Crescent Roll Apple Dumplings

Crescent Roll Apple Dumplings

Warm, gooey, and irresistibly buttery, these Crescent Roll Apple Dumplings are the ultimate comfort dessert! Tart apple slices are wrapped in flaky crescent dough, baked in a rich cinnamon-sugar butter sauce, and finished with a surprising splash of lemon-lime soda for extra caramelized goodness. The result? Perfectly crisp tops with soft, melt-in-your-mouth centers. Serve them warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, and you’ve got a crowd-pleasing treat that’s as easy to make as it is delicious.

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 35-40 minutes

Cool Time: 5-10 minutes

Total Time: 50-55 minutes

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 35-40 minutes

Cool Time: 5-10 minutes

Total Time: 50-55 minutes

Ingredients:

2 large apples (Granny Smith works best for a tart flavor, but Honeycrisp or Fuji are great for a sweeter bite)

2 (8 oz) cans refrigerated crescent roll dough (like Pillsbury)

1 cup unsalted butter (melted)

1 cup granulated sugar

1/2 cup brown sugar (for extra richness)

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg (optional, for warmth)

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 (12 oz) can of lemon-lime soda (like Sprite, 7-Up, or Mountain Dew—it sounds strange but makes them super gooey and caramelized!)

Pinch of salt

Optional Add-ins:

Chopped pecans or walnuts for extra crunch

A sprinkle of coarse sugar on top for added texture

Vanilla ice cream or whipped cream for serving

Instructions:

Preheat Oven:
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.

Prepare the Apples:
Peel and core the apples. Cut them into 8 wedges per apple (you should have 16 slices total). If you like softer apples, slice them thinner.

Wrap the Apples:
Open the crescent roll dough and separate it into triangles. Place one apple wedge at the wider end of each triangle, then roll it up tightly, starting from the wide end and rolling toward the tip.

Arrange in the Dish:
Place all the wrapped apple dumplings in the prepared baking dish, seam-side down.

Make the Sauce:
In a medium bowl, mix the melted butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla extract, and a pinch of salt. Stir until it forms a smooth, thick mixture.

Pour the Sauce:
Spoon the butter-sugar mixture evenly over the dumplings. Don’t worry if it seems like a lot—it will turn into a delicious caramel sauce as it bakes!

Add the Soda:
Carefully pour the lemon-lime soda around the edges of the dumplings and down the center (but not directly on top of the dumplings). This helps create a gooey, caramel-like sauce while keeping the tops of the dumplings crisp.

Bake:
Place the dish in the oven and bake for 35-40 minutes, or until the tops of the dumplings are golden brown and the sauce is bubbling.

Cool & Serve:
Let the dumplings cool for about 5-10 minutes. Serve warm with a generous scoop of vanilla ice cream or a dollop of whipped cream. Drizzle some of that buttery sauce from the pan over the top for extra decadence!

Tips for the Best Apple Dumplings:

Choose the Right Apples: Tart apples like Granny Smith balance out the sweetness perfectly, but sweeter apples like Fuji or Gala work if you prefer a more sugary bite.

Don’t Skip the Soda: It sounds odd, but the soda creates a caramel-like sauce while keeping the dumplings light and fluffy.

Extra Crunch: Add chopped nuts inside the crescent dough before rolling for a delightful crunch.

Make It Ahead: Assemble the dumplings a few hours in advance and bake them fresh when you’re ready to serve.