Gluten-Free Apple Dumplings

Last week we got too many apples through our local Bountiful Basket, so I decided to use some apples to make gluten-free apple dumplings!  I referenced Pioneer Woman’s Apple Dumpling recipe, and then came up with my own gluten-free version, as I haven’t seen an apple dumpling recipe out there yet.  And boy were they good!  Everyone had seconds.  And I have already been asked to make it again!  They are simply irresistible.  There is a weird ingredient in it, and I was hesitant at first, but I cannot deny that the end result is scrumptious!

Crescent Rolls
Makes 16 small or 8 large

Ingredients

• 1/2 stick butter room temperature
• 3/4 cup cream cheese
• 1 cup gluten-free flour mix (I used my homemade mix)
• 1 tsp xanthan gum (if your gluten-free blend does not have it)
• 1/8 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp cream of tartar
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1 tbsp sugar

Directions
In mixer, combine butter and cream cheese.  Add dry ingredients and mix until a ball of dough forms.  Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and chill in the fridge for 2 hours.

On a lightly floured surface roll the dough into a 14-inch circle and cut into triangles.

Apple Dumplings
Makes 16

Ingredients

• Gluten-free crescent rolls
• 2 small apples
• 1 cup (2 sticks) butter
• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
• 8-ounces Mountain Dew
• Ground cinnamon to taste
• Vanilla ice cream to serve alongside

Directions
Preheat the oven to 350*.  Peal the apples and cut them into 8 equal wedges.  Wrap each apple wedge into 1 triangle of the crescent roll dough, starting at the wide end of the triangle and ending at the smaller end.  Place the rolls seam side down in a buttered 9 x 9-inch baking dish.

Melt the butter in a medium saucepan over low heat.  Add the sugar and vanilla and stir for a few seconds.  Don’t worry about dissolving the sugar, as you want the mixture to be grainy.  Pour the buttery sugar mixture evenly over the crescent rolls, and then pour the can of Mountain Dew all over the top.  It will look like a pool of liquid, but don’t worry, it will soak into the rolls when in the oven, making them delicious!

Lastly, sprinkle the cinnamon all over the top.  Sprinkle as much or as little as you like.  We love cinnamon, so I coated those babies.

Bake for 40 minutes, or until they turn golden brown.  Immediately serve with a nice scoop of ice cream.  Don’t forget to scoop some of the syrup out of the pan and drizzle on top.  Enjoy!