Old-Fashioned Apple Dumplings with a Secret Ingredient

These Apple Dumplings are warm, buttery, and packed with fresh apples. The golden brown crust and sticky sweet sauce make every bite melt in your mouth. You only need 6 simple ingredients, including one secret ingredient that makes them downright irresistible!

Old-Fashioned Apple Dumplings

Soon it will be that time of year where the weather is starting to finally cool down and  the leaves are slowly starting to change colors.

That means that it will be apple picking time!

We like to go out to the orchard and buy a whole slew of different varieties of apples.

Some for just eating, some for baking, some for making applesauce and apple jelly, apple butter, and who knows what else!

I just love apples! It is my hands down favorite fruit of all.

I wanted to make some kind of apple dessert after dinner. I was running a little short on time, so my usual apple pie was out of the question.

I decided to prepare some Apple Dumplings, and my family sure was glad that I did.  I have to admit, I was pretty stoked about these little gems too!

Why You’ll Love Apple Dumplings

• They taste like a classic apple pie with a rich cinnamon-brown sugar syrup and soft, pastry-wrapped apple.
• The golden brown crust and bubbling sweet sauce make every bite feel like a delicious dessert straight from Mama’s kitchen.
• Uses simple ingredients for a warm treat that’s perfect for special occasions or any night of the week

Ingredients for Apple Dumplings

• Granny Smith Apples: Their tart flavor balances the sweet sauce perfectly.
• Refrigerated Crescent Roll Dough: Store bought crescent dough makes these easy apple dumplings so quick to put together.
• Butter: Melted over medium heat, this helps create the buttery brown sugar sauce everyone loves.
• White Sugar: It’s what makes the sauce sweet.
• Ground Cinnamon: Mixed with the sugar, it adds a warm flavor to your old-fashioned apple dumplings.
• Can of Mountain Dew: The secret ingredient that makes easy apple dumplings so irresistible.

Yes, that is Mountain Dew in the ingredient picture.  Yes, it is a little odd, but trust me, it’s so good!

How to Make Apple Dumplings

Preheat and Prepare Dumplings: Turn your oven on to 350°F. Grease a 9×13-inch prepared baking dish so your homemade apple dumplings don’t stick. Make sure your crescent rolls are at room temperature so the crescent dough is easy to work with on your work surface.

Get the Apples Ready: Use Granny Smith apples (the best apples for this apple dumplings recipe). Core apples and cut them into 8 equal pieces so each wedge fits just right inside the pastry dough. If you want, squeeze a touch of lemon juice on the apple slices so they stay fresh.

Wrap the Apples in Dough: Open up your can of crescent roll dough. Tear it apart into triangles. Roll each apple piece in each crescent roll triangle. Start from the small end and seal the edges with your fingers when you are done.

 

Make the Sauce: Melt your butter in a medium saucepan. Stir in the sugar and a good shake of cinnamon to make the cinnamon sugar mixture.

Pour on the Secret Ingredient: Grab your can of Mountain Dew. Yes! That bubbly lemon-lime soda is your secret ingredient. Pour the soda all around the sides of your pan and watch it foam.

Bake Until Golden:
Bake at 350 degrees for 35-40 minutes., or until the tops are golden brown and the pastry dough is cooked through.

Serve and Enjoy: Spoon you out a dumpling or three and make sure you drizzle some of the gooey sauce from the bottom of the dish. These old-fashioned apple dumplings are best warm, topped with a generous scoop of vanilla ice cream, or butter pecan.

Recipe Tips

• Use Granny Smith apples for the best tart flavor, but try Pink Lady if you like your dumplings a little sweeter.
• Make sure your crescent roll dough is at room temperature so it’s easy to roll around each apple slice. It also helps prevent any holes or tears in the dough.
• Mix a little lemon juice with the cinnamon sugar mixture before pouring it over the top of the dumplings. The lemon juice does more than just add flavor—it helps keep your apple slices fresh and bright while they bake.

Ways to Serve Apple Dumplings

• Top with a generous scoop of vanilla ice cream and drizzle with caramel sauce for a warm and creamy treat.
• Serve with warm apple cider for the perfect fall treat.
• Add a dollop of whipped cream and a sprinkle of cinnamon sugar mixture for a nice touch.

How to Store Leftovers

To keep your leftover apple dumplings fresh, let them cool to room temperature first. Wrap the dish tightly with plastic wrap or move the dumplings to an airtight container.

Store them in the fridge, and they’ll stay fresh for about 3 days. When you’re ready to enjoy, warm them up in the oven so the sweet sauce and pastry dough gets soft again.

More Apple Recipes

• Caramel Apple Cheesecake Bars
• Apple Pie Muffins
• Easy Crockpot Apple Butter

Print Pin

Apple Dumplings

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time 40 minutes minutes

Total Time 50 minutes minutes

Ingredients

• 2 large Granny Smith apples peeled and cored
• 2 cans refrigerated crescent roll dough
• 2 sticks of butter
• 1.5 cups white sugar
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1.5 cups of Mountain Dew 12 fluid ounces

Instructions

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a 9x13 inch baking dish.
• Cut each apple into 8 wedges and set aside. Separate the crescent roll dough into triangles. Roll each apple wedge in crescent roll dough starting at the smallest end. Pinch to seal and place in the baking dish.
• Melt butter in a small saucepan and stir in the sugar and cinnamon. Pour over the apple dumplings. Pour Mountain Dew over the dumplings.
• Bake for 35 to 40 minutes in the preheated oven, or until golden brown