Easy Crescent Roll Apple Dumplings Recipe
Delightfully easy and delicious crescent roll apple dumplings featuring tender Granny Smith apple wedges wrapped in flaky crescent dough, baked to golden perfection and soaked in a buttery cinnamon-sugar sauce enhanced with citrus soda for a sweet, bubbly finish.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30–45 minutes
- Total Time: 45–60 minutes
- Yield: 16 dumplings
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Apples and Dough
- 2 Granny Smith apples
- 2 cans refrigerated crescent roll dough made with vegetable shortening (8 oz each)
Sauce and Topping
- 1 cup butter, plus more for the dish
- 1½ cups granulated sugar
- 1 tsp alcohol-free vanilla flavoring
- 1 can citrus soda (12 fl oz)
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare Dish: Heat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Butter a 9 × 13-inch baking dish to prevent sticking and add flavor.
- Prepare Apples and Dough: Peel and core the Granny Smith apples, cutting each apple into eight evenly sized wedges. Separate the cold crescent roll dough into 16 triangles. Place one apple wedge on the wide end of each dough triangle and carefully roll it up to fully encase the apple.
- Arrange and Add Sauce: Place the wrapped apple wedges seam side down in the prepared baking dish. Melt the butter in a saucepan over medium heat, then stir in the granulated sugar and vanilla until combined. Spoon the butter-sugar mixture evenly over the dumplings. Pour the citrus soda around the edges of the dish—this keeps the sauce under the dumplings and helps create a bubbling glaze. Finally, sprinkle the tops with ground cinnamon.
- Bake the Dumplings: Bake in the preheated oven for 30 to 45 minutes until the crescent rolls are golden and crisp, and the apples inside are tender when pierced with a fork. The sauce should be bubbly and caramelized around the dumplings.
- Serve: Serve the apple dumplings warm, spooning some of the pan sauce over each serving for extra sweetness and moisture.
Notes
- Pour the soda around the dumplings rather than directly on top so the cinnamon and butter mixture stays on the surface, creating a crisp topping.
- Use tart Granny Smith apples for the best flavor contrast and to prevent overly mushy filling.
- You can substitute citrus soda with lemon-lime soda or ginger ale for slightly different flavor notes.
- For an extra touch, serve with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream.