Transform store-bought crescent rolls into a quick and easy dessert with this crowd favorite recipe for Crescent Roll Apple Dumplings.
Oh, crescent rolls, how do I love thee? Let me count the ways…
- You’re buttery.
- You’re flaky.
- You’re sweet, or savory.
- You’re carbs.
Need I say more?
My love affair with poppable cans of dough began long ago. It was my great-grandmother Momoo who first introduced me to the Pillsbury classic, as she stretched, shaped, baked and topped the dough with a rainbow of cruciferous veggies into what we now know as Veggie Bars. The recipe has withstood the test of time, and now we have a sweet take on those buttery triangles and they look a little something like this…
Like pigs in a blanket, except we’re swapping the hot dogs for tangy, juicy Granny Smith apples. And there lies the glorious versatility of a canned dough that is as equally tasty in both savory and sweet forms.
Crescent Roll Apple Dumplings, much like their culinary cousin, Veggie Bars, are a timeless delicacy. But it wasn’t until I was recently staring down an extra tube of rolls that I decided it was time to bring this recipe to the main stage.
The setup couldn’t be simpler, and the results could not be more spectacular. Doughy, fruit-filled dumplings baked to perfection in a brown sugar and apple juice caramel sauce. What’s not to love?
I’ve gone the extra (0.023 of a) mile and added some sanding sugar on top for a bit of crunch. So grab the crescent rolls and your fruit of choice (pears would be a-mazing) and don’t forget a big scoop of vanilla ice cream or a dollop of whipped cream on top!
Craving more? Subscribe to Just a Taste to get new recipes, meal plans and a newsletter delivered straight to your inbox! And stay in touch on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram for all of the latest updates.
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter
- 1 cup apple juice
- 1 cup packed light brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2 (8-oz.) cans refrigerated crescent rolls
- 2 medium Granny Smith apples, peeled and cored
- Sanding sugar, for topping (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F and grease a 9x13-inch baking pan with cooking spray.
- In a medium saucepan set over medium-high heat, combine the butter, apple juice, brown sugar and cinnamon. Cook, stirring, until the butter is melted and the mixture comes to a rolling boil. Remove the mixture from the heat and stir in the vanilla extract. Set the mixture aside.
- Tear apart the crescent rolls and arrange the triangular-shaped pieces of dough on your work surface.
- Cut each of the apples into 8 wedges. Place an apple wedge on the widest side of the triangle then roll the apple up with the dough. Arrange the dumplings in the greased pan then pour the apple juice mixture on top of and around the dumplings. Sprinkle with sanding sugar.
- Bake the dumplings for 25 to 30 minutes or until the dough is cooked through and they are golden brown. Remove the dumplings from the oven and allow them to cool for 5 to 10 minutes in the pan before serving.
Kelly's Note:
- These apple dumplings are great served straight from the pan, but for added indulgence, top them off with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or whipping cream.
- ★ Did you make this recipe? Don't forget to give it a star rating below!
Nutrition
Shoutout
Did you try this recipe?
Share it with the world! Mention @justataste or tag #justatasterecipes!
This post may contain affiliate links.
Recipe by Kelly Senyei of Just a Taste. Please do not reprint this recipe without my permission. If you'd like to feature this recipe on your site, please rewrite the method of preparation and link to this post as the original source.
Easy and delicious. Great warm with ice-cream as well as cold.
I’m so glad you enjoyed the recipe, Sheila!
These are great! Followed the recipe just as it is written. Pretty easy to make. And…….they are Yummy!
So glad you enjoyed the recipe, Dennis!
Hi! This is my first time making apple dumplings. I’ve heard about them, so I’m going to give them a try . I’ll let you know how they turn out in about an hour! Well, I tried!?
I hope you enjoy the recipe, Robert!
This is my 3rd time and I love them so easy to make
Awesome! I’m thrilled you’ve been enjoying the recipe, Sherri!
This was delicious. I made one change out of necessity… I didn’t have enough apple juice so I did half apple juice and half orange juice. Will definitely make again!!
I’m so glad you enjoyed the recipe, Kay!
easy and excellent!
I’m so thrilled you enjoyed the recipe, Louisa!
So easy my 8 year old made them, and I supervised. We made 1/2 a recipe in a 9×9. These are so good!
Love reading this, Stephanie!
The family loved these! Simple to make and delicious! Will make again.
I’m thrilled to read this, Angie!
Quick! Easy! Delicious! A big hit!
I used apple cider (in the fridge from a previous recipe).
I’m so thrilled you enjoyed the recipe, Janie!
these were so much fun to make! and soooo good to eat.
my husband ate about 5 of them! haha
but i do have a question: do you leave leftovers out? or put them in the fridge?
These are fantastic! Family loves them.
I’m so happy to read this, Janell!
Love this recipe. So easy! I didn’t have apple juice, I used Sprite.
I’m so thrilled you enjoyed the recipe, Mary!
This has become one of families favorite and with the vanilla ice cream
Woohoo! Love reading this, Angela!
I have made these 3 times now and I modify it just a bit by taking cinnamon and sugar and coat apples before rolling in dough. Everyone loves them . all occasions.
I’m so thrilled you’ve been enjoying the recipe, Audrey!
easy peasy and delicious
Made it as u said only I used half of the recipe and I had no apple juice so I used a Sprite. Baaaaaabyyy. That’s some good stuff! I got another notch on belt with the kids . They thinks I am Master Chef! Thanks Chica!
I’m so thrilled you enjoyed the recipe!
My neighbor made the apple turn over and it blew me away, I Love it ! Thank you for giving us this recipe.
I’m so thrilled you enjoyed it, Shirley!
I just made these! Whow! fantastic. Thank you, so much Kelly. :) It is a keeper. :)
Woohoo! I’m so thrilled you enjoyed the recipe, Elizabeth!
I made it with a can of 8 lg butter biscuits flattened to saucer size, and quartered the apples. Directly on the apples lying in center of biscuit I put a pat of butter and a Tbs of br. sugar, cinnamon mix, then folded the biscuit around the apple. The rest I followed the directions and it’s amazingly delicious. My husband rated it A++. That’s high honors. This is a quick simple recipe, but looks and taste like you spent hours on it. This definitely will be my go to dessert for something special, or everyday for us. Thanks so much…..
Woohoo! I’m so thrilled you and your husband enjoyed the recipe, Jean!
These are AWESOME and my family loves these
I’m so thrilled to read this, Pamela!
Cut the recipe in half and made 8. Only took 22 minutes till they were golden brown. Just used 1 apple. They are delicious and should re-heat easily.
I’m thrilled you enjoyed the recipe, Kim!
I just made these and while the flavor was fantastic, the bottoms are still quite doughy even though the tops are well-browned. Should the butter/sugar mixture thicken before pouring over?
I suspected that this might happen as there was a lot of liquid in the glass baking dish.
Hi Lisa! Yes, it should thicken slightly and be more syrupy in consistency.
Love them so easy to make everyone loves them!!
I’m thrilled you enjoyed the recipe, Gloria!
My family can’t get enough of this dessert❤️❤️❤️
I’m thrilled to hear this, Tabathia!
Can I make these the night before I plan to cook them?
Hi Jean – I wouldn’t recommend that, as the pastry will get soggy!
is there any substitute for apple juice or should i go out and get some
Hi Andrea! You could substitute the apple juice for another juice, such as pear or white grape juice, but the flavor won’t be the same.
Delicious. It’s my husband’s new favorite dessert.
Woohoo! Love hearing this, Kathleen!
I made 1/2 the recipe… yields 8 dumplings. So easy, so delish, impossible to resist.
I’m thrilled you enjoyed the recipe, Jo!
Easy, Delicious, and a family pleaser!
Woohoo! I’m so thrilled to hear this, Kathleen!
quick ,simply delicious.Everyone loves them
So glad to hear this, Cathy!
I used OJ/Pineapple Juice and it was a huge hit!!!! Made me very popular!
Love hearing this, Kathee! So glad you enjoyed the recipe!
Easy fast go to dessert! Love it!
Thanks, Donna!
Can you freeze them?
I wouldn’t recommend that, as the pastry will get soggy!
Ahh, the joys of simplicity! Yes, I made them…. they are absolutely scrumptious! Exclamation points abound, when describing this recipe! ! ! !
Woohoo! This is what I love to hear, Lizzy! I’m thrilled you enjoyed the recipe :)
This looks brilliant. Great idea to just wrap the apples like this :) 5 stars! Check some of ours out. Maybe you find something you like.
Thank you so much!
As we can’t buy this pastry in a tin, can you tell me if it’s puff pastry, or what kind it is please
Hi Terry! Crescent rolls are like dinner rolls and the dough comes in a tube-like container. It’s not as light as puff pastry but still has a very buttery flavor. Hope this helps!
How much water needs to be added because I didn’t see it listed in the ingredients? Thanks and they look so delicious.
No water needed! Apologies, that ingredient listed in the instructions was a typo :)
Would love to do apple crescents but we don’t get the canned dough mixed in Australia ,it’s a pity cause I see lots of recipes I’d love to try
I’m so sorry you don’t get the crescent rolls there, Annette! Maybe there’s a similar alternative?