These Apple Dumplings are a delicious combination of soft, buttery crescent dough enveloping tart apple slices, baked in a syrupy, gooey cinnamon-sugar sauce. With hints of vanilla and a surprising secret ingredient—7-Up soda—this dessert makes a completely irrestible caramelized sauce to drizzle over the warm, tender apples, which is so good you’ll want to drink it. These apple dumplings are sure to please at any gathering, whether on their own or with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe:
Quick and Easy: Crescent dough makes this a speedy in dash and out recipe, perfect as a last minute dessert or if you want a little something special without too much hassle.
Cozin’ in the oven: Cinnamon and apples wrapped in buttery crescent dough makes this the ultimate comfort food dessert.
Crowd-Pleaser: These dumplings wow both kids and adults, and they’re best served along with a scoop of vanilla ice cream from there.
Few Ingredients: All you need to make this rich, flavorful dessert are a few pantry staples.
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Key Ingredients:
Apples: Granny Smith apples are the best option for their tartness, but you could also get away with using Honeycrisp or Pink Lady apples for a sweeter twist. If you want something softer after baking, try Gala or Golden Delicious.
Crescent Dough: A convenient option is Pillsbury Crescent dough, though you can use puff pastry, if you want an extra flaky and buttery texture.
7-Up Substitute: Any lemon-lime soda can substitute for 7-Up, or ginger ale for some variation in flavors.
Spices: For a warming autumnal spin, try mixing in a pinch of nutmeg or allspice with the cinnamon.
Full quantities of all the ingredients & instructions can be found in the recipe card below
Instructions:
Step 1: Preheat and Prep the Baking Dish
Preheat the Oven:
For the mixture – Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). This guarantees that the oven will be heated when it’s time to bake.
Grease the Baking Dish:
Generously butter (or spray) an 8×8 inch baking dish. This helps the dumplings not to stick and simplifies cleanup.
Step 2: Prepare the Apples
Peel and Slice the Apple:
Pare a large apple and slice it into 8-10 wedges. This sweet and tangy combination is why I recommend a tart variety, such as Fuji or Granny Smith, for this recipe.
Pat the Apple Wedges Dry:
Dab the apple wedges dry with a paper towel. This allows the crescent dough to stick more firmly to the apples and limits moisture when baking.
Step 3: Encase the Apples in Crescent Dough
Open and Separate the Dough:
Crank the handle on a can of Pillsbury Crescent dough, and break it into golden, triangle-shaped segments.
Wrap the Apple Wedges:
Beginning at the wide end of each triangle of dough, roll each apple wedge tightly in the crescent dough. Be sure to pinch the edges of the dough in order to fully enclose the apple.
Arrange in the Baking Dish:
Arrange the wrapped apple wedges into the greased baking dish with an even distance between each wedge so they bake evenly.
Step 4: Mix the Cinnamon and Sugar
Melt the Butter:
Melt 1/2 cup of butter in a small saucepan on medium heat.
Add Sugar and Cinnamon:
When the butter melts, add 2/3 cup of sugar and 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon. Whisk until thickened and well combined.
Add Vanilla Extract:
You can also take the mixture off the heat and add 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla extract to the sauce.
Step 5: Assemble the Dish
In the Pan: Sprinkle the Cinnamon-Sugar Mixture:
Pour the thickened cinnamon-sugar mixture evenly over the wrapped apple dumplings in the baking dish, so that each dumpling is coated.
Add the 7-Up:
Pour 3/4 cup of 7-Up (or other lemon-lime soda) around the edges of the baking dish. This allows for a bubbly, caramelized sauce when baking.
Step 6: Bake the Apple Dumplings
Bake the Dumplings:
Transfer the baking dish to the oven and bake until the dumplings are golden brown and the sauce is bubbling, 40 to 45 minutes.
Check for Doneness:
The crescent dough will puff and gold and the insides will be gooey apple good.
Step 7: Serve the Dumplings
Cool and Serve:
Once baked, remove the dish from the own and let the dumplings cool slightly.
Enjoy:
Serve the dumplings hot, with the gooey sauce. They’re tasty all on their own, or serve with a scoop of vanilla ice cream for an extra indulgent dessert.
Serving Suggestions:
These Apple Dumplings are delicious on their own, but a few simple additions can take the dessert to the next level:
Vanilla Ice Cream: The classic combo! The cold, creamy ice cream contrasts with the warm dumplings.
Whipped Cream: A swath of airy whipped cream provides a lovely texture and balances the rich sauce.
Drizzle a bit more caramel sauce on top.
Chopped Nuts: Sprinkle some chopped pecans or walnuts over the garnishing for a crunchy texture.
Storage and Reheating Tips:
To refrigerate: If you have leftovers, place the apple dumplings in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. The sauce will thicken when cool, though, and the dumplings will be delicious when reheated.
To reheat, place the dumplings in an oven at 350°F (175°C) for ~10 minutes each or in the microwave for 30 seconds to 1 minute. This will return some snap to the dough.
Freeze: Unbaked apple dumplings can also be frozen after wrapping each one individually and placing them in an airtight container. When you’re ready to bake, thaw in the fridge overnight and bake according to the recipe instructions.
Recipe Variations:
Peach Dumplings: Replace the apples with slices of peach for a summery spin. Peaches are a great match with the cinnamon-sugar blend.
Spiced dumplings: Stir some nutmeg or allspice into the cinnamon-sugar mixture for a more spiced version that’s perfect for fall.
Alternative to Crescent Rolls: If you don’t have crescent dough, sub out for puff pastry or pie dough for a flakier texture.
Conclusion:
These Pioneer Woman Apple Dumplings are a dessert you have to try that’s super quick and easy to whip up, but tastes like you spent hours making it. Buttery crescent dough meets tender apples and a sweet, caramelized sauce in this beautiful dish, which can serve as a late breakfast, dessert, or snack. Whether you’re serving it for a weeknight treat or a labor of love at a family gathering, it’s bound to impress.
Pioneer Woman's Apple Dumplings
Ingredients
- 1 large apple Fuji or other tart apples work well
- 1 can Pillsbury Crescent dough
- 1/2 cup butter melted
- 2/3 cup sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 3/4 cup 7-Up (or equivalent) about half a can
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease an 8×8 inch baking dish with butter or non-stick spray.
- Peel and slice the apple into 8-10 wedges. Pat them dry with a paper towel.
- Open the can of crescent dough and separate into triangles. Wrap each apple wedge with a dough triangle and place them in the greased baking dish.
- Melt the butter in a small saucepan, then stir in the sugar and cinnamon. Whisk constantly until smooth, then remove from heat and stir in the vanilla extract.
- Pour the cinnamon-sugar mixture over the wrapped apple dumplings. Pour the 7-Up around the edges of the baking dish.
- Bake the dumplings for 40-45 minutes, or until golden brown and bubbly. The dough should puff up and the apples will become tender.
- Let the dumplings cool slightly before serving. They are delicious on their own or with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.