Amish Winter Treat’: Just 3 ingredients. I rely on this one when I need something warm and festive fast.

Lightly grease the inside of a medium slow cooker (about 4–6 quarts) with butter or cooking spray to help prevent sticking and make cleanup easier.

Pour the spiced apple cider into the slow cooker, then stir in the brown sugar until it’s mostly dissolved. This will become the warm, wintery syrup that cooks and flavors the dumplings.

In a medium bowl, place the dry baking mix. Add just enough of the cider mixture from the slow cooker—about 1/2 to 3/4 cup—to form a soft, spoonable dough. Stir gently until no dry pockets remain, but do not overmix; the dough should be thick and slightly sticky.

Turn the slow cooker to HIGH. Once the cider mixture is hot and beginning to steam around the edges (this usually takes about 15–20 minutes), drop spoonfuls of the dumpling dough directly into the hot liquid, leaving a little space between each one. They will puff and expand as they cook.

Cover the slow cooker with the lid, keeping it closed to trap the steam. Cook on HIGH for about 1 1/2 to 2 hours, or until the dumplings are puffed, set in the center, and no longer doughy when you gently cut one open. The syrup will thicken slightly as it cooks.

Once the dumplings are done, turn the slow cooker to WARM. Let them rest for about 5–10 minutes so the sauce can settle and cling to the dumplings a bit more.

To serve, spoon the dumplings into bowls and ladle the warm winter spice syrup over the top. Serve immediately while everything is still cozy and fragrant.

If you grew up with a more heavily spiced kitchen, you can deepen the winter flavor by whisking a teaspoon of ground cinnamon and a pinch of nutmeg or cloves into the brown sugar before it goes into the slow cooker. A splash of vanilla extract stirred into the hot syrup at the very end adds a soft, bakery-style aroma. For a slightly lighter dessert, use part apple cider and part water, or cut the brown sugar down to 3/4 cup; the dumplings will still be sweet and comforting, just a bit less rich. If you don’t have spiced apple cider, warm plain apple juice with a cinnamon stick and a few whole cloves on the stovetop first, then strain and use as directed. You can also swap in a different baking mix—cornbread mix will give you a rustic, almost cobbler-like dumpling, while a buttermilk biscuit mix will taste more old-fashioned and tender. For those cooking at higher altitudes, you may need a little extra time for the dumplings to fully set; just check one in the center before serving. Leftovers reheat nicely in the microwave with a drizzle of cream or milk to loosen the sauce, making a fine little breakfast that feels like something your grandmother might quietly approve of.