Apple Dumplings

What We're Cooking

· yields: 12 lg dumplings · prep time 20 minutes· bake temp: 350° · bake time: 50 minutes ·

apple dumplings: Trust the process!

What We're Baking This October | Recipe 2 of 6

If there was ever a recipe that required you to trust the process, it’s this one!

These Apple Dumplings are made with tart Granny Smith apples wrapped in buttery crescent roll dough, covered in a cinnamon-sugar butter mixture, and finished with an ingredient you might not expect — Mountain Dew!

Yes, you read that right. Mountain Dew.

Now, we know what you’re thinking, but hear us out. There’s something pretty magical about what happens when that soda meets the butter and sugar in the oven. What starts out looking like a whole lot of liquid transforms into a rich, buttery, cinnamon-sugar sauce surrounding perfectly baked apple dumplings. The tops turn beautifully golden while the bottoms soak up all that goodness.

It’s one of those recipes where you just have to trust the process. And trust us, it’s worth it!

Ingredients:

  • 5 Granny Smith Apples
  • 2 cans Crescent Roll Sheets
  • 8 oz Butter
  • 315 grams Sugar
  • 1 tsp Cinnamon
  • 12 oz Mountain Dew Soda

Instructions

  • 1. Preheat your oven to 350°F. Peel the Granny Smith apples and cut them into sections.
  • 2. Wrap your dumplings. Cut the crescent roll dough into squares. Wrap approximately half an apple in each square of dough, enclosing the apple pieces.
  • 3. Prepare your pan. Coat a 9×13-inch baking dish with White Cap nonstick spray. Arrange the wrapped apple dumplings in the dish, leaving a little room between each one.
  • 4. Make the butter mixture. In a small saucepan, melt the butter. Stir in the sugar and cinnamon until combined.
  • 5. Pour it on! Pour the butter and sugar mixture evenly over the dumplings.
  • 6. Here's where you trust the process. Pour the Mountain Dew over the dumplings and into the baking dish.
  • 7. Bake. Place in your preheated oven and bake for 40–50 minutes, until the crescent dough is beautifully golden and the sauce is bubbling around the dumplings.
  • 8. Cool slightly and serve warm. Spoon that wonderful cinnamon-butter sauce from the bottom of the pan over each dumpling. Enjoy!

B&P Tips & Tricks

Make Them Your Own Size

One of the things we love about this recipe is how easily you can adjust the portions.

Making dessert for a crowd? Wrap just a couple of apple slices in each piece of dough for smaller dumplings. Want something a little more substantial? Use a whole apple for an extra-large dumpling!

Just keep in mind that larger dumplings may need additional baking time. Make sure the apples are tender and the dough is fully baked before serving.

Crescent Roll Sheets vs. Regular Crescent Rolls

We prefer using crescent roll sheets because they’re easy to cut and wrap around the apples.

But if you can’t find them, regular crescent rolls work too! Simply pinch the perforations together to create a solid sheet of dough before cutting into squares.

Don’t Forget the Sauce!

Whatever you do, don’t leave that sauce behind in the baking dish. The butter, sugar, cinnamon, and Mountain Dew come together to create a rich sauce that’s just as important as the dumplings themselves.

Give each serving an extra spoonful right before serving.

Serve Them Warm

These dumplings are especially good served warm, when the pastry is tender and the cinnamon-butter sauce is still warm and spoonable.

And while they’re wonderful on their own, we certainly wouldn’t turn down a scoop of vanilla ice cream alongside them!

Where to serve these dumplilngs

  • Thanksgiving Dessert Table – A great addition alongside your traditional holiday pies.
  • Fall Gatherings – Perfect for those cool evenings with family and friends.
  • Sunday Dinner – A warm, homemade dessert to finish off a good meal.
  • Potlucks & Parties – Easy to make ahead and serve to a crowd.
  • Holiday Breakfast or Brunch – Who says apple dumplings are only for dessert?
  • Weeknight Treat – Because sometimes a warm apple dumpling and a scoop of vanilla ice cream are exactly what you need!

The Magic Is in the Process

Sometimes the best recipes are the ones that don’t make a whole lot of sense until you see the finished product. This is definitely one of them.

A few simple ingredients, a can of Mountain Dew, and a little faith in the process turn into something pretty wonderful.

So when you pour that soda over your beautifully wrapped dumplings and wonder if you’ve made a mistake, just remember: TRUST THE PROCESS!

Happy baking!

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