Easy Crescent Roll Apple Dumplings – The Coziest Fall Dessert You’ll Ever Make

There’s something truly magical about baking with apples when the weather turns crisp. The sweet aroma of cinnamon, brown sugar, and buttery pastry filling the kitchen is enough to make anyone feel warm and comforted. Today, we’re making one of the most beloved quick desserts of all time — Crescent Roll Apple Dumplings.

This simple yet show-stopping treat transforms a tube of store-bought crescent rolls and a few pantry staples into a golden, syrupy, tender masterpiece. Whether you’re baking for a family dinner, hosting a fall brunch, or just craving a cozy night-in dessert, these apple dumplings are guaranteed to impress with minimal effort.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Ridiculously easy – If you can wrap an apple slice, you can make this dessert!
• Only a few ingredients – Crescent rolls, apples, butter, sugar, and cinnamon — that’s it.
• Delicious texture – Crisp edges, tender apples, and a gooey caramel sauce baked right in.
• Perfect for any occasion – From Thanksgiving dessert to a weekend brunch treat.
• Crowd-pleasing and nostalgic – Everyone loves this sweet, buttery, old-fashioned flavor.

The Secret to Perfect Apple Dumplings

The key ingredient in this recipe that surprises most people? Lemon-lime soda!
Yes, a can of Sprite or 7UP is poured around the dumplings before baking. This fizzy step may sound strange, but it creates a bubbling caramel sauce that thickens and coats the dumplings beautifully as they bake. The result is a golden, buttery dessert that’s sweet, tangy, and melt-in-your-mouth good.

Ingredients

For the Dumplings:

• 2 large apples (Granny Smith or Honeycrisp) – peeled, cored, and cut into 8 wedges each
• 2 (8 oz) cans refrigerated crescent roll dough
• 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter – melted
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• ½ cup brown sugar – packed
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup lemon-lime soda (Sprite, 7UP, or similar)

For Serving (Optional):

• Vanilla ice cream
• Caramel sauce
• Whipped cream

Instructions

1. Preheat the Oven
   Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish with butter or nonstick spray.
2. Prepare the Apples
   Peel, core, and slice the apples into 16 wedges total. Each apple should yield eight slices.
3. Wrap the Apples
   Unroll the crescent dough and separate it into 16 triangles. Place one apple wedge at the wide end of each triangle and roll it up snugly toward the narrow tip.
4. Arrange in the Dish
   Place each wrapped apple dumpling in the prepared baking dish, seam side down. Arrange them in neat rows, leaving a bit of space between each.
5. Make the Butter Sauce
   In a medium bowl, whisk together melted butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar, cinnamon, and vanilla extract. Stir until the sugar is mostly dissolved and you have a thick syrupy mixture.
6. Pour the Sauce
   Evenly spoon the butter-sugar mixture over all the dumplings, coating each one.
7. Add the Secret Ingredient
   Slowly pour the lemon-lime soda around the edges of the pan — not directly over the dumplings. This step will create that magical caramelized sauce during baking.
8. Bake to Perfection
   Bake for 35–40 minutes, or until the dumplings are puffed, golden brown, and the sauce is bubbling.
9. Cool and Serve
   Let the dumplings cool slightly before serving — the sauce will thicken as it cools. Serve warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a drizzle of caramel sauce.

Crescent Roll Apple Dumplings

Flaky crescent rolls wrapped around tender apples, baked in a buttery cinnamon-sugar sauce with a caramelized glaze — the ultimate cozy fall dessert.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Cook Time 40 minutes mins

Total Time 55 minutes mins

Servings: 8 dumplings

Course: Dessert, Snack

Cuisine: American, Autumn

Calories: 310

Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients

  

Dumplings

• 2 large apples peeled and sliced
• 2 cans crescent roll dough
• 1 cup unsalted butter melted
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 0.5 cup brown sugar packed
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 cup lemon-lime soda Sprite or 7UP

Equipment

• Mixing bowls
• 9×13 inch baking dish
• Peeler and corer
• Whisk

Method

 

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.
2. Peel and slice apples into 16 wedges.
3. Wrap each apple wedge in crescent dough and place seam side down in dish.
4. Whisk together melted butter, sugars, cinnamon, and vanilla.
5. Pour mixture evenly over dumplings.
6. Pour soda around edges of pan.
7. Bake 35–40 minutes until golden brown and bubbling.
8. Cool slightly and serve warm with ice cream or caramel sauce.

Notes

Use tart apples for the best flavor contrast.

Tips for the Best Crescent Roll Apple Dumplings

• Choose firm apples: Granny Smiths are tart and hold their shape well, while Honeycrisp adds a sweeter flavor.
• Don’t skip the soda: It’s what creates the gooey caramel glaze!
• Serve warm: These dumplings are best fresh from the oven when the sauce is bubbling and buttery.
• Make ahead: You can prepare the dumplings earlier in the day and refrigerate. Add the soda and bake just before serving.

Variations You’ll Love

• Peach Dumplings: Swap apples for canned peach halves for a summer twist.
• Pumpkin Spice: Add nutmeg and a pinch of cloves for extra autumn flavor.
• Nutty Crunch: Sprinkle chopped pecans or walnuts over the top before baking.
• Maple Apple Dumplings: Replace part of the brown sugar with pure maple syrup.
• Mini Version: Use small crescent triangles and apple chunks to make bite-sized versions for parties.

Serving Suggestions

These Crescent Roll Apple Dumplings are incredibly versatile. Serve them as:

• A fall dessert with vanilla ice cream and cinnamon dusting.
• A brunch treat alongside coffee or spiced chai.
• A holiday favorite for Thanksgiving or Christmas dessert tables.
• A comfort snack on cozy weekends by the fire.

Fun Fact: The Southern Shortcut Dessert

Crescent Roll Apple Dumplings first gained popularity in Southern kitchens, where busy home cooks mastered the art of “shortcut baking.” Using pre-made doughs like crescent rolls allowed for homestyle flavor without the hassle of homemade pastry. Today, this recipe remains a family favorite across America — proof that a little creativity can turn store-bought dough into something downright spectacular.

Storage and Reheating

• Store: Keep leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
• Reheat: Warm in the oven at 300°F for 10 minutes or microwave briefly to soften.
• Freeze: Wrap baked dumplings individually and freeze for up to 2 months. Reheat directly from frozen in a 350°F oven until warmed through.

Why This Recipe Works

This recipe combines simple store-bought ingredients with a few pantry staples to deliver a restaurant-worthy dessert. The crescent dough turns golden and flaky, the apples soften perfectly, and the butter-sugar mixture caramelizes into a luscious syrup. The addition of soda provides moisture and that crave-worthy bubbling action, ensuring your dumplings bake up tender and glossy every single time.