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Easy Apple Dumplings Recipe

Robyn Stone

Published Oct 27, 2025

This Easy Apple Dumplings Recipe is a rich, buttery dessert made with just six ingredients, including fresh apples and crescent roll dough. The caramel sauce on these dumplings makes this a cozy, warm treat perfect for cool days, weeknight dinners, and holidays.

Photo of easy apple dumpling recipe in a white bowl topped with vanilla ice cream. - 1

This Apple Dumplings recipe makes a warm, comforting, satisfying sweet treat that’s perfect anytime. These easy apple dumplings, introduced to me by my sister many years ago, are cool-weather favorites, both for their simple ease and rich, flavorful taste. Packed with tart apple slices, these dumplings take only minutes to prepare, and they bake into a buttery, decadent apple dessert with rich caramel sauce everyone loves.

Why You’ll Love These Apple Dumplings

Quick and Easy : Takes just minutes to prep for baking – and the sauce is simple too.
Simple Ingredients : Only 6 easy-to-find ingredients, some probably in your kitchen.
Cozy and Versatile: Great for a weeknight dinner or holiday dessert.
Rich and Delicious: Mouthwatering combination of ingredients yields a decadent bite.

Ingredients for Apple Dumplings Recipe

Be sure to see the recipe card below for the full listing of ingredients, instructions, notes, and estimated nutritional information.

Apples : Peeled and sliced Granny Smith, or substitute with firm baking apples like Braeburn, Rome, or Fuji.
Crescent Rolls : Canned crescent roll dough to wrap apple slices for dumplings.
Butter : 1 1/2 c to add richness to the caramel sauce and to prep the baking dish.
Brown Sugar : Gives a deep molasses flavor to the homemade caramel sauce.
Granulated Sugar: Used for sweetness in caramel sauce.
Lemon-Lime Soda : Use Sprite or your favorite lemon-lime soda to prevent apple slices from browning, then pour it over the dumplings.

How to Make Easy Apple Dumplings

Simple ingredients and easy preparation make this dessert a favorite.

Step by Step Instructions

Preheat oven. Prep baking dish, put on baking sheet, and set aside. Add lemon lime soda to a bowl. Peel and slice each apple into 6 equal slices, then add them to the soda bowl to prevent browning.

Wrap each apple slice in a crescent roll dough wedge. Repeat until all apple slices have been prepared, placing each into the prepared baking dish.

Apple dumplings in a white baking dish ready for caramel sauce. - 4

Once all the apple dumplings are arranged, pour the lemon-lime soda over the dumplings.

Photo of homemade caramel sauce being poured over apples wrapped in crescent roll dough in a white baking dish. - 5

Make the caramel sauce. Melt butter and sugars in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Stir until dissolved. Pour over the dumplings.

Photo of baked apple dumplings in a white baking dish on a baking dish. - 6

Bake until golden brown and done, about 40 minutes. Remove from the oven and let set for 10 minutes before serving. Spoon caramel sauce over the apple dumplings. Serve like this or top with a dollop of whipped cream or a scoop of vanilla ice cream .

Recipe Success Tips

Use Sturdy Apples: Granny Smith or another variety sturdy enough for baking, so they won’t be mushy.
Serve Warm After Baking: Serve warm right out of the oven for optimal taste and texture. However, can be stored as directed.
No Diet Soda: You need the sugar in the Sprite (or other lemon-lime soda) so don’t use sugar-free or diet soda for best results.

Photo of a spoon filled bite of apple dumpling in a white bowl of dumplings topped with vanilla ice cream and caramel sauce. - 7

Recipe Variations

Smaller Size Recipe: The recipe is written to serve 12. To reduce the recipe size to serve 6, divide the ingredients in half. Bake the recipe at 350º F for 30 minutes.
Cinnamon Spiced: Add 1/2 teaspoon of ground cinnamon to the recipe. Stir into the melted butter and sugar, then pour over the prepared dumplings and bake.
Pear Dumplings: Use sliced pears instead of apples in the recipe.
Peach Dumplings: Use sliced peaches instead.

Storage Tips

Refrigerate: Bake as directed and cool completely. Wrap tightly with plastic wrap or transfer any leftovers to an airtight container. Store in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Reheat: Delicious served cold or warm. Reheat the baking dish in a 350-degree oven until warm, or reheat the desired portion at 50% power in the microwave until heated through.

Looking for more easy dessert recipes ? I think you’ll love my Peach Cobbler , Chewy Sugar Cookies , and Monkey Bread .

No, for best results, use regular Sprite or another lemon-lime soda, as you need the sugar in it.

Use Granny Smith or another sturdy baking apple, such as Braeburn or Fuji.

Yes, you can divide this recipe in half to serve 6 instead of the 12 as in this full recipe. If you half the recipe, bake at 350º F for 30 minutes.

Here’s my sister’s Easy Apple Dumplings Recipe. I hope you love it as much as my family does.

Equipment

Vegetable Peeler
Baking Dish (9×13)
Baking Sheet

Ingredients

▢ 4 ( 668 g ) granny smith apples
▢ 3 (8-ounce) cans ( 678 g ) crescent rolls
▢ 5 ounces ( 155 g ) Lemon-Lime Soda
▢ 1 cup ( 198 g ) granulated sugar
▢ 1 cup ( 213 g ) brown sugar
▢ 1 1/2 cups ( 339 g ) butter

Instructions

Prep. Preheat oven to 375º F. Butter 9×13 baking dish and set aside. Place the baking dish on a baking sheet and set aside. Pour lemon-lime soda into a medium bowl.
Prepare the dumplings. Peel and slice each apple into six equal slices. Add apple slices to the lemon-lime soda bowl to prevent the apples’ browning. Wrap each apple slice in a wedge of crescent roll dough. Place into the prepared baking dish. Repeat until all apple slices have been prepared. Pour the lemon-lime soda over the dumplings.
Make the caramel sauce. Melt butter and sugars in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Stir until dissolved. Pour over the dumplings.
Bake and serve. Bake until golden brown and cooked through, about 40 minutes. Remove from the oven and let set for 10 minutes before serving. Spoon caramel sauce over the top of the apple dumplings.

Notes

Refrigerate: Bake as directed and cool completely. Wrap tightly with plastic wrap or transfer any leftovers to an airtight container. Store in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Reheat: Delicious served cold or warm. Reheat the baking dish in a 350-degree oven until warm, or reheat the desired portion at 50% power in the microwave until heated through.
Smaller Size Recipe: The recipe is written to serve 12. To reduce the recipe size to serve 6, divide the ingredients in half. Bake the recipe at 350º F for 30 minutes.
Cinnamon Spiced: Add 1/2 teaspoon of ground cinnamon to the recipe. Stir into the melted butter and sugars before pouring over the prepared dumplings before baking.
Pear Dumplings: Use sliced pears in place of the apples in the recipe.
Peach Dumplings: Use sliced peaches instead of apples in this easy dessert recipe.

Nutrition

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

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Enjoy! Robyn xo

Originally published in 2010.