Trisha Yearwood Apple Dumplings – A Buttery Southern Classic

Warm, flaky, and swimming in a buttery cinnamon-sugar sauce, these Trisha Yearwood Apple Dumplings are the definition of Southern comfort.

Trisha’s version of this beloved dessert is famous for a reason — crisp apples wrapped in crescent dough, baked in a sweet soda-based syrup until golden, tender, and caramelized. It’s old-fashioned goodness made easy, and it fills your kitchen with that “grandma’s pie baking” aroma we all love.

At inasrecipes.com, we recreate the heartwarming classics that make family dinners memorable. This apple dumpling recipe delivers the perfect balance of flaky pastry, sweet syrup, and soft apples — a foolproof crowd-pleaser for fall gatherings, holidays, or cozy weekends. 🍂

Why You’ll Love These Trisha Yearwood Apple Dumplings

Buttery, Flaky, and Sweet

Crescent dough bakes up golden and crisp around tender apples soaked in cinnamon syrup.

The Secret Ingredient

A splash of lemon-lime soda creates a self-basting syrup that caramelizes as it bakes — genius and delicious.

Foolproof & Family-Friendly

If you can wrap a roll, you can make this dessert. It’s beginner-friendly and ready in under an hour.

Crowd Favorite

Perfect for potlucks, Thanksgiving, or dessert-for-breakfast weekends.

🔗 Love Southern desserts? Try our Old-Fashioned Peach Cobbler next!

Ingredients You’ll Need

For the Dumplings

• 2 large Granny Smith apples (or Honeycrisp for a sweeter option)
• 2 (8-oz) cans refrigerated crescent roll dough
• 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter
• 1½ cups granulated sugar
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 (12-oz) can lemon-lime soda (such as Sprite or 7UP)

Optional Garnish

• Vanilla ice cream or whipped cream
• Extra cinnamon for sprinkling

Step-by-Step Instructions

1 – Prep the Apples

1. Preheat oven to 350 °F (175 °C).
2. Peel and core the apples, then cut each into 8 slices.

2 – Wrap the Dumplings

1. Unroll the crescent dough and separate into triangles.
2. Place one apple slice on the wide end of each triangle.
3. Roll tightly toward the point and tuck in the sides.
4. Arrange dumplings in a buttered 9 × 13-inch baking dish.

3 – Make the Syrup

1. In a small saucepan, melt butter over medium heat.
2. Stir in sugar, cinnamon, and vanilla. Cook until sugar just dissolves — do not boil.
3. Pour evenly over the dumplings.

4 – Add the Secret Ingredient

Slowly pour the lemon-lime soda around (not on top of) the dumplings. It will bubble and create a sweet sauce as it bakes.

5 – Bake

Bake uncovered for 40–45 minutes, until the tops are golden brown and syrup is bubbling thickly.

6 – Serve Warm

Spoon dumplings onto plates, drizzle with syrup from the pan, and top with ice cream.

Tips & Variations

• Try different sodas: Ginger ale or cream soda work beautifully too.
• Add nuts: Sprinkle chopped pecans over the top before baking for crunch.
• Spice it up: Add nutmeg, allspice, or cardamom for a cozy twist.
• Mini version: Cut apples smaller and use half a crescent triangle per piece for bite-size treats.
• Make it ahead: Assemble, refrigerate, and bake when ready to serve.

🍏 Pro Tip: Use tart apples for the perfect balance against the syrup’s sweetness.

Storage & Reheating

Refrigerate:
Store cooled dumplings in an airtight container up to 4 days.

Reheat:
Warm in a 350 °F oven for 10–12 minutes, or microwave individual servings for 30 seconds.

Freeze:
Freeze baked dumplings (without ice cream) for up to 2 months. Reheat directly from frozen at 325 °F for 20 minutes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do apple dumplings need to be refrigerated in the fridge?

Yes. Because of the butter and syrup, store apple dumplings covered in the fridge for up to 4 days.

What are apple dumplings made of?

They’re made with fresh apples, crescent roll dough, butter, sugar, cinnamon, and a surprising pour of lemon-lime soda that forms a caramelized sauce.

Can apple dumplings be made ahead of time?

Yes! Assemble them in the dish, cover, and refrigerate overnight. Bake fresh the next day.

How do you reheat an apple dumpling?

Warm them in a 350 °F oven for 10–12 minutes or microwave individual servings for 30 seconds until gooey and hot.

Serving Suggestions

• Serve warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or caramel drizzle.
• Add whipped cream and a dusting of cinnamon.
• Pair with a hot cup of coffee or apple cider.

🔗 Pair this dessert with our Cinnamon Spiced Latte.

Recipe Card

Yield: 8 dumplings
Prep Time: 15 min
Cook Time: 45 min
Total Time: 1 hr

Ingredients

(see ingredient list above)

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 °F and butter baking dish.
2. Wrap apple slices in crescent dough; arrange in dish.
3. Melt butter; mix with sugar, cinnamon, and vanilla. Pour over dumplings.
4. Pour soda around dumplings.
5. Bake 45 minutes until golden. Serve warm with ice cream.

Calories per serving: ~340

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