servings: 3
Calories: 436kcal

Ingredients

  • 3 apricots ripe

Dough

  • 100 grams ap flour
  • 15 grams cream of wheat
  • 30 grams granulated sugar
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 20 grams butter melted
  • 125 grams greek yogurt or quark

Bread Crumb Topping

  • 40 grams bread crumbs unseasoned
  • 20 grams butter
  • 50 grams cinnamon sugar

Instructions

Make the dough

  • Stir the melted butter, sugar, and vanilla extract together in a bowl.
  • Add in the flour and cream of wheat and stir together until crumbly.
  • Stir in the greek yogurt or quark with a fork until fully mixed and no longer sticking to the sides of the bowl.
  • Cover the bowl and set aside for 20 minutes.

Make the breadcrumb topping

  • While you wait for the dough, add the breadcrumbs and butter into a medium/large pan.
  • Heat over medium heat, stirring frequently. Cook until the breadcrumbs are lightly toasted and become a golden brown color.
  • Pour the toasted bread crumbs into a shallow large bowl or plate and set aside for later.

Make the dumplings

  • In a large pot add in at least 5" deep of water and 2 tablespoons of salt. Bring the water to a boil over high heat.
  • Prep the apricots by using the end of a spoon to push the pit out of the center, from the top of the apricot to the bottom. This will ensure that the pit comes out but the apricot remains intact.
  • Dump the rested dough out onto a lightly floured surface. Sprinkle with more flour and shape into a thick log.
  • Divide the dough into 3 equal portions. Pat each portion into a 4"-5" round disk.
  • Stand one apricot up in the center of each disk. Then, fill the center cavity of the apricot with 1-2 teaspoons of the cinnamon sugar mixture.
  • Bring the dough up and around the apricot and pinch it closed at the top.
  • With well floured hands, roll each dumpling around in your hands to even out the dough.

Cook the dumplings

  • Once the water has come to a boil, turn the heat down to medium.
  • Using a slotted spoon, gently lower each dumpling into the water. Leave a few inches of space between each dumpling.
  • Carefully stir the dumplings around every few minutes to ensure they don't stick to the bottom of the pot.
  • Cook the dumplings in the water for 15 minutes. The water should be steaming but not boiling.

Finishing Touches

  • When the timer goes off, use a slotted spoon to remove the dumplings and place them, one at a time, into the toasted bread crumbs.
  • Either roll the dumplings in the mixture to coat them, or pat the topping onto each dumpling.
  • Serve warm with a dusting of powdered sugar and a drizzle of vanille soße.

Notes

When shaping the knödel try your best to seal the dough around the apricot and make sure that it is even thickness all the way around. These are best eaten immediately after they have been topped. But they will keep in the fridge for a couple of days and can then be reheated in the microwave. 

Nutrition

Serving: 1knödel | Calories: 436kcal | Carbohydrates: 71g | Protein: 11g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 31mg | Sodium: 206mg | Potassium: 225mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 32g | Vitamin A: 1009IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 119mg | Iron: 4mg

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3 comments

  • Gabrielle Spessotto
    June 7, 2022

    5 stars
    I made this recipe just yesterday to enjoy with my grandparents and some friends of theirs. I’m from France, and my boyfriend is from Austria, that’s why I already knew Marillenknödel as it’s a very popular dish in his country. His mom always makes it with this premade mix where you only need to add Quark (aka Topfen in Austria). When I asked why, she said she’s tried many recipes before but always came back to this mix because she likes it better. So when I saw this recipe I knew I had to try it to see if it could be better than said mix. Turns out my grandma, that already tasted the mix with me, said this recipe was much better ! Now the next person I need to convince is my mother in law (:

    Anyways, here are the little things I changed about the recipe : I didn’t add cream of wheat as I don’t know where to find it in France, and I added the seeds of a vanilla bean. I found that the equivalent to Quark/Topfen in France is petit suisse, in case that helps anyone, so I used that. I did remove the pit of the abricot but instead of cinnamon sugar, I added those little bricks of sugar that you use for coffee.
    And that’s it! I will definitely keep this recipe in my list of successful recipes and I can’t wait to make it for my boyfriend and his parents !!

    Reply
    • Red Currant Bakery
      June 7, 2022

      Hi Gabrielle! Thank you so much for this review, I’m so happy that both you and your Oma liked it!

      Reply
    • Andrea
      June 24, 2022

      Hi Gabrielle thanks for posting your comment, it was very useful as I too live in France and was wondering about quark and cream of wheat as I haven’t seen it here. Will definitely give it a go especially as it’s apricot season.

      Reply

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