These Mountain Dew Apple Dumplings feature granny smith apples wrapped in crescent roll dough and baked in a sweet, buttery, and citrusy sauce made with cinnamon and Mountain Dew soda.
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The crescent rolls make this a seriously easy recipe. Just wrap the apple slices in the dough, place them in a baking dish, pour the Mountain Dew sauce over them, and bake. The result is a gooey, comforting treat that’s perfect for any occasion.
Love vintage recipes? Then you’ll definitely enjoy this old fashioned coca cola cake or these vintage molasses cookies. They all have that classic, timeless appeal that’s seriously delicious and comforting, just like these apple dumplings.
This is a classic potluck recipe that I enjoyed at church potlucks when I was young. I shared this recipe originally a decade ago and am updating it to share better instructions and pictures to help you be successful with this delicious recipe!
Why I Love This Recipe
- Quick and Easy: This recipe is a time-saver. By using crescent rolls, it cuts down on prep time, making it the perfect dessert for when you’re short on time.
- Flavor Combo: The combination of the tart Granny Smith apples, sweet sugar, and the unexpected kick from the Mountain Dew is downright delicious!
- Beginner-Friendly: If you’re new to baking, this recipe is a great place to start. It’s super simple, with just a few steps, and the result is an impressive dessert.
- Comfort Food: There’s nothing quite like a warm, gooey apple dessert to make you feel all cozy inside. This recipe is the ultimate comfort food, especially when served with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
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Key Ingredients
- Granny Smith Apples: These tart apples are perfect for baking, as they hold their shape well and add a nice contrast to the sweet ingredients.
- Crescent Rolls: They make this recipe super easy since you don’t have to make the dough from scratch!
- Butter: This is going to make the crescent rolls crispy and golden, and add a rich, buttery flavor to the dish.
- Granulated Sugar: We’ll use this to sweeten the recipe, and it will also caramelize in the oven, giving the dumplings a beautiful, sweet glaze.
- Vanilla Extract: This will add a warm, sweet flavor to the dish, complement the apples, and enhance the overall sweetness.
- Ground Cinnamon: This spice will add a subtle warmth and depth to the dish, and it pairs perfectly with the apples and the sugar.
- Mountain Dew Soda: Surprisingly, this will add a citrusy sweetness to the dish and help to caramelize the dumplings.
Equipment
- 9×13 Pan – You’ll need this to place the wrapped apple slices in before pouring over the butter, sugar, and vanilla mixture and the Mountain Dew soda. This is also where you’ll bake the dumplings in the oven.
- Knife – This is for peeling, corning, and slicing the Granny Smith apples.
- Large Bowl – You’ll use this to melt the butter, mix it with sugar and vanilla, and then pour over the apple dumplings.
How to Make Mountain Dew Apple Dumplings
Preparation
Begin by preheating your oven to 350°F. Take a 9×13 inch baking pan and grease it.
Step 1 – Prepare the Apple Dumplings
To start, peel and core the Granny Smith apples and cut them into slices. Then, roll each slice of apple into a crescent roll. Place the wrapped slices in the greased baking pan.
Step 2 – Make the Butter Mixture
In a saucepan, melt some butter. Then, add sugar and stir until it’s well combined. Finally, add a splash of vanilla to the butter mixture.
Step 3 – Assemble the Dumplings and Add the Syrup
Pour the butter, sugar, and vanilla mixture over the apple dumplings in the baking pan. Then, pour the Mountain Dew around the edges of the pan. The soda will form a syrup with the butter and sugar.
Step 4 – Bake the Dumplings
Place the baking pan in the preheated oven and bake for 30 minutes. The apple dumplings will be golden and the syrup will be bubbling when they are ready.
Step 5 – Finish the Dumplings
Once baked, remove the pan from the oven and sprinkle the apple dumplings with cinnamon. Your Mountain Dew apple dumplings are ready to serve.
Expert Tip
To ensure your Mountain Dew apple dumplings have a deliciously crisp and golden crust, make sure to pour the soda around the edges of the pan rather than over the dumplings. This allows the crescent rolls to bake up beautifully while still getting that distinctive Mountain Dew flavor.
How To Make Mountain Dew Apple Dumplings Video
Recipe Variations
- Different Apples: Try this recipe with a different type of apple. While Granny Smith is a popular choice for its tartness, you can also use a sweeter apple like Honeycrisp if you prefer.
- Less Sugar: If you’re concerned about the sweetness, you can reduce the amount of sugar in the recipe. Keep in mind that this will also affect the overall flavor, so it’s a good idea to do a small test batch first.
- More Cinnamon: If you’re a fan of cinnamon, feel free to add more to the recipe. You can also sprinkle extra cinnamon on top of the apple dumplings before baking for a more pronounced flavor.
What to Serve With
- For a classic dessert, serve your Mountain Dew Apple Dumplings warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. The creamy, cool ice cream is the perfect contrast to the warm, gooey dumplings.
- If you’re a fan of caramel, drizzle some over your apple dumplings before serving. The caramel’s sweet, buttery flavor compliments the tartness of the apples beautifully.
- If you’re hosting a brunch, these dumplings make a unique and delicious addition to the spread. Serve them with a side of crispy bacon and some fluffy scrambled eggs. The savory elements of the bacon and eggs balance out the sweetness of the dumplings, making for a well-rounded meal.
Recipe FAQs
It is recommended to use Granny Smith apples for this recipe. Their tartness and firm texture hold up well during the baking process and provide a nice contrast to the sweet and buttery sauce.
Mountain Dew is used to add a citrusy and slightly tangy flavor to the dish. As the dumplings bake, the soda also helps to caramelize the outer layer, giving it a golden brown color and a hint of sweetness.
While the recipe calls for Mountain Dew, some variations use other sodas like 7-Up or even a ginger ale. Feel free to experiment, but keep in mind that the flavor and sweetness of the dish may be different.
Storing and Reheating
- Storing: After you’ve enjoyed these delicious Mountain Dew Apple Dumplings, you can store any leftovers in the refrigerator. They will keep well for up to 3 days.
- Freezing: If you’d like to make these ahead of time, you can freeze the unbaked dumplings. Once assembled in the baking dish, cover it tightly with plastic wrap and foil. The dumplings can be frozen for up to 1 month.
- Thawing: When you’re ready to bake, remove the dish from the freezer and let it thaw in the refrigerator for about 24 hours.
More Apple Dessert Recipes You’ll Enjoy
Serving Size
- What to Expect: This Mountain Dew Apple Dumplings recipe yields 8 servings.
- How to Scale: If you’re looking to serve a larger crowd or just want to have more apple dumplings on hand, you can easily double the recipe. You can follow the instructions as directed, but you’ll need to use a larger baking dish to accommodate the increased quantity.
Mountain Dew Apple Dumplings
Video
Ingredients
- 2 granny smith apples
- 16 oz crescent rolls
- 16 Tablespoons butter melted
- 1 1/2 Cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 12 oz Mountain Dew soda
- 1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350˚ F. Grease a 9×13 pan and peel and core the apples.
- Cut each apple into 8 slices each. Roll each slice of apple into a crescent roll. Place apples that are wrapped into a greased 9×13 pan.
- Melt the butter. Add the sugar and stir. Add vanilla to the butter mixture.
- Pour the butter/sugar/vanilla mixture over the apple dumplings. Pour the Mountain Dew around the edges of the pan.
- Bake at 350˚ F for 30 minutes. Remove from oven and sprinkle with cinnamon. Let cool 15-20 minutes before serving.
Can I make the dumplings the day before and then just warm them up
The dumplings are best and crisp right out of the oven and fresh.
Perfect Fall breakfast sweet or dessert, family loved it
Learned this recipe years ago in South Arkansas. But the recipe is slightly different. It is better with the cinnamon mixed in with the sugar and butter. Then it bakes into the Cresent rolls and apples. The key to these is not washing the sugar off of the dumplings when pouring the Mt Dew in the pan. Only pour around the edges and down the middle of the pan. Don’t pour directly on the dumplings. Use a little bit of the Mt Dew to wash the bowl out that you mixed the butter and sugar in.
Took them to a family function and there are never any left over. Now they are a staple of every get together. If you don’t get any on the first round, you’re not getting any. Perfect with a scoop of vanilla Ice Cream. Now my nieces work together to make them at every holiday. If you want to bring something that is a hit and everyone will rave over, this is the dish.
Cooking time can be a trick depending on your oven. Minimum 45 minutes @ 350*. Sometimes if your oven is off, you need to raise it to 425 degrees. The longer you cook them, up to 50 minutes, the thicker the sugar/Mt Dew mix becomes. It becomes a thick syrup if done right. If you want any for later, back 2 batches. One for yourself and one to take to the party.
Thanks for all the information! I also love it with a big scoop of vanilla ice cream. 🙂
Should I use a baking pan or a glass pan?
Lynette, can you half the recipe?
should I pour out the pop that is left in pan after cooking?
& remove dumplings from pan so don’t get mushy??
The sugary mixture will solidify, so there is no need to remove the apple dumplings from the pan. They are best served right away, but you can reheat and have the same great flavor. As for the remaining pop – you can drink it – but you won’t need it for the recipe.
I made this and it was wonderful!
I used diet ginger ale instead .
I added a tsp of cream cheese to the apple slice before wrapping in dough.
Love this recipe!!! Was wondering about being able to freeze it? And if so what should I do? I know some recipes say freeze then cook and some say cook then freeze and warm. Waining for your answer. Thanks!!
A great recipe I can’t wait to try out. I love apples and cinnamon, and especially dumplings!
I came up with a related recipe for Apple Dumplings in a cinnamon sauce. While different from your own, I think mine is a unique take on the dish. I’m new to the Food Blog scene and would love some feedback from a pro like you. Check out my recipe if have time.
http://persnicketypanhandler.blogspot.com/2013/10/apple-dumpling-with-cinnamon-sauce.html
Can you half this recipe?