Southern-Style Apple Dumplings

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🍏 Southern-Style Apple Dumplings

Description

Southern-style apple dumplings are a classic comfort dessert made with tender apples wrapped in buttery pastry, baked until golden, and drenched in a sweet cinnamon-sugar syrup. They are warm, cozy, and perfect with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a drizzle of cream. This old-fashioned treat balances the tartness of apples with the richness of butter and the warmth of cinnamon.

🥧 Ingredients

  • 2 large apples (Granny Smith or Honeycrisp, peeled, cored, and quartered)

  • 2 (8-oz) cans refrigerated crescent roll dough

  • 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, melted

  • 1 ½ cups granulated sugar

  • 1 tsp ground cinnamon

  • 1 tsp vanilla extract

  • 1 (12-oz) can lemon-lime soda (like Sprite or 7-Up)

  • Optional garnish: Whipped cream or vanilla ice cream

👩‍🍳 Instructions

  1. Prepare apples: Peel, core, and cut each apple into 8 wedges.

  2. Wrap apples: Unroll crescent dough. Place one apple wedge on the wide end of each crescent roll triangle, then roll it up.

  3. Arrange: Place rolled dumplings seam-side down in a buttered 9×13-inch baking dish.

  4. Make syrup: In a bowl, combine melted butter, sugar, cinnamon, and vanilla. Pour over the dumplings.

  5. Add soda: Gently pour the lemon-lime soda around (not on top of) the dumplings.

  6. Bake: Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Bake uncovered for 35–40 minutes, or until golden brown and bubbly.

  7. Serve: Spoon syrup over dumplings and serve warm with ice cream or whipped cream.

đź“ť Notes

  • Granny Smith apples work best because of their tartness, but Honeycrisp or Pink Lady also give great flavor.

  • The soda creates a caramel-like syrup, so don’t skip it.

  • The rolls may look “swimming” at first, but as they bake, they puff up and absorb the sauce.

  • This recipe is rich and sweet—perfect for sharing.

đź’ˇ Tips

  • Add a sprinkle of chopped pecans or walnuts before baking for extra crunch.

  • If you want less sweetness, reduce sugar to 1 cup.

  • For a spiced twist, add a pinch of nutmeg or allspice.

  • Reheat leftovers in the oven at 300°F for 10 minutes to keep them crisp (avoid the microwave if possible).

🍽️ Servings

  • Serves: 8 people (1 dumpling each, but many go for 2!)

  • Yield: 16 dumplings

đź“Š Nutritional Info (per dumpling, approx.)

  • Calories: 310

  • Carbohydrates: 40g

  • Sugars: 26g

  • Fat: 15g

  • Protein: 3g

  • Fiber: 1g

  • Sodium: 220mg

🌟 Benefits

  • Comfort food: Brings nostalgic Southern flavors.

  • Fruit-based dessert: Provides some fiber and vitamins from apples.

  • Crowd-pleaser: Easy to make for gatherings and holidays.

  • Flexible: Can be customized with nuts, spices, or different apples.

âť“ Q&A

Q: Can I make this ahead of time?
A: Yes, assemble the dumplings, cover, and refrigerate. Bake just before serving.

Q: What can I substitute for crescent dough?
A: Puff pastry or homemade biscuit dough also works.

Q: Can I use diet soda or sparkling water?
A: You can use diet soda, but the flavor won’t be as rich. Sparkling water won’t caramelize the same way.

Q: How do I store leftovers?
A: Store in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat in the oven for best texture.

Q: Are these overly sweet?
A: They are rich and sweet by design, but reducing the sugar and using tart apples balances the flavor.

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