These Easy Apple Dumplings are a comforting and delicious dessert featuring tender, spiced apple slices wrapped in a flaky pastry and baked in a sweet, buttery sauce. The pastry becomes golden brown and slightly crisp, while the apples soften and absorb the warm, cinnamon-infused sauce. This recipe simplifies the process of making apple dumplings, often using crescent roll dough for convenience. The result is a warm, gooey, and satisfying treat that’s perfect for a cozy evening or a sweet ending to any meal. The combination of the soft, spiced apples and the buttery, sweet sauce creates a truly delightful and comforting dessert.
Ingredients:
- 2-3 medium apples (such as Honeycrisp, Gala, or your favorite baking apple), peeled, cored, and sliced into wedges
- 2 (8 ounce) cans refrigerated crescent roll dough
- 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1/4 cup water
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg (optional)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract (optional)
Equipment:
- Large mixing bowl
- Knife and cutting board
- 9×13 inch baking dish
- Small saucepan
- Measuring cups and spoons
Instructions:
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Prepare Apples: Peel, core, and slice the apples into wedges. In a large mixing bowl, you can toss the apple slices with a little bit of cinnamon (about 1/4 teaspoon) if desired, for extra spice.
- Prepare Crescent Rolls: Unroll the crescent roll dough and separate it into triangles.
- Wrap the Apples: Place an apple wedge (or a few smaller slices) at the wide end of each crescent roll triangle. Roll up the dough around the apple, starting from the wide end and rolling towards the point. Pinch the seams to seal.
- Arrange in Baking Dish: Arrange the wrapped apple dumplings in a single layer in a 9×13 inch baking dish.
- Make the Sauce: In a small saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Stir in the granulated sugar, water, cinnamon, and nutmeg (if using). Bring the mixture to a simmer and cook for 1-2 minutes, stirring until the sugar is dissolved. Remove from heat and stir in the vanilla extract (if using).
- Pour Sauce Over Dumplings: Pour the warm sauce evenly over the apple dumplings in the baking dish.
- Bake the Dumplings: Bake in the preheated oven for 25-35 minutes, or until the crescent rolls are golden brown and the apples are tender. The sauce will be bubbly and caramelized.
- Cool Slightly and Serve: Let the apple dumplings cool slightly before serving. They are best served warm, spooning some of the delicious sauce over the top. You can enjoy them plain or with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a dollop of whipped cream, if desired.
Enjoy these easy and comforting Apple Dumplings!