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Apple Dumplings are a simple apple dessert recipe takes just a handful of easy ingredients while having massive bursts of flavor!
It’s time to welcome the flavors of fall and fill your bellies at the same time. Nothing says dessert comfort food like baking up a batch of sweetened apple dumplings.
Table of Contents
Easy Apple Dumplings Recipe
There’s just something about baked apples, soft dough, and sugar that makes my mouth start to water. I have such fond memories of homemade dumplings growing up that I knew that this recipe was going to be perfect.
While the dough might not be homemade per se, the flavor doesn’t give that indication at all. These simple dumplings literally melt in your mouth and are a great way to easily make the excuse to have another serving asap.
During the fall months, head to the local apple orchard and stock up on freshly ripened apples. They’ll make the flavor of these dumplings simply amazing!
Why you’ll love old fashioned apple dumplings:
- They’re ready quickly and simple to make
- It’s a perfect way to use up excess apples
- You can prep and bake later in the day
What are apple dumplings made of?
- Apples (any kind) – you can use sweet or tart apples! I’ve made this with Granny Smith apples and Gala apples.
- Crescent roll dough – you’ll need two cans for this recipe.
- Apple cider – adds even more apple flavoring.
- Brown sugar – this adds sweetness and the golden brown coloring.
- Unsalted butter – unsalted works best but if you do have to use salted butter, omit adding in any extra salt.
- Ground cinnamon – a teaspoon ground cinnamon will do!
- Vanilla extract – pure vanilla extract works best.
- Salt – just a pinch is needed.
How to make apple dumplings with crescent rolls
- Peel the apples: Peel apples. Core apples and cut each into 8 pieces.
- Add to the dough: Unroll crescent rolls.
- Place one apple slice on each crescent roll and sprinkle with a pinch of brown sugar (rest of brown sugar will go in sauce).
- Wrap up the apple slice in the crescent roll. Place in the prepared pan.
- Heat: Heat apple cider with remaining brown sugar and butter over medium heat until butter melts and mixture just comes to a boil. Remove from heat and stir in cinnamon, vanilla and salt.
- Pour: Pour sauce over crescent rolls in baking dish. Bake until golden and bubbly, approximately 20-30 minutes. Mixture will still be wet when you remove it from the oven but will thicken as it cools.
Storing and Freezing Instructions
Store leftovers in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
This recipe is best served fresh but can be frozen. If frozen, eat within 3 months. As a side note, the apples may unthaw and have a mushy texture.
How to eat apple dumplings
These are best room temperature or hot from the oven. Serve with vanilla ice cream and drizzle some of the apple cider sauce over the top.
FAQs
This really just depends on what you like. If you like sweet dumplings, you can use honeycrisp, pink lady, or even gala apples for your dumplings.
If you prefer the dumplings to be a little bit more tart, you can use granny smith apples as well.
Yes, it’s important to peel the apples before adding them to the dumpling mixture. Leaving on the apple peel will make for a texture that doesn’t bode well with the rest of the ingredients.
But – don’t throw away the apple peels! You can easily eat them as a snack or even fry them up with some butter, cinnamon, and sugar in a pan and
I don’t recommend using frozen fruit. Frozen fruit may give you a lot of yummy flavors, but the frozen fruit thaws and ends up releasing a ton of extra juice and liquid into the dumplings, making them a soggy mess.
Yes, refrigerate after they’ve cooled. Cover with plastic wrap and they’ll stay good for 3 days.
I know many recipes online use Mountain Dew but I prefer cooking the sauce with sugar and cider because I always have apple juice or cider in the fall. Plus I don’t like the taste of that soda!
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Apple Dumplings
Ingredients
- 2 medium apples any kind
- 2 cans crescent rolls 8 rolls each
- 1 cup apple cider
- 2 cups (400g) packed brown sugar
- ¼ cup (57g) unsalted butter
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Pinch salt
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Spray a 9×13-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.
- Peel apples. Core apples and cut each into 8 pieces.
- Unroll crescent rolls. Place one apple slice on each crescent roll and sprinkle with a pinch of brown sugar (rest of brown sugar will go in sauce). Wrap up the apple slice in the crescent roll. Place in prepared pan.
- Heat apple cider with remaining brown sugar and butter until butter melts and mixture just comes to a boil. Remove from heat and stir in cinnamon, vanilla and salt.
- Pour mixture over crescent rolls in pan. Bake until golden and bubbly, approximately 20-30 minutes. Mixture will be still wet when you remove from the oven but will thicken as it cools.
- Serve warm or room temperature, plain or with ice cream. Store leftovers in refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Recipe Video
Recipe Nutrition
Apple Dumplings are an easy fall apple recipe with crescent rolls – skip the Mountain Dew and make my homemade caramel sauce with apple cider! This classic recipe is always a hit!
