In a medium saucepan over medium heat, combine the apple cider, granulated sugar, and 2 tablespoons of butter. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to a gentle simmer for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Once bubbly and slightly thickened, remove from heat and stir in the vanilla extract.

If using homemade dough, roll it out into a large rectangle on a lightly floured surface. Cut the dough into 6 equal squares.

Take each apple and place it in the center of a dough square. Fill the core with 1 tablespoon of softened butter and sprinkle each apple with the sugar-spice mixture (1/2 cup light brown sugar mixed with 1 teaspoon cinnamon and 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg).

Moisten the edges of the dough with water, then fold the dough around the apple, sealing it tightly.

Place the dumplings in the prepared baking dish, pouring the warm cider sauce evenly over them. Cover with foil and bake for 25 minutes. Then, remove the foil and bake for an additional 25-30 minutes until golden brown and the apples are tender.

Let the dumplings cool slightly before serving. Drizzle with more sauce from the dish and top with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.