Easy Apple Dumplings

These crescent roll dumplings made with apples are not only fun to make but super comforting especially best warm right out of the oven with vanilla ice cream. Crescent Roll Apple Dumplings are an easy dessert made with apples, crescent dough, a brown sugar butter sauce, and soda. I amped up the flavours in these apple dumplings by adding some spiced rum or bourbon and I used ginger beer instead of soda for a spiced ginger apple treat that takes minutes to whip up and disappears in the same amount of time! They are a super awesome way to have traditional apple dumplings in like 1/4 of the time and effort! Don’t get me wrong there is nothing that beats old fashion Apple dumplings made from scratch but these dumplings are for when you might be craving those dumplings but have to them them like now or when you need an easy dessert recipe!

These are definitely a no counting calories kind of treat (did I mention brown sugar butter rum sauce) that is kind of a guilty pleasure, and a dessert that hits comfort feelings and is semi-homemade. But for a really quick and indulgent dessert on those days when you just need it - you know those days - these apple dumplings definitely hit the spot. They also require basic few ingredients and are so easy to whip up you can’t go wrong! Typically these dumplings are made with slices of apples rolled in the crescent dough, then you pour over the butter sugar sauce and them pour Mountain Dew into the pan - in this recipe we are using ginger beer but read on for more suggestions, tips and alternatives.

Crescent Apple Dumplings Recipe Ingredients

• APPLES: Use any apples you like - I usually use Granny Smith apples
• CRESCENT ROLL DOUGH: You will need two 8 ounce cans of refrigerated crescent rolls for this recipe.
• SUGAR: Brown sugar is what I use for this recipe to create a really luscious and delicious brown sugar butter sauce
• BUTTER: I use unsalted butter. 2 sticks might seem like a lot but we are making a butter sauce after all. That being said if you prefer to reduce the amount of butter by 1/4 (so ¾ cup) that will work as well.
• RUM: The rum lends more flavor than alcohol to this recipe. I used a spiced dark rum. It’s optional though if you prefer to not add any alcohol simply omit - no need to replace it with anything. You can also substitute it for bourbon as well.
• VANILLA: I use pure vanilla extract and it is always a good idea for flavouring any desert
• CINNAMON: Cinnamon and apples are just made for each other. Feel free to add more warming spices - I like to use apple pie spice at times instead of cinnamon or I like to add a little ginger and nutmeg too.
• SODA POP/ GINGER BEER: I really love the rich flavor that ginger beer adds to this dish but you can pretty much make this with any sweet soda you like - see suggestions below.
  
  

Can I substitute Ginger Beer?

The answer to this question is YES! Just make sure you use a full sugar soda beverage.This is not the time to be using a diet soda. The carbonate drink is essential fo the recipe to work. It adds carbonation and moisture to cook the dumplings. It also reduces and contributes to the gooey caramelized sauce that is so so good. Here are a few options if you don’t care for the taste of Ginger Beer

• 7-Up Soda - I have made this recipe a few times using 7-Up Soda.
• Lemon-Lime Soda - such as Sprite.
• Ginger Ale - works great too!
• Mountain Dew Soda - the classic soda for these types of fruit dumplings
• Orange Juice or Apple Juice - I have not tried orange or apple juice, but I hear other people have and enjoyed the recipe with either
  
  

How To Make this Easy Apple Dumpling Recipe

Here is an overview of the simple recipe steps -please see recipe below for full detailed instructions:

1. Preheat oven and grease baking dish
2. Remove the crescent dough from packaging. Gently separate crescent dough into individual triangles. You should get 8 triangles from each can of dough. 16 total
3. Peel and core apples then slice each into 8 slices or 8 wedges
4. Place an apple slice/apple wedge on the wide end of the triangle, and roll the dough up until the apple slice is covered.
5. Place the apple dumplings into the prepared baking dish in an even layer. Leave a little room between each dumpling. They puff up as they bake.
6. Next, melt butter in sauce pan and whisk in the sugar, cinnamon, salt, vanilla, and rum. Stir the butter brown sugar mixture until it’s completely combined.
7. Pour the caramel sauce over the dumplings. You can spoon the sauce over the dumplings if that’s easier.
8. Finally, pour the can of ginger beer around the edges of the pan and between the dumplings NOT OVER TOP of them.
9. Bake the dumplings in a preheated oven for 30-35 minutes
   
   

How to Store Apple Dumplings

Crescent Roll Dumplings DO NOT store for very long. Dough and sauces tend to break down. Store sealed in and airtight container in the fridge for 1-3 days but these apple dumplings are BEST enjoyed the day they are made. To heat up apple dumplings simply pop them in the microwave or back in the oven or toaster oven until reheated.

Tips For Crescent Roll Dumplings

Here are few tips for perfect dumplings:

• Be sure the caramel sauce covers the bottom of the pan and the tops of the dumplings.
• Don’t pour the can of soda on top of the dumplings. The tops won’t get crisp and golden brown if they’re immersed in liquid.
• Allow the dessert to cool slightly before serving for best taste and to all the pan juices t thicken a little
  
  

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