Old World Plum Dumplings

This is such a tasty dessert (or breakfast) dish.  It is a perfect family-time recipe - kids love forming the dumplings.  Plus, there is a sweet reward afterwards for all of their hard work!  Plums could easily be exchanged for any stone/pit fruit in season.

For the dough:
1 lb russet Potatoes or 1lb unseasoned mashed potatoes
2/3 c Flour
3/4 tsp Salt
3 tb Butter
2 Egg Yolks

For the filling and crumb topping:
1 stick Butter
1/2 c breadcrumbs or Panko
1/2 c Walnuts or Pecans (optional)
1/4 c + 3 tb Sugar
1 tsp STM Sweet Spice blend or STM Pumkin Pie Spice
1 lb small ripe Plums, pits removed and diced

To make the dumplings:
  Cook & mash the potatoes.  Combine the cooled potatoes with the remaining dough ingredients.  Divide the dough in half and let rest 15 minutes.  Then roll out to about 1/4" thick and cut out rounds (about 3-4")
Melt 1 1/2 tb butter.  Stir in the plums, 3 tb sugar, and 1/2 tsp Spice.  Spoon 1 tb filling onto each round and  seal.  Gently roll a bit to round it out.

Cook the dumplings in simmering salted water for 12 minutes.

Meanwhile, make the crumb topping.  Melt 2 tb butter in a skillet.  Saute the breadcrumbs and walnut pieces for 5 minutes.  Allow it to cool slightly before adding the remaining 1/4 c sugar and spice.  Drain the dumplings.  Melt the remaining butter.  Coat the dumplings in the butter and then dredge in the crumbs.  These are great hot, warm, or cold - if they haven't been completely consumed immediately!