The Pioneer Woman’s Apple Dumplings: A Scrumptious Fall Recipe

Pioneer Woman’s apple dumplings represent pure culinary nostalgia with unexpected twists.

Golden pastry wraps tender fruit in a warm, comforting embrace that whispers classic dessert traditions.

Each dumpling redefines simple ingredients into something magical through careful technique and love.

Sweet aromas fill kitchens with memories of grandmother’s baking and family gatherings.

Warm cinnamon notes dance alongside buttery layers, creating sensory experiences that transcend ordinary desserts.

Soft, flaky exteriors give way to molten centers that surprise and delight with every forkful.

Make these dumplings to transport friends and family to moments of pure sweetness.

Tips for Flaky Dough and Syrupy Perfection

• Choose Crisp Apples: Select firm, tart varieties like Granny Smith or Honeycrisp for the best texture and flavor in your dumplings.
• Seal Dough Tightly: Pinch crescent dough edges carefully to prevent apple filling from leaking during baking.
• Create Perfect Syrup: Whisk butter, sugar, and cinnamon thoroughly to ensure a smooth, even coating on the dumplings.
• Check Baking Doneness: Look for golden-brown color and puffy dough as indicators that your apple dumplings are perfectly cooked.
• Serve Immediately: Enjoy dumplings warm to experience the most delightful contrast between crispy pastry and tender, sweet apples.

How to Store Dumplings Without Losing That Tender Magic

• Refrigerate: Place leftover apple dumplings in an airtight container, separating layers with parchment paper to prevent sticking. These sweet treats will stay fresh for 3-4 days in the refrigerator.
• Microwave Reheating: Warm individual dumplings for 15-20 seconds on medium power. Avoid overheating to maintain the pastry's delicate texture and prevent soggy edges.
• Oven Restoration: Revive the crispy exterior by reheating dumplings in a preheated 350°F oven for 8-10 minutes. Covering with aluminum foil helps prevent excessive browning while ensuring the inside stays warm and delicious.

Ice Cream, Sauce & More to Serve With These Sweet Parcels

• Scoop Up Vanilla Companion: Serve these warm apple dumplings alongside a generous scoop of creamy vanilla ice cream, letting the cold sweetness contrast beautifully with the warm, gooey pastry.
• Brew a Cozy Beverage Mate: Pair with a steaming mug of hot chai tea or cinnamon-spiced coffee, which will complement the dumpling's warm spices and enhance the overall comfort food experience.
• Create a Caramel Drizzle Delight: Add a luxurious touch by drizzling rich caramel sauce over the dumplings, intensifying the apple's natural sweetness and providing an extra layer of decadent flavor.
• Sprinkle Nutty Crunch Topper: Garnish with chopped toasted pecans or walnuts to introduce a delightful textural contrast and nutty undertone that elevates the dessert's complexity.

Creative Twists for a Classic Pioneer Treat

• Caramel Apple Crunch: Drizzle rich caramel sauce over the dumplings before baking and sprinkle chopped pecans on top for extra crunch and nutty flavor.
• Spiced Autumn Blend: Add ground nutmeg and allspice to the cinnamon-sugar mixture for a deeper, warming seasonal taste profile.
• Berry Infusion: Replace 7-Up with cranberry juice and add a handful of fresh raspberries between apple wedges for a tangy, fruity variation.
• Maple Walnut Fusion: Substitute sugar with maple syrup in the butter mixture and garnish with toasted walnuts after baking for a rich, earthy finish.

Why These Apple Dumplings Are Straight-Up Cozy Comfort

• Wrap and Roll Convenience: Crescent dough makes wrapping apple wedges super quick and easy, turning a potentially complex dessert into a breeze for home cooks of all skill levels.
• Sweet Carbonated Magic: 7-Up adds unexpected depth and lightness to the recipe, creating a unique moisture and subtle effervescent flavor that elevates the traditional apple dumpling.
• Comfort Dessert Perfection: Golden-brown pastry hugging tender cinnamon-spiced apple wedges delivers a warm, nostalgic treat that feels like a hug from grandma's kitchen, perfect for cozy gatherings or weekend comfort indulgence.
• Versatile Serving Style: Enjoy these dumplings straight from the oven or topped with creamy vanilla ice cream, offering a delightful temperature and texture contrast that makes every bite exciting and customizable.

Ingredients That Wrap Apples in Buttery Sweetness

• Apple: Sweet and crisp fruit that provides the main filling for the dumplings. Choose firm, tart apples like Granny Smith for better texture and flavor.

• Crescent Dough: Pre-made, convenient pastry that wraps around apple wedges, creating a golden, flaky exterior. Look for refrigerated tube packages in the grocery store.

• Sugar, Cinnamon: Classic combination that adds warmth and sweetness to the dessert. Use granulated white sugar and ground cinnamon for traditional flavor.
• Vanilla Extract: Enhances overall dessert flavor with its rich, aromatic profile. Pure vanilla extract provides the best taste.

• Butter: Provides richness and helps create a smooth, glossy sauce. Unsalted butter allows better control of the recipes sweetness.
• 7-Up: Adds moisture and subtle sweetness during baking, creating a unique syrup-like texture. Any clear lemon-lime soda works well.

• Non-Stick Spray or Butter (for greasing): Ensures easy removal of dumplings and prevents sticking to the baking dish.

How to Make Apple Dumplings That Practically Glow

Step 1: Prepare the Oven and Baking Dish

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease an 8×8 inch baking dish with butter or non-stick spray to ensure easy removal later.

Step 2: Prepare the Apples

Peel the apple and slice it into 8-10 wedges. Use a paper towel to thoroughly dry the apple slices.

Step 3: Wrap Apples in Crescent Dough

Open the crescent dough can and separate into triangles. Carefully wrap each apple wedge in a triangle of dough, placing them snugly in the greased baking dish.

Step 4: Create the Cinnamon-Sugar Sauce

In a small saucepan, melt butter over low heat. Whisk in sugar and cinnamon until smooth. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla extract.

Step 5: Add Sauce and Soda

Drizzle the cinnamon-sugar mixture evenly over the wrapped dumplings. Pour 7-Up around the edges of the baking dish for additional flavor.

Step 6: Bake to Perfection

• Dough is golden brown
• Dough has puffed up
• Apples are tender

Step 7: Serve and Enjoy

Remove from oven and let cool slightly. Serve warm on their own or top with a scoop of vanilla ice cream for an extra indulgent treat.

Pioneer Womans Apple Dumplings Recipe

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4.7 from 18 reviews

• Total Time: 1 hour
• Yield: 8 1x

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Description

Pioneer Woman’s Apple Dumplings deliver pure comfort wrapped in golden, buttery pastry. Mountain-fresh apples nestle in flaky layers, swimming in a caramel-like sauce that promises sweet indulgence with each delectable bite.

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Ingredients

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Main Ingredients:

• 1 large Fuji apple (or another tart variety)
• 1 can of Pillsbury crescent dough

Sweeteners and Flavoring:

• ½ cup granulated sugar
• ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
• ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
• ½ cup (118 milliliters) 7-Up soda

Binding and Moisture:

• ½ cup (113 grams) melted butter

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Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and generously coat an 8×8 inch baking dish with butter or non-stick cooking spray to prevent sticking.
2. Carefully peel the apple and slice it into 8-10 uniform wedges, using a paper towel to absorb any excess moisture completely.
3. Gently unroll the crescent roll dough and separate into individual triangular sections, carefully wrapping each apple wedge with a dough triangle, ensuring complete coverage.
4. Arrange the dough-wrapped apple wedges compactly in the prepared baking dish, creating a neat arrangement.
5. In a small saucepan, melt butter over low heat, then incorporate granulated sugar and ground cinnamon, stirring until the mixture becomes smooth and well-combined.
6. Remove the butter mixture from heat and stir in vanilla extract, creating a rich, aromatic sauce.
7. Evenly drizzle the cinnamon-sugar sauce over the wrapped dumplings, ensuring each piece is generously coated.
8. Gently pour the carbonated beverage (7-Up) around the edges of the baking dish, which will create a delightful caramelized effect during baking.
9. Place the baking dish in the preheated oven and bake for 40-45 minutes, watching for a golden-brown exterior and fully puffed dough.
10. Verify doneness by checking that the apple wedges are tender when pierced with a fork.
11. Remove from the oven and allow the dumplings to cool for 5-10 minutes, which helps them set and become easier to handle.
12. Serve warm, optionally accompanied by a scoop of vanilla ice cream for an extra indulgent dessert experience.

Notes

• Sweeten your kitchen adventure with this nostalgic dessert that transforms simple ingredients into a magical treat.
• Crescent roll dough becomes a magical wrapper for tender apple wedges, creating a delightfully easy pastry.
• Cinnamon-sugar sauce provides a rich, indulgent coating that caramelizes beautifully during baking.
• Unexpected 7-Up adds a surprising fizzy touch that helps create a light, bubbling syrup around the dumplings.
• Vanilla ice cream makes the perfect creamy companion, melting softly against the warm, golden-brown pastry.

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 45 minutes
• Category: Desserts, Snacks
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 8
• Calories: 290 kcal
• Sugar: 15g
• Sodium: 380mg
• Fat: 17g
• Saturated Fat: 10g
• Unsaturated Fat: 5g
• Trans Fat: 0g
• Carbohydrates: 31g
• Fiber: <1g
• Protein: 2g
• Cholesterol: 30mg