Mountain Dew Apple Dumplings

A pan of crescent rolls, a couple of apples, and yes, a can of soda, somehow turn into something way better than you’d expect.

The butter and sugar mix with the Mountain Dew while it bakes, bubbling up into a syrup that soaks into the rolls and keeps the apples soft and rich.

Ingredients You’ll Need

Here’s everything that goes into these soda apple dumplings:

• Apples – I used 2 Granny Smith apples. Their tartness balances all the sugar in this recipe, and they hold up well during baking.
• Crescent rolls – Two cans, 8 ounces each. Each apple wedge gets its own crescent wrap.
• Butter – Melted, because butter makes everything better.
• Sugar – White granulated sugar works best here. It mixes with the butter and soda to make the caramelized sauce.
• Cinnamon
• Soda – The classic version uses Mountain Dew, but Sprite or 7 Up works just as well. The soda creates a syrupy sauce in the bottom of the pan while keeping the dumplings soft.

How to Make Mountain Dew Apple Dumplings

Prep the apples and rolls. Peel, core, and cut each apple into 8 wedges. Separate the crescent roll dough and wrap each apple slice with one roll. Place the wrapped apples seam-side down in a greased 9×13 baking dish.

Kitchen note: I fit 15 when I set them on a slight angle, though technically the recipe makes 16. You can line them up in two neat rows if you like.

Mix the butter and sugar. Stir melted butter and sugar together and pour it around the dumplings.

Add the soda. Carefully pour Mountain Dew (or Sprite/7 Up) around the dumplings, not directly on top. You want the liquid to bake up into a syrup beneath the rolls instead of making the tops soggy.

Bake. Sprinkle with cinnamon and bake at 350°F for 40–45 minutes, or until the tops are golden brown and the sauce is bubbling at the edges.

Cool slightly and serve. Let the country style apple dumplings rest until warm, not hot, so the sauce has time to thicken.

These are plenty sweet on their own, but if you drop a scoop of vanilla ice cream on the side, no one’s going to complain.

A Few Helpful Tips

• Don’t skip the soda. It seems unnecessary since there’s already butter and sugar in the pan, but it creates a sweet caramel-like syrup while also steaming the apples. That’s what makes this recipe different from a standard crescent-wrapped apple.
• Switch up the soda. Mountain Dew is traditional, but Sprite and 7 Up taste just as good. I’ve even seen people experiment with ginger ale.
• Sweetness level. This recipe is very sweet. If you prefer things less sugary, you can reduce the sugar by about ¼ cup without compromising the texture.
• Serving idea. These are rich enough for dessert, but I’ve seen them show up at brunch tables, too. If you want a “sweet breakfast recipe” idea for holidays, this one fits.

Why is Mountain Dew used in apple dumplings?

The soda might seem odd, but its just another throwback to mom’s cooking in the 80s. File it in with dump cakes, 7-up cakes, and casseroles. When Mountain Dew (or Sprite/7 Up) bakes with the butter and sugar, it creates a bubbling caramel-like syrup in the bottom of the pan. That syrup keeps the apples tender, adds a citrusy flavor, and makes the rolls gooey on the inside while crisp on top.

If you don’t want the extra sugar, it won’t exactly be Mountain Dew rolls, but you can replace it with heavy whipping cream, like in the recipe for tiktok cinnamon rolls (image below).

Storage and Reheating Leftovers

Leftovers can be covered and refrigerated for up to 3 days. The dumplings will soften as they sit in the syrup, but they reheat nicely in the oven at 300°F until warm.

I don’t recommend microwaving unless you don’t mind them turning a little soggy.