These Apple Dumplings with Mountain Dew may sound unusual at first, but one bite and you’ll see why they’ve become a favorite around here. Warm, buttery, spiced, and bubbling with sweet apple flavor, this is the kind of recipe that disappears quickly, especially when you serve it with a scoop of vanilla ice cream on the side.
I remember the first time someone mentioned pouring Mountain Dew into a pan of apple dumplings. I blinked a couple of times, tilted my head, and said, “You did what, now?” But then I tasted it. And I have been making this quirky recipe ever since.
It feels a little bit like some kind of kitchen magic. The soda blends with the butter and sugar to make a sticky, golden syrup that soaks into the crescent rolls, and the whole dessert tastes like it cooked all afternoon. It’s the kind of homespun dessert you’ll find at church potlucks and family reunions. You know, those recipes that use basic ingredients to make something that tastes anything but homespun.
I love cooking these on days when I want to make something sweet without spending all day in the kitchen. Every cook needs a few recipes that come together quickly but taste like you fussed. Right?
Recipe Snapshot
Cuisine: American
Cooking Method: Oven
Total Time: 50 Minutes
Servings: 8
Primary Ingredient(s): Apples, crescent roll dough, butter, sugar, Mountain Dew soda, cinnamon
Skill Level: Easy
What You’ll Like About This Recipe
- This recipe prep work only takes about 15 minutes, making it great for busy days or a last-minute dessert.
- The ingredients are simple and easy to find. You may have most of them in your pantry right now.
- The texture is an interesting balance of flaky crescent dough, tender apples, and a buttery, syrupy sauce.
Ingredient Notes
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- Apples — You’ll want cooking apples for this recipe. In other words, an apple that will hold its shape but still become tender during cooking. Red Delicious and Granny Smith are both good choices, as are Fuji and Honeycrisp.
- Crescent Roll Dough — What would Southern cooks do without refrigerated crescent rolls? You give me a can of crescent rolls and I’ll make a party! I always prefer Pillsbury’s original crescent rolls.
- Butter — Yes, the recipe calls for two whole sticks of butter. I never said this was diet food.
- White Granulated Sugar — The sugar mixes with the butter and soda to make a thick, caramel-like sauce.
- Mountain Dew — You’re probably still scratching your head thinking, “Huh?” but just trust me. That citrusy soda makes a syrupy sauce that’s really over the top.
- Ground Cinnamon — A generous amount of cinnamon creates that classic apple-cinnamon flavor profile.
The complete ingredient list with detailed measurements is included in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.
How to Make Apple Dumplings with Mountain Dew
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking pan with either butter or cooking spray.
- Peel, core, and slice each apple into eight wedges.
- Unroll the crescent roll dough and separate it into triangles. Place one apple wedge at the wide end of each triangle and roll it up. Seal the edge at the bottom.
- Place the wrapped dumplings seam-side down in the prepared pan.
- Melt the butter in a medium microwave-safe bowl.
- Stir in the sugar until combined.
- Pour the butter and sugar mixture evenly over the dumplings in the pan.
- Pour the Mountain Dew around the edges of the pan. Try not to pour it directly over the dumplings.
- Sprinkle cinnamon generously over the top.
- Bake for 35 to 40 minutes or until the dumplings are golden brown and bubbling.
- Remove from the oven and let cool for about 5 minutes before serving. Best served warm. To serve, place one or two dumplings on a plate, spoon over some of the syrup from the baking dish, and top with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
Recipe Tips
- Take time to peel the apples. It will result in a better texture to the finished dumplings.
- Keep an eye on the edges of the crescent rolls while baking. If they start to look too brown, cover the pan loosely with foil.
Variations and Add-Ins
- Substitute pears or firm peaches for the apples.
- Add chopped pecans on top before baking for a nutty crunch.
- Replace the cinnamon with a blend of warm spices like nutmeg or clove.
Serving Suggestions
I sometimes build a complete menu around this dessert just so that I can cook it! Here are a few ideas that work well.
- For a casual fall supper, serve after a hearty bowl of Creamy White Chicken Chili with a side of Old Fashioned Cornbread.
- For a Sunday dinner menu, try Smothered Barbecued Chicken and a helping of Southern Potato Salad.
Make Ahead Tips
If you want to get a head start, you can peel, core, and slice the apples and wrap them in the crescent dough a few hours ahead of time. Cover the unbaked dumplings tightly with plastic wrap and store them in the refrigerator. Wait to pour on the butter, sugar, and soda until right before baking.
How to Store and Reheat
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to three days.
- This recipe isn’t really suitable for freezing, so just enjoy it while it’s fresh!
- Reheat in the microwave in 20-second intervals or in a 350-degree oven until warmed through. If using the oven, cover loosely with foil to prevent over-browning.
More Recipes You’ll Like
If vintage desserts are your thing, you might enjoy my Old Fashioned Southern Tea Cakes. They’re simple, soft, and perfect with a glass of cold milk. For something rich and warm, my Hot Fudge Pie is a chocolate lover’s dream.
For something else that’s also a nice warm fruit dessert, try my Easy Peach Turnovers. They’re also great for breakfast! Or Egg Custard Pie, a silky-smooth classic that has stood the test of time.
Questions About Mountain Dew Apple Dumplings
Actually, a lemon-lime soda such as Sprite or 7UP will also work in this recipe. The flavor will be slightly different, but the effect is similar.
I’ve made this recipe with both regular and diet Mountain Dew. Because there’s no sugar in the diet soda, the sauce doesn’t thicken like it does when using regular soda, but the overall taste is much the same.
You can, but you’ll have to watch the baking time closely. Cast iron retains heat differently than glass or metal pans and may brown the edges more quickly. It makes for a beautiful presentation, though, especially if you are serving straight from the oven.
Have a question or thought to share?
If you have a question about the recipe or if you’ve made it and want to share how it turned out, I would truly enjoy hearing from you. Just scroll down to leave a comment or add your star rating.
Thank you for stopping by. It means a lot to have you here.
Recipe
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Apple Dumplings with Mountain Dew
Ingredients
- Cooking spray or butter for baking dish
- 2 cooking apples (Red Delicious, Granny Smith, and Honeycrisp are good choices)
- 16 ounces crescent roll dough 2 cans (Pillsbury brand recommended)
- 16 tablespoons unsalted butter 2 sticks
- 1 ⅓ cups white granulated sugar
- 12 ounces Mountain Dew soda 1 can
- 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F and lightly grease or butter a 9×13-inch baking pan.Cooking spray or butter for baking dish
- Peel, core, and slice each apple into 8 wedges.2 cooking apples
- Unroll the crescent roll dough and separate it into triangles. Place an apple wedge at the wide end of each dough triangle and roll up, sealing the edge at the bottom.16 ounces crescent roll dough
- Arrange the wrapped apple dumplings seam-side down in a single layer in the prepared pan.
- In a medium microwave-safe bowl, melt the butter.16 tablespoons unsalted butter
- Stir the sugar into the melted butter until well combined.1 ⅓ cups white granulated sugar
- Pour the butter-sugar mixture evenly over the tops of the crescent rolls.
- Pour the Mountain Dew around the edges of the pan, being careful not to pour it directly over the rolls.12 ounces Mountain Dew soda
- Sprinkle the cinnamon evenly over the top of the dumplings.1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
- Place the pan in the preheated oven and bake for 35-40 minutes, or until the crescent rolls are golden brown.
- Remove the pan from the oven and let the dumplings cool for about 5 minutes before serving. Enjoy warm, topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream
Notes
- Be sure to pour the Mountain Dew around the edges of the pan, not directly over the dumplings. This helps them brown properly and keeps the tops crisp.
- Use firm apples that hold their shape during baking, like Granny Smith, Fuji, or Honeycrisp.
- If the dumplings start to brown too quickly, cover the pan loosely with foil during the last 10 minutes of baking.
Nutrition Information
Nutrition information is calculated by software based on the ingredients in each recipe. It is an estimate only and is provided for informational purposes. You should consult your healthcare provider or a registered dietitian if precise nutrition calculations are needed for health reasons.
I’m Lana Stuart, an award-winning cookbook author, food blogger, and lifelong cook raised deep in Southwest Georgia. I started Lana’s Cooking in 2009 to share the tried-and-true recipes I grew up with. Around here, the food is full of flavor, the traditions run deep, and there’s always room at the table.