Apple Dumplings

I got up on this weekend morning and was watching the "Pioneer Woman" on Food Network.  I saw her make this.  In general, a lot of her recipes are not very healthy, however, they are easy.  I figured my son would love this so I made it for him tonight.  Half a pound of butter and almost 2 cups of sugar!  I scaled back a little on her bad ingredients though and used:

• 2 whole Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored and cut into 8 slices each
• 2 cans (8 oz. Cans) Pillsbury crescent rolls
• 1 stick (1/4 lb) unsalted butter
• 3/4 cup unrefined organic coconut sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• Cinnamon, to taste
• 1 cup Mountain Dew soda pop
• Vanilla ice cream, for serving

I preheated the oven to 350°F.  I greased a 9" x 13" cake pan with cooking spray.

I took a slice of apple and rolled it up into each crescent roll.  I laid these in the baking pan.

I melted the butter and added the vanilla and sugar.

She said it was supposed to be lumpy and grainy and coconut sugar fit that bill.  I poured it over the crescents - I had just enough to coat them all.

Then I poured the pop all around the edges and down the middle.  I sprinkled cinnamon over the top and put it into the oven for 40 minutes.  I had to try a bite before I served...

Very good!  The apple was perfectly cooked and the sauce was pretty darn tasty!  Son let out a loud Mmmmmm, and then an "OMG, this is soooooo good!".

I would have liked more sauce for drizzling, so next time, I'd just use the whole can of pop since I cut out one stick of butter and 3/4 cup of sugar.