Apple Dumplings

These apple dumplings are so simple to make, and they're always a hit with kids (and adults)!

Made with crescent rolls, apples and believe it or not a can of Mountain Dew soda! This recipe is a fun twist on a classic dessert that everyone will love.

Serve warm with a scoop of ice cream or some caramel sauce, and you've got a delicious treat.

Let me show you how to make another crescent roll recipe that's a super fast, comforting dessert made with all the flavors of fall! 

It doesn't get any easier than taking apple wedges tossed with sweet cinnamon/sugar, wrapped in crescent rolls and then baked in a fun lemon lime soda.

Yes, you read that correctly. This is an easy semi-homemade recipe for Apple Dumplings made with lemon lime soda! 

Once baked, it's hard to tell you used refrigerated crescent roll dough instead of a traditional pie dough recipe. Sweet and tart at the same time, this another apple dessert recipe that's sure to be a winner! 

What are the Best Apples to Use for Apple Dumplings?

The following apples all hold their shape well during cooking and taste delicious in different recipes.  A good tip is to mix a few different apples in recipes to come up with the flavor you and your family like best.

• Golden Delicious
• Baldwin
• Cortland
• Northern Spy are perfect for homemade applesauce.
• Idareds 
• Honey Crisp - which is what I used for this recipe. 

Can I substitute Mountain Dew Soda?

• The answer to this question is YES!
• I have made this recipe a few times using 7-Up Soda and Sprite. You want to use a lemon-lime flavored soda and make sure it's not diet.
• If you want to eliminate the soda altogether, try my Crescent Roll Apple Dumplings Recipe. It's made with no soda at all and drizzled with a homemade caramel sauce at the end.
• A few people have tried orange juice, but I haven't. They all said it worked great though.

Helpful Kitchen Tools

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Main Ingredients Needed

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1: Start by peeling and coring both apples. Then, slice each apple using an apple corer to get a total of 16 slices. Sprinkle these apple slices with 1 tablespoon of the cinnamon/sugar mixture and set them aside while you prepare the crescent rolls.

Step 2: Unwrap both containers of crescent rolls and separate the triangles. Next, place one apple wedge on the wide end of each crescent roll triangle. Starting at that same wide end, roll up the apple inside the crescent roll – it's super easy!

Prepare the Butter Sugar Mixture

Step 3: In a medium saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Once melted, add the sugar and vanilla, stirring gently until combined. The resulting mixture will be thick and clumpy.

Mountain Dew Apple Dumplings

Step 4: Carefully remove the saucepan from the heat and drizzle the warm mixture evenly over the dumplings, ensuring each one is coated. Then, pour the cup of soda around the base of the rolls, avoiding the tops.

Baking Instructions

Step 5: Bake for 30 to 40 minutes in a preheated 350°F oven. Or until the mixture is bubbly and the tops of the dumplings are golden brown.

Serving Tips

Allow the dumplings to cool slightly for about 10 minutes before serving. They are best enjoyed warm from the oven, dusted with a generous sprinkle of powdered sugar. For an extra decadent touch, add a scoop (or two!) of vanilla ice cream or a drizzle of rich caramel sauce.

Storing, Freezing, Thawing and Reheating Tips

Refrigerator: Place the cooled dumplings in an airtight container or wrap them individually in plastic wrap before refrigerating. They should stay fresh for 3 to 4 days.

Freezer: Place the leftovers in a freezer-safe container or bag. They'll remain fresh for up to 3 months.

Thawing and Reheating: Allow them to defrost overnight in the refrigerator. You can reheat the apple dumplings in the microwave for 15-30 seconds. Don't overheat them as it will turn the crescent rolls rubbery.

Ready for more great apple recipes?

You might enjoy this same recipe only made with peaches! Try my Peach Dumplings Recipe. Or you might enjoy this Easy Italian Apple Cake.

📖 Recipe Card

Lois

Apple Dumplings

4.41 from 20 votes

A few store-bought ingredients are all you need to make this easy recipe for Apple Dumplings.  Let me show you how to make a super fast, comforting dessert made with all the flavors of fall! 

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 30 minutes mins

Total Time 40 minutes mins

Servings: 16 dumplings

Course: Desserts

Cuisine: American

Calories: 272

Ingredients Equipment Method Nutrition Video Notes

Video

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x?

• Refrigerated Crescent Rolls - 2 cans 8 ounce size each
• Two apples
• 1 tbsp. cinnamon/sugar mixture
• 1 cup white sugar
• 2 sticks of butter
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 cup Mountain Dew Soda

Cooking for More (or Less?)Scale this recipe up or down. Adjust the number of servings above to automatically update ingredient amounts.

Equipment

• Pyrex 2 Quart Glass Oblong Baking Dish
• Apple Corer and Divider

Method

 

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Toss the apples with the cinnamon/sugar mixture in a large bowl. Set aside while you prepare the crescent rolls.
3. Unroll the cans of crescent roll dough and spread out flat on top of a cutting board. Gently separate each roll so you have 16 individual triangles.
4. Place one apple wedge on top of an individual triangle of crescent roll dough. Starting from the thickest end of the roll, gently roll the apple up in the dough. Repeat with remaining apple wedges and rolls.
5. Place the dumplings in the bottom of a 9X13 rectangle baking dish that's been sprayed with non-stick cooking spray.
6. In a medium saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the sugar and then vanilla. Stir gently to combine. The mixture will be thick and clumpy. Remove the mixture from heat and pour evenly over the dumplings. being careful to make sure they are all covered.
7. Pour the one cup of soda around the rolls, not over the rolls.
8. Bake for 30 to 40 minutes or until the mixture is bubbly and the tops of the dumplings are golden brown.
9. Cool for about 10 minutes before serving.
10. Serve with vanilla ice cream and a sprinkle of powdered sugar. A drizzle of caramel sauce works great too!

Nutrition

Serving: 1ServingCalories: 272kcalCarbohydrates: 30gProtein: 2gFat: 17gSaturated Fat: 10gPolyunsaturated Fat: 5gCholesterol: 47mgSodium: 209mgFiber: 1gSugar: 20g

Notes

For this recipe I used two Honey Crisp apples.

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This recipe has been updated since it first appeared in 2009 with new photos and a new printable recipe card that includes nutritional information. I hope you enjoy the updates as much as I enjoyed working on them! Can you believe it's been 10 years since I originally posted this recipe?