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If you’re looking for a cozy, comforting dessert that’s as easy as it is delicious, these Apple Dumplings are just the thing with only 10 minutes of prep! With tart apples wrapped in buttery crescent rolls, baked in a cinnamon-sugar sauce (with a secret splash of Mountain Dew!), every bite is soft, gooey, and packed with fall flavor.
Would it really be fall if you didn’t load up your menu with the best apple recipes?! If you love Mountain Dew apple dumplings, you’ll also love these Apple Turnovers and my Dutch Apple Pie.
Why you’ll love this easy apple dessert!
My kids helped me make these crescent roll apple dumplings a few weeks ago and they were very skeptical about the addition of Mountain Dew: “Mountain Dew—really, Mom?!”
Well, as I like to tell my kids, Mom’s always right! These apple dumplings combine tart, juicy apples with buttery pastry, bubbling brown sugar, and a hint of citrus from the Mountain Dew. The soda also helps caramelize the sauce and adds flavor complexity you didn’t know you needed.
- Easy and quick: Just a few simple ingredients and 10 minutes of prep—perfect for busy days.
- Cozy fall flavor: Tart apples, cinnamon, brown sugar, and buttery pastry in every warm bite. If you love my Skillet Apple Crisp, you’ll love these dumplings too!
- Secret ingredient twist: A splash of soda makes the sauce bubbly and caramelized. (Soda’s also the secret ingredient in my Bisquick Biscuits.)
- Always a crowd-pleaser: Everyone from picky eaters to grandparents loves this classic dessert.
Table of Contents
Ingredients for Crescent Roll Apple Dumplings
See recipe card below this post for ingredient quantities and full instructions.
- Granny Smith apples – Since there’s a lot of sugar in the sauce, I like to use tart apples. (I put them to use in this Granny Smith Apple Pie too.)
- Crescent dough – Any store-bought crescent roll dough will work for these apple dumplings.
- Brown sugar – Both light and brown sugar are fine.
- Vanilla extract and cinnamon – For cozy flavor. If you’d like, you can use apple pie spice instead of cinnamon.
- Mountain Dew – A lemon-lime soda like Sprite also works.
Variations & Substitutes
- Swap in pie crust or puff pastry: These will give this apple dumpling recipe a flakier crust. You can use this Homemade Pie Crust recipe or store-bought.
- Less sugar: Reduce brown sugar by ¼ cup. This works well if you use a sweeter apple variety than Granny Smith.
- Spice it up: Add a pinch of nutmeg or allspice for extra coziness.
How to Make Apple Dumplings
- Prepare: Preheat the oven to 350ºF and lightly grease a 9×13 baking dish. Cut the apples into thick slices.
- Roll the Dumplings: Cut the apples into eighths and roll each slice in crescent roll dough, starting at the wide end. Place the rolled apples in the baking dish.
- Make the Sauce: In a small saucepan, melt the butter. Stir in the sugar and once it’s melted into the butter, add the vanilla, cinnamon, salt. Once everything is fully combined, remove the mixture from the heat and pour it on top of the apple rolls.
- Bake & Serve: Add soda around the dumplings. Bake this apple dumpling recipe for 30-40 minutes, or until the pastry looks crispy and golden brown on top. Serve warm with vanilla ice cream and extra sauce from the baking dish.
Serving Suggestions
- My family’s favorite way to enjoy this apple dumpling recipe is with a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top. You can’t beat it!
- A drizzle of Homemade Caramel Sauce is excellent too. (Especially with some ice cream too!)
- Add a dollop of Chantilly Cream and a dusting of cinnamon.
How to Store Leftover Apple Dumplings
- Store the apple dumplings in the refrigerator for 3-5 days in an airtight container.
- Warm the dumplings in the microwave or in a covered baking dish in a 350ºF oven.
Frequently Asked Questions
Granny Smith apples are excellent—they stay firm and bring tartness that balances sweetness. Honeycrisp or Fuji add sweetness and crisp texture; if you’re using sweet apples, reduce the sugar slightly. Gala and Braeburn work too, but they bake up a bit softer.
Yes! Make sure to core the apple before slicing and rolling the pieces into the dough.
Look for golden, crisp pastry on top, bubbling sauce, and tender apples (test by piercing them with a fork).
No, you can swap in another lemon-lime soda or skip the soda and add apple cider instead. For citrus flavor, add some orange zest to the cider.
More Apple Recipes You’ll Love
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Apple Dumplings
Equipment
- 9×13 baking dish
- Small Saucepan
Ingredients
- 2 large Granny Smith apples, peeled and cored
- 2 cans crescent dough
- 2 sticks unsalted butter
- 1 cup brown sugar, packed
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- Pinch of salt
- 1 can Mountain Dew (or lemon-lime soda)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350F. Lightly grease a 9×13 baking dish.
- Cut each apple into eighths. Roll each apple slice into a crescent roll, rolling from the wide end. Place the rolled apples into the prepared baking dish.2 large Granny Smith apples, peeled and cored, 2 cans crescent dough
- In a small saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter. Add the sugar and stir. Add the vanilla, cinnamon, and salt, stir to combine, and remove from the heat. Pour the mixture over the apple rolls.2 sticks unsalted butter, 1 cup brown sugar, packed, 1 tsp vanilla extract, 1 tsp cinnamon, Pinch of salt
- Pour the soda around the edge of the baking dish, not directly on top.1 can Mountain Dew (or lemon-lime soda)
- Bake for 30-40 minutes or until golden brown and crispy and the sauce is bubbly.
- Serve warm with vanilla ice cream and some sauce from the dish.
Video
Notes
- Use tart apples: Granny Smith apples hold their shape and balance the sweetness perfectly.
- Don’t overbake: Make sure you don’t bake the dumplings too long or the sauce will be really difficult to scrape off the baking dish. You’ll know they’re done when the apples are tender when pierced with a fork and the pastry is golden brown.
- Pour soda around the edges: This keeps the top of the dumplings crisp while still creating that gooey, caramel-like sauce underneath.
- Keep the dough sealed: Pinch the edges of the crescent rolls around the apples so they stay wrapped while baking.
- Let them cool slightly: The sauce thickens as it cools, and the flavors come together even more—plus they won’t burn your mouth!
Trust me on this – This apple dumpling recipe is DELISH and a family favorite!
WHY IS THE SODA ADDED FOR??
My family absolutely loved this recipe! I’m not a big fan of granny smith apples so I used Fuji apples and it was PERFECT. Only thing I would do different is add just a little bit more cinnamon and adjust the cooking time. This will be on our Thanksgiving menu for sure!!!
Can I use this recipe with peaches instead of apples?
Can you put them together earlier and the bake in evening?
Could this be made with diet soda?
Wouldn’t this make 16 servings, not 12? 2 apples each cut into 8 wedges would make 16 apple wedges. I believe that crescent rolls come in 8 to a package, so 8X2=16.
Yes this recipe is pretty much the same as peach dumplings from the pioneer woman except she uses sprite and it’s delicious but now I’m gonna try it this way with Granny Smith apples mmmm
Question — Can I use ready made pie crust for this recipe instead of crescent rolls?
You could try it! Puff pastry might work better, though. Of course, adjust the baking time as needed as well.
We’d love to know how it turns out if you give it a try!
Your math is correct, but you will want to make each serving two of the rolls. And you’ll want seconds!
Oh. My. Stars!!!! This is the best dessert ever!!! Easy, fast, and delicious. Thanks for sharing!
Yay! So happy to hear you enjoyed it!