Easy Apple Dumplings
There’s something irresistible about the combination of tart apples and sweet pastry, especially when it comes together in a recipe as easy as these Crescent Roll Apple Dumplings. This delicious dessert, with its golden brown, flaky crust, is one of those favorite recipes that will have your family asking for seconds. What makes this dish so simple to prepare is the use of crescent roll dough, turning an old-fashioned treat into an easy apple dumpling recipe that you’ll want to make again and again.
Apple dumplings are a timeless and comforting dessert that never goes out of style. These sweet dumplings are a delightful treat made from simple ingredients, typically featuring tart apples encased in crescent dough, all baked to golden perfection.
What sets apple dumplings apart is their simplicity, making them one of those easy desserts that evoke warm memories of home-cooked goodness. As they bake, the apples become tender and infused with cinnamon and sugar, creating a heavenly aroma that fills the kitchen.
The recipe comes from Mississippi Church Suppers, a recipe collection by Great American Publishers. The cookbook has chapters devoted to appetizers, soups & salads, vegetables & side dishes, main dishes, and desserts & sweets – all of which would be great to take to a church potluck.
Easy Apple Dumpling Recipe
To make this super simple apple dessert, you need the following ingredients:
- 2 apples, Golden Delicious or Granny Smith, peeled and cored
- 2 packages of crescent roll dough
- 2 sticks butter
- 1 ½ cups brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 ½ cups 7-Up, or other lemon-lime soda (like Mountain Dew)
How To Make Apple Dumplings
Preheat the Oven: Start by preheating your oven to 350°F and buttering a 9×13-inch baking dish. Set it aside.
Prepare the Apples: Slice each apple into 8 equal wedges. Roll each apple wedge in a triangle of dough from the crescent roll, then place the wrapped apple slices in the buttered baking dish.
Make the Sauce: In a small saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter. Stir in the brown sugar, vanilla, and cinnamon, and cook until the mixture thickens into a sweet sauce..
Assemble the Dumplings: Remove the saucepan from heat and pour the brown sugar butter sauce over the apple crescent dumplings. Be sure to coat each one evenly.
Add the Soda: Pour the lemon-lime soda (such as Mountain Dew) around the edges of the pan, avoiding the top of the dumplings to keep them from getting soggy.
Baking Time
Place the baking dish in the preheated oven and bake for 35 to 45 minutes, or until the dumplings are golden brown and the sauce is bubbly.
Serve: For the ultimate experience, serve these warm dumplings with a big scoop of vanilla ice cream and a drizzle of rich caramel sauce.
Tips
- Best Apples: For a tart flavor, Granny Smith apples are an excellent choice, while Golden Delicious offers a sweeter option. You can also try Pink Lady, Honeycrisp, or Fuji apples depending on your preference.
- Avoid Soggy Dumplings: Make sure to pour the soda around the edges of the pan rather than over the rolls to avoid soggy dumplings.
- Serving: Serve warm for the best flavor. These dumplings are also great with whipped cream or a dollop of rich caramel sauce.
- Storage: Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat in the oven or microwave before serving.
Substitutions and Variations
- Soda: If you prefer, you can substitute the lemon-lime soda with ginger ale or even a can of Mountain Dew for a slightly different flavor profile.
- Spices: Try adding a pinch of pumpkin pie spice or nutmeg to the cinnamon for a little extra warmth in the flavor.
Easy Apple Dumplings Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 apples Golden Delicious or Granny Smith, peeled and cored
- 2 cans crescent rolls regular style (not Grands). 8 count each
- 2 sticks butter
- 1 ½ cups brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 ½ cups 7-Up or other lemon soda
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter a 9×13-inch baking dish.
- Cut each apple into 8 slices. Roll each slice in 1 crescent roll and place in a buttered dish.
- Melt butter in a small saucepan over medium heat; stir in sugar, vanilla, and cinnamon. Cook until thickened, remove from heat and pour over dumplings. Pour soda in middle and along edges of the pan (not over rolls).
- Bake 35 to 45 minutes, or until golden brown. Serve warm.
Notes
Nutrition
Mississippi Church Suppers
Mississippi Church Suppers is more than just a cookbook. The first few pages are dedicated to sharing God’s Plan of Salvation and then information about why one should attend church.
The preface of the book welcomes readers to the book to which they lovingly refer to as “The Ulitmate Church Cookbook.” The recipes come from Mississippi Baptist Churches and information about the churches is included throughout the book.
Not only would the recipes be great for taking to a church potluck as stated above, but they would be great for serving to your family and friends as well. Below is a sampling of the recipes that are included in the book:
- Chicken Rotel Dip,
- Redneck Hors-d’oeuvres,
- Cheese Straws,
- Taco Soup,
- Seafood Gumbo,
- Cornbread Salad,
- Poppyseed Chicken,
- Fresh Apple Cake, and
- Chocolate Pound Cake
Look for Mississippi Church Suppers at your local retailer or buy it online at Amazon.com.
If you enjoyed this easy apple dumplings recipe, don’t forget to share it with friends and family! Pin it to your favorite recipe board for easy access, and leave a comment below to let me know how you like to customize your apple dumplings. I’d love to hear your ideas!
