5 Ingredient Apple Dumplings
Golden, buttery, and bubbling with sweet apple filling, 5 Ingredient Apple Dumplings are the kind of dessert that feels both nostalgic and irresistible.
With just a handful of simple pantry staples, this recipe transforms into a dish that looks and tastes like it took hours. The crescent roll dough bakes up flaky and golden, wrapping around tender spiced apples, while a caramel-like sauce forms as butter, brown sugar, and lemon-lime soda meld together in the oven.
Served warm—especially with a scoop of vanilla ice cream—these dumplings deliver comfort, indulgence, and a touch of Southern charm in every bite.
Why People Will Love 5 Ingredient Apple Dumplings:
Simplicity with Impact – Only five everyday ingredients come together to create a dessert that feels homemade and impressive, without requiring advanced baking skills.
Flaky Meets Gooey – The crisp, golden layers of crescent roll dough contrast beautifully with the warm, spiced apple filling, delivering texture in every bite.
Irresistible Sauce – The buttery brown sugar mixture combines with lemon-lime soda to form a caramel-like sauce that soaks into the dumplings as they bake, making them rich and decadent.
Nostalgic Comfort – The flavors of baked apples, cinnamon sweetness, and buttery pastry echo classic homemade desserts that remind many of family gatherings and holidays.
Perfect for Sharing – Easy to bake in a large pan, this recipe is ideal for potlucks, family dinners, or holiday tables where a crowd-pleasing dessert is needed.
Key Ingredient:
Crescent Roll Dough – Provides the golden, flaky pastry shell that turns simple dumplings into handheld pockets of comfort, crisp on the outside yet tender inside.
Apple Pie Filling – The heart of the dessert, offering warm, spiced sweetness that pairs perfectly with the buttery crust and caramel-like sauce.
Unsalted Butter – Melts into richness, blending with sugar and soda to form a luscious sauce that coats and soaks the dumplings.
Brown Sugar – Deepens the sweetness with molasses notes, caramelizing in the oven to create layers of flavor beyond simple white sugar.
Lemon-Lime Soda – The secret ingredient, adding moisture, effervescence, and a subtle tang that keeps the dumplings light while helping form the bubbling sauce.
Expert Tips:
Seal the Dumplings Well – Pinch the crescent roll edges tightly around the apple filling to prevent leaks. A well-sealed dumpling keeps the filling moist and creates a better contrast between the crisp crust and gooey center.
Layer the Sauce Evenly – When pouring the butter-brown sugar mixture over the dumplings, make sure each one is coated. This ensures even caramelization and prevents dry spots.
Pour Soda Around, Not Over – Adding the lemon-lime soda to the edges of the pan (instead of directly on the dumplings) allows the sauce to bubble up from below, keeping the pastry flaky while still soaking the bottoms in caramel-like syrup.
Don’t Overbake – Watch closely toward the end of baking. The dumplings should be golden brown with bubbling sauce, but overbaking can dry out the dough and thicken the sauce too much.
Elevate with a Finish – For a bakery-style touch, dust the dumplings with cinnamon sugar right out of the oven or serve them with a scoop of vanilla ice cream for a perfect hot-and-cold contrast.
5 Ingredient Apple Dumplings
Ingredients
2 cans (8 oz each) refrigerated crescent roll dough – forms the flaky, golden pastry wrapping for the dumplings
1 can (20 oz) apple pie filling – provides the sweet, spiced fruit center
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter – melted to create the rich caramel-like sauce
1 cup brown sugar – adds sweetness and depth to the buttery sauce
1 can (12 oz) lemon-lime soda – poured around the dumplings for extra moisture, lightness, and a bubbly finish
Instructions
Preheat the Oven
Set the oven to 350°F (175°C). Lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish and set aside.
Prepare the Dough
Unroll the crescent roll dough and separate it into individual triangles.
Fill and Roll
Spoon a small amount of apple pie filling onto the wide end of each triangle. Roll the dough around the filling, tucking in the edges to seal. Arrange the dumplings in the prepared baking dish.
Make the Sauce
In a small saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Stir in the brown sugar and whisk until smooth and fully combined.
Assemble
Pour the butter-sugar sauce evenly over the dumplings. Then, carefully pour the lemon-lime soda around the edges of the pan (not directly on top of the dumplings).
Bake
Place the dish in the oven and bake for 35–40 minutes, or until the dumplings are golden brown and the sauce is bubbly.
Serve and Enjoy
Let cool slightly before serving. Enjoy warm on their own or with a scoop of vanilla ice cream for an extra treat.
Important Notes When Making 5 Ingredient Apple Dumplings:
Best Served Fresh – These dumplings are at their peak right out of the oven, when the pastry is crisp, the filling is hot, and the sauce is bubbling. As they cool, the crust softens from the syrup.
Storage Consideration – Leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days, but expect the texture to change. The rolls will absorb more sauce, becoming softer and more pudding-like.
Reheating Tip – To restore some crispness, reheat in the oven at 325°F (160°C) instead of the microwave. Cover with foil to prevent burning while the inside warms through.
Filling Flexibility – While apple pie filling is traditional, you can swap with peach, cherry, or mixed berry filling for variety. Each brings its own character to the dumplings.
Sauce Sweetness – The butter, sugar, and soda make a very sweet sauce. If you prefer less sweetness, reduce the brown sugar slightly or use a diet lemon-lime soda to tone it down without losing the bubbling effect.
Nutrition Information:
For 5 Ingredient Apple Dumplings (per serving, based on 16 dumplings from the recipe):
Calories: 285 kcal | Total Fat: 14 g | Saturated Fat: 8 g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4 g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1 g | Cholesterol: 35 mg | Sodium: 270 mg | Total Carbohydrates: 38 g | Dietary Fiber: 1 g | Sugars: 22 g | Protein: 3 g
Frequently Asked Questions:
Can I use homemade apple filling instead of canned?
Yes. Homemade apple filling with fresh apples, cinnamon, and sugar works beautifully. Just make sure the apples are pre-cooked or softened so they bake evenly inside the crescent dough.
Why do we add lemon-lime soda to the pan?
The soda creates steam and moisture while baking, helping the dumplings stay tender. It also combines with the butter and sugar to form a bubbly, caramel-like sauce that coats the dumplings.
Can I prepare these dumplings ahead of time?
It’s best to bake them fresh, but you can assemble the dumplings (without the sauce or soda) a few hours in advance and refrigerate. When ready to bake, add the sauce and soda, then bake as directed.
How do I know when the dumplings are done?
They should be golden brown on top with bubbling sauce around the edges. The dough should no longer look raw, and the bottoms will be slightly caramelized. This usually takes 35–40 minutes.
Can I make this recipe less sweet?
Yes. Reduce the brown sugar by ¼ cup, or use a diet lemon-lime soda instead of regular. The dumplings will still be caramelized and delicious, just with a lighter sweetness.
How tightly should I roll the crescent dough around the filling?
Roll firmly enough to seal the apple filling inside but not so tight that the dough stretches too thin. Pinching the edges closed prevents leaks and keeps the dumpling shape intact while baking.
Should the butter-sugar sauce be cooked fully before pouring over the dumplings?
No. The butter just needs to melt, and the sugar needs to dissolve. The real caramelization happens in the oven as the sauce bubbles with the soda, coating the dumplings.
Why do I pour the soda around the dumplings instead of on top?
Pouring around the edges allows the sauce to bubble up from below, keeping the tops crisp and golden while still letting the bottoms soak in the syrup.
Can I bake these in a glass dish instead of metal?
Yes, but note that glass holds heat differently and may require a few extra minutes of baking time. Keep an eye on the color and bubbling sauce to judge doneness.
How can I prevent the bottoms from becoming too soggy?
Use the recommended amount of soda and don’t overpour. For crisper bottoms, reduce the soda slightly or bake on the lower-middle oven rack for more even caramelization.