Apple Dumplings with Crescent Rolls are an uncomplicated dessert that you can make in the air fryer or the oven! The dough gets golden and flaky while the apples are tender and caramelized. I’m getting hungry just thinking about the warm dumplings drizzled with caramel sauce!
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I like that these crescent roll apple dumplings are easy to make. They take just a few minutes to prepare and then a few more to cook. I love recipes that take simple ingredients like apple slices and store-bought crescent dough to create a show-stopping treat.
If you like easy apple recipes, you will love this apple French toast casserole and apple tarts using puff pastry.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- It’s great for breakfast or dessert: I love to enjoy these crescent roll dumplings as a dessert with a scoop of ice cream or breakfast with a hot beverage. It works great in either situation!
- It’s easy to make: The store-bought crescent dough takes a lot of steps out of the recipe, but it still turns out super flaky and delicious. I love simple treats with shortcuts like this.
- It’s inexpensive: If you want to enjoy a homemade sweet dessert, you can still do it on a budget! The ingredients used here are low-cost.
Ingredients
All you need is 5 ingredients plus the optional caramel sauce for serving. It’s not complicated at all to make this easy apple dumpling recipe with crescent rolls.
- Apples: I recommend a firm apple that will stand up well to being cooked. Cortland and Honey Crisp are great options, but Granny Smith is my favorite. It has a tart flavor that pairs well with the other sweet ingredients used.
- Crescent rolls: Any brand of crescent roll dough will work fine in this recipe. I typically go for classic Pillsbury because they’re perfectly buttery and become a nice golden brown.
- Butter: I brush the apple dumplings with melted butter to help them brown nicely in the air fryer. You may use salted or unsalted butter. I find that it doesn’t affect the flavor much.
- Sugar: I use white granulated sugar because it adds a slight crunchiness to the topping as it cooks. It works well with the cinnamon, too.
- Cinnamon: Ground cinnamon and apples are one of my favorite combinations. The flavor reminds me of apple pie.
- Caramel sauce: This is optional, but a drizzle of caramel sauce on top of the finished air fryer apple dumplings is life-changing!
See the recipe card below for exact ingredient amounts, nutritional information, and detailed instructions.
Variations
- Peaches: Use peach slices for a sweet southern version of this recipe.
- Pears: Try pears for a slightly different flavor and texture.
- Add warm spices: Include spices like nutmeg, cardamom, and cloves for more warm flavors like cinnamon.
How to Make Crescent Roll Apple Dumplings
Here are the instructions on how to make apple dumplings using crescent rolls. Prepare the cinnamon sugar mixture and line the air fryer basket with a parchment liner or spray it with nonstick cooking spray.
Step 1: Prepare the crescent dough. Roll out the crescent dough on a clean, flat surface. Then, separate the triangles.
Step 2: Cut and wrap apple slices. Cut each apple into 8 even slices and remove the core. Next, wrap each slice with a triangle of crescent roll dough.
Step 3: Add butter and cinnamon sugar. Lay them in the air fryer basket and sprinkle the cinnamon sugar on top. Melt the butter in the microwave and brush the apples with it as well.
Step 4: Air fry. Cook the dumplings in the air fryer for about 6 minutes at 320 degrees F.
Step 5: Arrange on a platter. Carefully remove them from the air fryer basket and place them on a serving platter to cool.
Recipe Tips
- Use puff pastry: You may prepare this recipe using puff pastry if you don’t have crescent rolls. You’ll just need to slice it into triangles yourself.
- Don’t microwave the leftovers: Putting these easy apple crescent rolls in the microwave makes the apples mushy and the dough gummy. I highly recommend avoiding it!
- Slice the apples evenly: Ensure the apples are sliced into the same size pieces so they cook evenly. If you have slices that greatly vary in size, you’ll have overcooked and undercooked apples.
If you love recipes like this air fryer apple treat, you may also enjoy this apple crisp in the air fryer.
Storage Directions
- Storing: Place any extra apple dumplings made with crescent rolls into an airtight container and store them in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. You may freeze them for up to 3 months.
- Reheating: These are best reheated in a 300-degree air fryer for 3-5 minutes or a 350-degree oven for 5-7 minutes.
- Make Ahead: Slice the apples and roll them in the crescent dough a couple of hours before you plan to cook them. Not any longer because the apples will start to brown.
Serving Suggestions
- Instead of vanilla ice cream, try a scoop of homemade banana ice cream or no churn rhubarb ice cream.
- Drizzle these air fryer apple pie crescent rolls with blueberry simple syrup instead of caramel.
- Make a tasty breakfast of bacon, egg, and cheese breakfast croissant sandwiches or pancake battered sausage to serve with these apple dumplings.
Recipe FAQs
Of course! I leave the skin on for texture, but you may peel the apples if you prefer!
Yes! Bake them on a baking sheet at 350 degrees for 10-15 minutes or until golden brown.
Sure! Wrap the apple slices with the crescent roll dough and store them in a container in the freezer for up to 4 months. Cook them straight from frozen, just add 5-7 minutes to their cooking time.
As a time saver, you may make this recipe with crescent rolls and apple pie filling. I wouldn’t add extra cinnamon and sugar to them.
More Delicious Air Fryer Dessert Recipes
Do you like desserts in the air fryer? Here are some recipes you may also like to try.
If you try this recipe and love it please leave a star rating in the recipe card below or even better, drop a review in the comment section, I always appreciate your feedback. Be sure to follow along with me on Facebook, Pinterest, and YouTube for more easy recipes!
Apple Dumplings with Crescent Rolls
Equipment
- Air fryer liner
Ingredients
Instructions
- Roll out your crescents and separate the dough into 8 triangles
- Wash apple of choice and decide whether or not you prefer to make dumplings with the peel on or off. If you want to make your dumplings without the peel, peel your apple now.
- Core and cut apple into 8 even slices then cut each slice into two even slices you should have 16 slices total, 2 slices per dumpling.
- Place 2 apple slices in each triangle and roll up. Mix together the sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl.
- Sprinkle each wrapped apple with just a bit of the cinnamon sugar.
Air Fryer
- Line or spray the air fryer basket. I like to use parchment papers they sell for the air fryer.
- Place however many will fit in your size air fryer making sure they do not touch.
- Melt your butter. I usually just microwave it. Brush each one with the butter.
- Bake in the air fryer at 320 for about 6 minutes. Each air fryer is different so you might want to start checking at 5 minutes and cook for longer if need be.
- Remove from air fryer. Serve and enjoy.
Oven Method
- Lay on a parchment lined baking tray. Bake in a preheated 350° F oven for 8-12 minutes or until golden brown. Serve and enjoy!
Notes
- Store leftover apple dumplings with crescent rolls in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
- Reheat them in the oven or air fryer instead of the microwave, or they will become mushy.
- Try this recipe with apple pie filling as a shortcut to save time on prep!
Nutrition
This post was originally published in June 2021. It's been updated with new images and content.
Sheila says
These are the bomb! They taste like mama used to make! I dont bake and these were easy to make. Thanks for the recipe!
Karin and Ken says
I love how easy they are to make too! All the best. Karin