These apple dumplings are bursting with buttery, sweet, cinnamon flavor. They are made with canned crescent rolls, apples, apple cider, and other ingredients you probably have on hand. Made easy in the Instant Pot or other pressure cooker, they are sure to please for an easy after-school snack or quick brunch item.
I’m always looking for a quick and easy brunch item or after-school snack that will blow their socks off. This Instant Pot brunch recipe; made with canned crescent rolls and apples, rich with cinnamon, brown sugar, spice, and everything nice does just that!
Why you’ll love this easy cinnamon apple brunch recipe
- easy easy easy to make with canned crescent rolls
- make in the Instant Pot for a tender steamed dumpling texture
- frees up your oven for other brunch food
- great for an after school snack
- cinnamony goodness
- sticky sweet – but in a good way:)
- comfort food
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- Why you’ll love this easy cinnamon apple brunch recipe
- Pin now to save for later
- Ingredients needed to make cinnamon apple dumplings in the Instant Pot
- How to make this super simple apple dumpling recipe
- Time to eat!
- Some questions and answers about this recipe
- Other vegan breakfast/brunch ideas
- The Printable Recipe Card for Cinnamon Apple Dumplings made Easy in the Instant Pot
Pin now to save for later
Ingredients needed to make cinnamon apple dumplings in the Instant Pot
- canned crescent rolls – I used Pillsbury brand, see note below about the dairy
- large apple – any variety, but I like one that’s slightly tart
- butter of choice – we are vegan and so use plant butter, see note below
- brown sugar
- vanilla extract
- ground cinnamon and nutmeg
- apple cider – you can use apple juice, but I like apple cider best. Apple juice makes it a little overly sweet.
A note about the crescent rolls and possible dairy
We are a vegan family and so endeavor to use vegan food items. Be aware that Pillsbury Crescent Rolls do mention after the ingredients that they MAY contain dairy. This means that they are processed on shared equipment which is especially important for those with a dairy allergy to be aware of and avoid.
If dairy is not listed in the main ingredients, though, they did not add dairy as an ingredient. It is just a possible cross-contamination. If you are vegan then let your personal ethics be your guide and source a different brand if this product is not within yours.
A note about the butter used
Again, we are a vegan family and use plant butter. You can use stick butter or tub – it doesn’t really matter for this recipe.
If you are not vegan and use regular dairy butter, be aware that some (dairy) butter is unsalted. Use salted butter for this recipe. If you use unsalted butter, then add 1/8 teaspoon salt to the ingredients when melting the butter. I don’t recommend you use margarine though – it just doesn’t taste as good. (And just so you know, vegan or plant butter tastes way better than margarine!)
How to make this super simple apple dumpling recipe
Step 1: Heat the pot and prep the apples
Press the saute button on the Instant Pot to get it going. If you are using a different brand of pressure cooker that does not have a saute function, see the note below.
Cut your apples into eight wedges. Remove the part with the seeds and stem.
I always use a large apple for this recipe. If you are using the small apples that might come in a bag, then prepare 16 smaller slices. You’ll be putting two in each dumpling.
A note about the Instant Pot saute function
We will be using the saute function on the Instant Pot to melt together the butter, sugar, and spices. If you are using a different brand of pressure cooker that does not have a saute function, then melt the ingredients separately in a saucepan or microwave. Then add to the inner pot before you add the dumplings.
Step 3: Prepare the dumplings
Work on a clean flat surface and prepare each dumpling one at a time. I like to work on a large sheet of parchment paper for easy clean-up.
Set out one of the perforated triangles from the can of crescent rolls. Place one large (or two small) prepared apple wedges on the larger top of the triangle. Roll until you’ve reached the smaller tip of the triangle. Set aside while you work on the others.
Step 4: Melt (on saute) the brown sugar and butter
Don’t start this step until the dumplings have been prepared. If you start too early, then the mixture will cook too long and begin to burn.
Add to the Instant Pot (inner pot) the plant butter, brown sugar, vanilla extract, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Stir in the apple cider while the other ingredients are melting.
Step 5: Place the dumplings in the Instant Pot
Place the dumplings in a single layer. These will fit perfectly in the 6 or 8 qt Instant Pot. This recipe was tested in the 6 quart.
Step 6: Cook the Dumplings in the Instant Pot
After you’ve placed the apple dumplings on top of the melted sugar/butter mixture, close the lid and vent. Turn off the saute function and manually set for high pressure at 10 minutes.
It will take up to ten minutes to come to pressure. After the pot comes to pressure and counts down ten minutes, allow for a natural release until the pin drops. This will again, take another 10 minutes.
Time to eat!
Carefully remove the first dumpling from the pot. The first one is always the most challenging to remove.
These tender tasty apple dumplings will be HOT! Too hot to eat at first so allow for a little cooling. Especially if you are serving to a child (who may not have the patience to wait). The hot apple inside the dumpling will burn their mouths:(
Don’t forget to drizzle some of that yummy melted brown sugar/butter mixture on top!
Some questions and answers about this recipe
You can use any brand. The times for coming to pressure and releasing might be different. If your pressure cooker does not have a saute function then melt the butter/sugar mixture in a saucepan or the microwave before adding to the inner pot.
I tested this recipe using the 6 quart IP. You could use an 8 quart as well. The important thing is that the dumplings are in a single layer. I think the 3-quart mini would be too small – but I haven’t tried that one. I suppose if you roll and tuck the edges in as you roll, the dumplings might be smaller and might fit better. If you make it in a 3 quart, I’d love to hear about it.
Any variety you’d like. As a personal preference, I like to use an apple that is slightly tart to contrast with the sugary sweet. I have used a gala and it was lovely. I don’t think a red delicious would be best.
I am vegan and so use vegan butter. Either sticks or tub plant butter is fine. Use one you like the flavor of. If you use dairy butter, use salted butter or add 1/8 teaspoon to the melted butter mixture. I wouldn’t use margarine. It just doesn’t taste as good as plant butter.
I use Pillsbury Crescent Rolls. Please note that after the ingredients are listed it states “MAY” contain dairy. This means that it was processed on shared equipment NOT that it has dairy as an ingredient. If you are allergic to dairy, please do not consume this product. If you are vegan, then let your ethics be your guide and choose a different product if necessary.
No, I do not recommend this. The texture becomes a little rubbery when reheating. This is not a great “make-ahead” recipe either. If you are serving to small children who just want a sugary sweet and don’t care, then that’s a different story haha!
Other vegan breakfast/brunch ideas
Let’s make brunch! These are some of my favorite go-to brunch recipes from Veggie Fun Kitchen:
- Tater Tot Breakfast Casserole
- Vegan Classic Breakfast Casserole
- Breakfast Potato Hash
- Monkey Bread
- Apple Pumkin Bundt Cake
- Apple Cranberry Puff Pastry
- Plant-Based Hash Brown Casserole
- Creamy Instant Pot Brussels Sprouts
- Refreshing Rosemary Citrus Champange Spritzer
The Printable Recipe Card for Cinnamon Apple Dumplings made Easy in the Instant Pot
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Easy Cinnamon Apple Dumplings in the Instant Pot
Equipment
- Instant Pot
Ingredients
- 1 can crescent rolls see notes on the dairy
- 1 large apple see notes
- 4 Tablespoons vegan butter see notes
- ½ cup light brown sugar
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ¾ cup apple cider see notes
Instructions
- Turn the Instant Pot on sauté mode to start it warming.
- Working on a clean flat surface, lay out one of the perforated triangles from the canned crescent rolls. I like to work on a piece of parchment paper. Making one dumpling at a time, place one large apple on a rolled out crescent on the large end. Roll up, tucking as ou roll until you reach to pointy end. Set each aside.
- Ad to your Instant Pot the butter, brown sugar, vanilla extract, cinnamon and nutmeg. Stir until everything is nice and melted together. (If you are using a pressure cooker without a sauté mode then heat the butter, brown sugar, and spices in a saucepan or microwave till melted – then add to your pressure cooker.)
- Stir in the apple cider while the other ingredinets are melting.
- Place each prepared dumpling in a single layer on top of the melted butter/sugar/apple cider mixture.
- Close the lid and vent and set to high pressure for 10 minutes. It will take up to 10 minutes to come to pressure.
- After the Instant Pot has come to pressure and counted down for the ten minutes, allow for a natural release until the pin drops. This will take about 10 minutes as well.
- Open the lid and carefully lift out the first apple dumpling. The first one is always the hardest! Spoon a little of the melted buttery cinnamon sugar on top of each dumpling.
- These will be quite hot when you first remove from the pot- especially the cooked apple inside each dumpling. Wait a few minutes before eating. Plus, I've found that the flavor enhances when it's not blistering hot!
Mmm these are delish! So easy in my IP, my family thinks I’m a chef! Thanks for another great recipe!
My family gives this apple dumplings recipe a two thumbs up!!
I love apple dumplings!! These are so amazing!
This is so easy and just what I needed to dust off the IP that rarely gets used!
We loved these apple dumplings. SO creative!!
These are insanely good! Everyone loved these apple dumplings, they are a new family favorite!
We made these for brunch and everyone is asking for the recipe!