My kids love apples, but to be honest, they don’t always eat them.  They go through spurts actually.  One week, they will eat every apple in the house and still ask for more.  The next week, not an apple goes missing, and I find myself looking for some way to use them before they go bad.  Thankfully, apples offer endless recipe options, don’t they?

This just happens to be one of our favorites.

My family loves these apple dumplings because they are delicious.  I love them because they are easy.

But they don’t taste like it.

Isn’t that the best kind of recipe?  People always rave about them and think you tried so much harder than you actually did.  I am all about almost effortless baking.

The thing that makes these apple dumplings so easy is the use of canned crescent rolls.  What makes them delicious is everything else:  butter, sugar, brown sugar, cinnamon and a bit of 7-Up.    Oh, and apples, but I figured you knew that.

About the Apples

If I am planning to make these dumplings and go to the store with that in mind, I will purchase Granny Smith Apples.  The tartness of Granny Smith Apples pairs perfectly with the sweetness in this recipe.  However, usually I just use whatever apples my kids have not eaten.  Really.  You do not have to be picky here.

To prepare your apples, just peel them and slice them.  You can use a handy-dandy apple slicer if you have one, but I usually just cut each apple into 8 pieces (smaller than the pieces above – I should have cut each of them in half.  Cutting your apples too large will increase the length of time you need to bake them.)  After you cut the apples, wrap the pieces in the crescent rolls.

About the Butter

You can use either salted or unsalted.  I have used both and never really noticed a difference.  This recipe is meant to be easy, and to me, easy is the ability to use what I have on hand.  Just melt a stick and a half of butter (or 3/4 cup).

About the Sugar

Generally, I used 1 cup of white sugar and 1/2 cup of brown sugar, but you can use any combination.  I have made these dumplings with all white sugar, all brown sugar and half of each.  I like to use more brown sugar (the original recipe I used for these only called for 1 teaspoon of brown sugar for 1 cup of white sugar).  In my opinion, the brown sugar develops a deeper caramel flavor as it bakes.

Just add the sugars to the melted butter with 1 tablespoon of cinnamon then pour that mixture over the dumplings.

About the 7-Up

I use 1 1/2 cups of 7-Up, but Sprite or Mountain Dew will also work.  Really, you can use any lemon-lime flavored soft drink you like.  1 1/2 cups is also about the same as using 1 can of soda.  Just pour it over the apple dumpling bundles and sugar mixture.

Don’t you just love our beautiful fake wood countertops?  One day (when it happens), I will blog about our kitchen renovation.  One day….

Now, you will have what seems like a lot of liquid, but let me tell you:  that liquid is going to become a gooey, caramel-like sauce you will love.  Trust me.

Cover your dish and bake at 350 for 15 minutes.  After 15 minutes, remove the covering and bake for another 15 minutes or until golden brown.  (You might do a little test to be sure the apples are done.  If not, just bake a bit longer.)

Now, just serve as is or top with whipped cream or ice cream.  That yummy sauce I mentioned is perfect for ice cream, but these are so good you won’t miss it if you don’t have it!

My kids love these and think they taste like cinnamon rolls with apples.  They have been known to ask to eat leftovers for breakfast.  These apple dumplings are perfect for brunch if you need a tasty dish to take somewhere.  I also love to add these as a dessert if I deliver dinner to friends for various reasons (new babies, hospital stays, etc.)  And your next church pot-luck dinner?  Done and done.

Do you see that yummy sauce?  Look a bit more closely.  Just try not to lick the serving spoon before you wash it.  I dare you.