If you want a cozy dessert that fills your kitchen with the scent of cinnamon and apples, look no further than these Easy Apple Dumplings. This effortless recipe wraps tender apple slices in golden crescent roll dough, then bathes them in a buttery, cinnamon-sugar sauce and a splash of lemon-lime soda for gooey, caramelized perfection. From the first bite, you’ll fall for the warm, comforting flavors and pillowy texture. It’s just the thing for when you crave something sweet but quick—a guaranteed crowd-pleaser that feels straight from grandma’s kitchen.
Ingredients You’ll Need
Easy Apple Dumplings come together with just a handful of pantry staples, each playing a crucial role in this comforting bake. These ingredients work in harmony to make a dessert that’s sweet, tart, flaky, and deliciously saucy—no fancy equipment or hard-to-find items required.
- Apples: Choose crisp and tart varieties like Granny Smith or Honeycrisp for the perfect balance of sweetness and texture once baked.
- Refrigerated crescent roll dough: This makes wrapping the apples a breeze and bakes up into a golden, soft, and flaky crust.
- Unsalted butter: Provides richness, flavor, and helps create that mouthwatering caramelized sauce.
- Granulated sugar: Sweetens the sauce while contributing to its syrupy, glossy texture.
- Ground cinnamon: Adds a warm, familiar spice that turns simple apples into a cozy treat.
- Vanilla extract: Enhances the overall depth of flavor, threading everything together beautifully.
- Lemon-lime soda: The secret ingredient for moist, lightly fizzy dumplings and a decadent, sticky sauce at the bottom.
How to Make Easy Apple Dumplings
Step 1: Prep Your Baking Dish and Apples
Start by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C), giving you the perfect temperature to bake up bubbly, golden dumplings. Lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish to keep everything from sticking, and peel and core your apples. Slice each apple into 8 wedges so the pieces tuck snugly inside the dough and bake up tender but not mushy.
Step 2: Wrap the Apples
Unroll your crescent dough and separate it into triangles. Each triangle turns into the coziest little blanket for an apple slice. Place an apple wedge on the wide end of a triangle, then roll it up, tucking in the sides if you like. Lay each wrapped apple seam-side down in the baking dish, creating neat rows to catch all that delicious sauce later.
Step 3: Make the Cinnamon Butter Sauce
In a small saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter until smooth and fragrant. Stir in the sugar and cinnamon until well combined; you’ll notice it turns thick and glossy. Take the pan off the heat, then add the vanilla—this keeps its flavor bright and punchy. Pour this luscious mixture evenly over all your dumplings so every bite gets the perfect hit of buttery cinnamon sweetness.
Step 4: Add the Lemon-Lime Soda
Carefully pour the lemon-lime soda around the edges of the pan. Don’t pour it directly over the tops; you want the tops to bake up golden while the bottoms get beautifully saucy and soft. The soda’s bubbles help the dumplings puff and the sugars caramelize below.
Step 5: Bake to Golden Perfection
Slide your dish into the oven and bake for 35 to 40 minutes. You’re looking for bubbling edges, golden tops, and that incredible smell wafting from your kitchen. Let the dumplings cool for a few minutes after baking—they’ll hold together better and the syrup will thicken to perfection.
How to Serve Easy Apple Dumplings
Garnishes
Classic vanilla ice cream is a heavenly match—its cool creaminess complements the warm, gooey dumplings like nothing else. A dusting of powdered sugar, a sprinkle of toasted pecans, or a little whipped cream all add their own touch of flair and texture, turning Easy Apple Dumplings into a show-stopping dessert.
Side Dishes
These dumplings are definitely the star, but you can round out your dessert plate with fresh berries or a small bowl of caramel sauce for extra dipping. If you’re hosting a dinner party, try pairing them with sharp cheddar slices—a surprisingly great counterpoint to all the sweetness and spice.
Creative Ways to Present
Want to make your Easy Apple Dumplings stand out? Serve each one inside a small ramekin for individual portions, or arrange them on a platter drizzled with extra sauce and topped with edible flowers. For a rustic vibe, leave the dumplings in the baking dish and let everyone scoop out their own warm helping at the table—a cozy, communal finish.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
Baked dumplings can be cooled to room temperature and then stored, covered, in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. The sauce may thicken as it chills, but the flavors will stay fabulous.
Freezing
If you want to save a few for later (or make a double batch), freeze the cooled dumplings on a tray, then transfer to an airtight container for up to one month. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator for best results.
Reheating
To bring back that just-baked magic, warm Easy Apple Dumplings in a 325°F oven for 10–15 minutes, or microwave individual portions in 30-second bursts until heated through. Add a splash of extra soda or water if the sauce seems too thick.
FAQs
Can I use a different type Dessert
Yes! Any mild, clear soda like ginger ale or club soda works, though lemon-lime imparts a subtle citrusy note that really enhances the apples.
What kind of apples work best for Easy Apple Dumplings?
Tart, firm apples such as Granny Smith or Honeycrisp hold up beautifully in the oven, delivering that coveted balance of sweet and tangy in every bite.
Can I prep these dumplings in advance?
You can assemble the dumplings (without sauce and soda) up to 1 day ahead; store covered in the fridge, then add the sauce and soda just before baking.
Is it okay to substitute puff pastry or pie dough?
Absolutely! Both puff pastry and pie dough make wonderful alternatives to crescent dough, each bringing a slightly different flaky texture to your Easy Apple Dumplings.
How can I make these even more decadent?
Try adding a spoonful of caramel sauce over the baked dumplings, tucking a few raisins in with each apple wedge, or dusting the finished dessert with cinnamon sugar for extra sparkle.
Final Thoughts
I hope you’ll treat yourself (and maybe a few lucky friends!) to a batch of Easy Apple Dumplings very soon. This is the kind of dessert that makes memories—simple, nostalgic, and just right for any sweet craving. Enjoy every warm, spiced bite!
Print
Easy Apple Dumplings Recipe
- Total Time: 55 minutes
- Yield: 8 servings 1x
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
These Easy Apple Dumplings are a delightful dessert made with tender apples wrapped in a flaky crescent roll dough, baked to golden perfection, and topped with a sweet buttery sauce. Perfect for a cozy fall treat!
Ingredients
Ingredients:
- 2 large apples (Granny Smith or Honeycrisp, peeled and cored)
- 1 (8-ounce) can refrigerated crescent roll dough
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter
- 2/3 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 3/4 cup lemon-lime soda (such as Sprite or 7UP)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.
- In a small saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Stir in sugar and cinnamon, then remove from heat and stir in vanilla. Pour the mixture evenly over the dumplings. Pour the lemon-lime soda around the edges of the pan (not over the tops).
- Bake for 35–40 minutes, or until golden brown and bubbly. Let cool slightly before serving.
Cut each apple into 8 equal slices. Unroll the crescent dough and separate into triangles. Wrap each apple slice in a triangle of dough, starting at the wide end and rolling up. Place the wrapped slices seam-side down in the prepared dish.
Notes
- Serve warm with vanilla ice cream for a classic treat.
- You can use puff pastry or pie crust in place of crescent dough for variation.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 dumpling
- Calories: 290
- Sugar: 23g
- Sodium: 210mg
- Fat: 15g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 36g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 2g
- Cholesterol: 25mg
