Description
Pioneer Woman’s Apple Dumplings are a comforting and easy-to-make dessert, perfect for fall and holiday gatherings. This recipe combines simple ingredients like tart apples, crescent roll dough, butter, sugar, and an unexpected twist—Mountain Dew soda—to create a rich, caramelized sauce and a soft, flaky pastry. These dumplings offer a delightful contrast between the tender, cinnamon-spiced apple filling and the crisp, buttery dough, making them a family favorite for both kids and adults.
Ingredients
- 1 large apple (Fuji is used here, but any tart apple will do)
- 1 can Pillsbury Crescent dough
- 1/2 cup butter
- 2/3 cup sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
- 3/4 cup (6 oz) 7-Up or equivalent (about half a can)
Instructions
1. Preheat the Oven and Prepare the Baking Dish
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). This ensures the oven is at the right temperature when you’re ready to bake.
Grease an 8×8 inch baking dish thoroughly with butter or non-stick spray to prevent the dumplings from sticking.
2. Prepare the Apples
Peel the large apple and cut it into 8-10 wedges. For this recipe, a tart apple like Fuji is preferred for its balance of sweetness and acidity, but feel free to use your favorite variety.
Once the apple is cut into wedges, pat them dry with a paper towel. This step helps the crescent dough adhere better to the apples.
3. Wrap the Apples in Crescent Dough
Open the can of Pillsbury Crescent dough and separate it into triangles.
Starting at the wide end of the dough triangle, roll each apple wedge in the dough. Ensure that you pinch the edges to seal the dough around the apple completely.
Place the wrapped apple wedges in the prepared baking dish. Make sure they are spaced evenly to allow for even baking.
4. Prepare the Cinnamon-Sugar Mixture
In a small saucepan, melt the 1/2 cup of butter over medium heat.
Once the butter has melted, stir in the 2/3 cup of sugar and 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon. Continue to heat the mixture, whisking constantly until it thickens and combines well.
Once thickened, remove the mixture from heat and stir in the 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla extract. This step adds a depth of flavor to the sauce.
5. Assemble the Dish
Pour the thickened cinnamon-sugar mixture evenly over the apple dumplings in the baking dish. Ensure that each dumpling is well-coated with the mixture for maximum flavor.
Next, pour the 3/4 cup of 7-Up (or equivalent soda) around the edges of the baking dish. The soda helps create a bubbly, caramelized sauce that complements the dumplings perfectly.
6. Bake the Apple Dumplings
Place the baking dish in the preheated oven and bake for 40 to 45 minutes, or until the dumplings are golden brown and the sauce is bubbly.
The crescent dough should puff up and turn a beautiful golden color, while the apples inside become tender and flavorful.
7. Serve the Dumplings
Once baked, remove the dish from the oven and let it cool slightly before serving. The dumplings are best enjoyed warm, with the sauce still gooey and delicious.
Notes
- Apple Choice: For the best results, use tart apples like Granny Smith. They hold up well during baking and offer a nice contrast to the sweetness of the sugar and Mountain Dew. If you prefer a sweeter flavor, Honeycrisp or Fuji apples are excellent alternatives.
- Crescent Roll Dough: Crescent roll dough makes this recipe incredibly easy, but if you want a flakier texture, you can substitute with puff pastry or homemade pie dough.
- Mountain Dew Alternative: If you’re not a fan of using soda, lemon-lime soda or even apple cider works well as substitutes. The soda helps create the caramelized syrup around the dumplings, keeping them moist and flavorful during baking.
- Spice Variations: You can elevate the flavor by adding a pinch of nutmeg, cardamom, or allspice to the cinnamon sugar mixture for a more complex spice profile.
- Make-Ahead Tips: You can prepare the dumplings in advance and store them in the refrigerator, unbaked, for up to 24 hours. They can also be frozen for up to a month before baking.
- Serving Suggestions: Serve these dumplings warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a dollop of whipped cream. A drizzle of caramel or even a sprinkle of powdered sugar makes for a beautiful presentation.
- Storage and Reheating: Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat in the oven at 350°F for 10-15 minutes to keep the dough crispy and the filling warm.