Apple Dumplings
This recipe creates delightful apple dumplings, featuring tart apple slices wrapped in crescent roll dough, baked until golden in a rich, sweet sauce made from butter, sugar, vanilla, and citrus soda. It's a comforting, easy-to-make dessert perfect for any occasion.
Equipment
- 1 9x13 inch Baking Pan
- 1 Saucepan for melting butter and preparing sauce
- 1 Apple Peeler/Corer or a paring knife
- 1 Whisk for combining sauce ingredients
- 1 Chef's Knife and Cutting Board for slicing apples
Ingredients
Main
- 2 sticks 1 cup salted butter, plus more for greasing the pan
- 2 Granny Smith apples
- Two 8-ounce cans refrigerated crescent roll dough
- 1 1/2 cups sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 8 ounces citrus-flavored soda such as Mountain Dew (two-thirds of a 12-ounce can)
- Cinnamon for sprinkling
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Butter a 9-by-13-inch pan.
- Peel and core the apples, then cut each into 8 slices. Roll each apple slice in a crescent roll piece, then transfer to the prepared pan.
- Melt the butter in a saucepan, then add the sugar and barely stir. Add the vanilla and stir slightly, then pour the entire mixture over the apples. Pour the citrus soda around the edges of the pan. Sprinkle with cinnamon and bake until golden brown and crispy on top, about 40 minutes.
- Serve, spooning some of the sweet sauces from the pan over the top.
Notes
1. For optimal flavor and texture, use crisp, tart apples like Granny Smith to balance the sweetness of the sauce. Other good options include Honeycrisp or Braeburn. 2. Ensure each apple slice is fully encased and sealed within the crescent roll dough to prevent the sauce from seeping in too much during baking, which can make the dough soggy. 3. The citrus soda adds both moisture and a subtle tang to the sauce, helping it caramelize beautifully. While Mountain Dew is specified, any clear lemon-lime soda will work. 4. Monitor the dumplings closely during the last 10-15 minutes of baking, as oven temperatures can vary. The goal is a golden-brown, crispy top with tender apples underneath. 5. Consider adding a pinch of freshly grated nutmeg to the butter-sugar mixture for an extra layer of warm spice.