Baked Apple Dumplings with Cinnamon Butter Sauce
Tender Granny Smith apples wrapped in buttery crescent roll dough and baked until golden, then drizzled with a warm cinnamon-sugar butter sauce. These individual dumplings are simple to assemble and perfect for weeknight desserts or casual gatherings. The contrast between the soft fruit, flaky pastry, and sweet sauce makes them crowd-pleasing without requiring advanced baking skills.
Ingredients
Instructions
- 1
Preheat oven to 350F.
- 2
Core and peel apples, then slice each into 8 wedges.
- 3
Wrap each apple wedge in a crescent roll triangle, starting at the pointed end and rolling toward the flat end. Pinch sides to loosely seal.
- 4
Arrange wrapped apples in a 9-by-13-inch baking dish sprayed with cooking spray.
- 5
Melt butter in a medium pot over medium heat.
- 6
Stir in sugar and cinnamon, then cook on low for 5 minutes until sugar dissolves.
- 7
Pour butter mixture over wrapped apples.
- 8
Bake for 30 minutes until golden.
- 9
Serve warm.
Tips
Keep apple pieces uniform in size so they bake evenly. Slightly underripe apples hold their shape better than very soft ones.
Pinch the dough loosely to prevent bursting; the apples release liquid as they cook and need room to expand.
Good to Know
Cover and refrigerate up to 3 days. Reheat gently in a 300F oven for 10-15 minutes.
Wrap apples in crescent rolls up to 4 hours ahead. Cover and chill until ready to bake. Do not bake ahead; serve warm.
Serve warm, optionally with vanilla ice cream, whipped cream, or a drizzle of caramel sauce.
Common Mistakes
Do not seal dough tightly to avoid splitting when apples release liquid during baking.
Do not skip stirring the butter mixture to ensure sugar fully dissolves and prevents crystallization.
Substitutions
Dairy-Free Swaps
Vegan Options
General Alternatives
FAQ
Can I make these ahead and freeze them?
Yes. Wrap unbaked dumplings individually in plastic wrap and freeze up to 1 month. Bake directly from frozen, adding 10-15 minutes to baking time. Do not thaw first.
What if my apples are very large?
Slice into 6 wedges per apple instead of 8, or use smaller apples. Ensure each piece is wrapped fully in dough for even cooking.
How long do baked dumplings keep?
Store covered in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat uncovered at 300F for 10-15 minutes until warm. Do not reheat in the microwave as dough becomes tough.