Enjoy the comforting aroma of Rustic Apple Dumplings, where tart Granny Smith apples meet buttery crescent rolls in a warm, cinnamon-sweet embrace. With everyday ingredients and minimal effort, you can create a nostalgic dessert that’s perfect for cozy family dinners or a casual weekend treat.

Finished Rustic Apple Dumplings with ice cream — Perfect warm dessert

Why These Rustic Apple Dumplings

Simple Ingredients: Just apples, crescent rolls, sugar, and a few pantry staples—no fuss needed.
Tender & Flaky: The crescent dough wraps the juicy apple slices, creating a delightful contrast in textures.
Family-Friendly: Sweet and lightly spiced, appealing to both kids and adults.
Quirky Soda Twist: A splash of Mountain Dew or Sprite adds an unexpected brightness that sets them apart from classic dumplings.

Easy Preparation: Perfect for busy nights or last-minute dessert cravings.
Budget-Friendly: Uses affordable, readily available ingredients.
Customizable Sweetness: Adjust sugar or use a sugar substitute if you like.
Aromatically Pleasing: The cinnamon-apple scent alone is worth the effort!

Classic Baked Dumplings in baking dish with soda — Unique soda addition

What You Need To Make This Rustic Apple Dumplings (Makes 16 dumplings)

Granny Smith Apples (2 total)
- Tart flavor balances the sweet sauce, ideal for baking.
Crescent Rolls (2 cans, 8 oz each)
- Shortcuts the dough-making process for convenience.
Butter (1 cup, melted)
- Adds richness, creating a glossy, caramel-like sauce.
Sugar (1 cup)
- Sweetens the butter sauce, forming a syrupy glaze.
Vanilla Extract (1 tsp)
- Warms and rounds out the sweet flavors.
Cinnamon (to taste)
- Sprinkle for a spicy hint that complements the apples.
Mountain Dew or Sprite (1 can, ~12 oz)
- Adds fizz and a tangy note, distinguishing these dumplings from traditional recipes.

Buttery sauce drizzled over Rustic Apple Dumplings — Sweet caramel-like drizzle

How to make This Classic Baked Dumplings

Preheat & Grease
- Heat oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Generously coat two 9×13-inch baking dishes with cooking spray or butter.
Prep the Apples
- Peel and core the Granny Smith apples.
- Cut each apple into 8 equal slices.
Wrap in Crescent Rolls
- Separate the crescent roll dough into triangles.
- Place one apple slice on the wide end of each triangle. Roll it up snugly, then place seam-side down in the baking dish.
Make the Sauce
- In a small bowl, combine melted butter, sugar, and vanilla extract.
- Drizzle this mixture evenly over all the dumplings.
Add Soda & Cinnamon
- Carefully pour the soda around the edges of the dish, avoiding pouring directly over the dumplings.
- Dust the tops with cinnamon.
Bake
- Bake for 40–45 minutes or until the dumplings are golden brown and puffy.
- The sauce will bubble up and lightly caramelize around the edges.
Serve Warm
- Let them cool slightly, then serve topped with ice cream or whipped cream. Spoon extra sauce from the pan over each dumpling.

Wrapping apple slice in crescent dough — Preparing dumplings for baking

Tip

Chill Dough Before Use
Keep crescent dough in the fridge until you’re ready to wrap the apples. Cold dough is easier to handle and bakes into a flakier crust, giving your dumplings the perfect texture.

Rustic Apple Dumplings marry the tang of fresh apples with the buttery, flaky goodness of crescent rolls, all bathed in a sweet, fizzy sauce. Whether for a special occasion or a comforting home dessert, these dumplings deliver a taste of nostalgia and warmth in every bite. Once you share them, don’t be surprised if they become a treasured family tradition!

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Can I use other apple varieties?

Yes! Fuji or Honeycrisp are great alternatives. Just ensure they’re firm for best texture.

2. What if I don’t have soda?

Use a simple mixture of sugar, water, and a splash of lemon juice for a similar effect.

3. How do I store leftovers?

Refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 3 days. Reheat gently in the oven for a crispier crust.

4. Can I reduce the sugar content?

Absolutely. You can cut the sugar by half or substitute with a sweetener of your choice.

5. Gluten-free option?

Seek out gluten-free crescent roll dough and ensure your soda and other ingredients are GF-certified.

Rustic Apple Dumplings

Enjoy the comforting aroma of Rustic Apple Dumplings, where tart Granny Smith apples meet buttery crescent rolls in a warm, cinnamon-sweet embrace.

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 45

Total Time 55

Serving Size 16

Ingredients

Granny Smith Apples (2 total)

Tart flavor balances the sweet sauce ideal for baking.

Crescent Rolls (2 cans, 8 oz each)

Shortcuts the dough-making process for convenience.

Butter (1 cup, melted)

Adds richness creating a glossy, caramel-like sauce.

Sugar (1 cup)

Sweetens the butter sauce forming a syrupy glaze.

Vanilla Extract (1 tsp)

Warms and rounds out the sweet flavors.

Cinnamon (to taste)

Sprinkle for a spicy hint that complements the apples.

Mountain Dew or Sprite (1 can, ~12 oz)

Adds fizz and a tangy note distinguishing these dumplings from traditional recipes.

Instructions

Preheat & Grease

Heat oven to 350°F (175°C).
Generously coat two 9×13-inch baking dishes with cooking spray or butter.

Prep the Apples

Peel and core the Granny Smith apples.
Cut each apple into 8 equal slices.

Wrap in Crescent Rolls

Separate the crescent roll dough into triangles.
Place one apple slice on the wide end of each triangle. Roll it up snugly, then place seam-side down in the baking dish.

Make the Sauce

In a small bowl, combine melted butter, sugar, and vanilla extract.
Drizzle this mixture evenly over all the dumplings.

Add Soda & Cinnamon

Carefully pour the soda around the edges of the dish, avoiding pouring directly over the dumplings.
Dust the tops with cinnamon.

Bake

Bake for 40–45 minutes or until the dumplings are golden brown and puffy.
The sauce will bubble up and lightly caramelize around the edges.

Serve Warm

Let them cool slightly, then serve topped with ice cream or whipped cream. Spoon extra sauce from the pan over each dumpling.

Notes

Chill Dough Before Use
Keep crescent dough in the fridge until you’re ready to wrap the apples. Cold dough is easier to handle and bakes into a flakier crust, giving your dumplings the perfect texture.