Easy Caramel Apple Ring (With Two Great Shortcuts!)

Holle is a retired English teacher. She loves to cook and share recipes with others.

Easy Desserts That Satisfy

I am married to a man with an enormous sweet tooth, so over the years I’ve come up with lots of easy dessert recipes. Contrary to what some people. think, desserts don’t have to be complicated or time-consuming to be delicious and attractive. With some good ideas and some tweaking, easy desserts can be just as appealing as their more difficult counterparts.

This caramel apple ring is a great example. In about 30 minutes, you can have a warm, gooey, delicious dessert that everyone will love. You can serve it hot with ice cream, or serve it warm with a powdered sugar drizzle. Either way, it’s a real winner!

My Two Shortcuts

Why is this caramel apple ring one of my easy dessert recipes? It’s easy because it uses a couple of shortcuts.

• Crescent rolls: You don’t have to prepare a crust; the crescent rolls take care of that.
• Canned pie filling: Since you’ll be using canned pie filling, there’s no peeling, slicing, or baking apples, either. I find that most canned apple pie fillings are a little on the bland side, so I add some butter, cinnamon, and ground cloves.

With some creativity, your family and guests don’t have to know that your beautiful offerings were made with easy dessert recipes. Keep it a secret and just enjoy the praises you’re sure to get! You might also want to try this easy dessert recipe with other types of pie filling, too.

Caramel Apple Flavor

I’ve always liked caramel apples. There’s something almost magical about the marriage of tart apples and sweet, rich caramel. In addition to the flavor combination, I think some people enjoy the memories associated with caramel apples: fall carnivals, county fairs, and Halloween.

This easy dessert recipe I’m sharing with you today will definitely remind you of caramel apples that you might have enjoyed as a child—only this is actually easier than the caramel apple-making process. It’s a heck of a lot easier to eat, too. You won’t have to worry about pulling out your fillings!

Cook Time

Ingredients

• 1 (21-ounce) can apple pie filling
• 1 tablespoon melted butter
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
• 2 (8-ounce) cans refrigerated crescent roll dough
• 1 (12.25-ounce) jar caramel topping (I use Smucker's)
• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 2 tablespoons milk
• 1/4 teaspoon vanilla

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
2. Combine apple pie filling, melted butter, cinnamon, and ground cloves. Set aside.
3. Cover two large, flat cookie sheets with foil and spray with cooking spray.
4. Divide one can of crescent rolls into eight triangles. Form triangles into a sunburst (see photo). Press dough together at the bases of triangles. Repeat with the other can of crescent rolls.
5. Spoon half of pie filling onto each dough ring, around the center hole. Drizzle pie filling with caramel topping. I use about three tablespoons of caramel for each apple ring.
6. Fold points of rolls over the filling, tucking under the wide parts of triangles. Wipe away any excess caramel with paper towels.
7. Bake until rolls are brown, about 15 minutes.
8. Remove from oven and allow to cool slightly.
9. Combine powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla until smooth. Drizzle over apple rings.
10. If you prefer, omit powdered sugar glaze and serve apple ring hot, with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and some of the remaining caramel topping.
11. To tranfer apple rings to serving dishes, use two large spatulas.

Photo Guide

Rate my recipe! Thanks a bunch!

Comments

Holle Abee (author) from Georgia on October 25, 2016:

Betty, it really is an easy dessert that's both yummy and attractive. Thanks for reading!

Betty on October 25, 2016:

This apple ring was very easy and so delicious.

emilybee on January 10, 2014:

This looks awesome and very eye appealing. Will try!

Victoria Van Ness from Fountain, CO on January 10, 2014:

Whoa! I'm going to the kitchen to make this now! This looks amazing and it's so easy to make. Thank you for the new addition to our household! :)

Yummy!

Phyllis Doyle Burns from High desert of Nevada. on January 10, 2014:

This is a fantastic dessert prepared in a new and great looking way. Thanks for sharing this, Habee.

schoolgirlforreal on March 20, 2013:

Looks awesome, just started getting intested in food ....

Susan Sisk from Georgia, USA on November 09, 2012:

Looks delicious, and easy to change ingredients around. Thanks!

Simone Haruko Smith from San Francisco on June 13, 2012:

Wow, for an easy dessert, these caramel apple rings sure look gorgeous! Thanks for the lovely recipe Hub, habee!

Marcy Goodfleisch from Planet Earth on June 13, 2012:

This is so elegant looking, I had no idea it was so easy to make! Okay - I think you just turned me onto the next recipe I'll use for a potluck, company or an event! Thank you!

breakfastpop on June 10, 2012:

Yummy, yummy and yummy!

LA Elsen from Chicago, IL on June 09, 2012:

I was reading your hub as my husband walked by and the a la mode picture made him stop and gasp. LOL! He does not really gasp at desserts so I think this solves what I am making for his father's day dinner. Thank-you.

DigbyAdams on June 09, 2012:

I made the apple ring tonight, put a little extra caramel sauce in. Served it with homemade vanilla ice cream. Put more caramel sauce on that. Tossed some finely chopped toasted pecans on that. Served four with it. By the half-time of the Celtics game, they wanted to know if I could make more. I said no.

Rose Clearfield from Milwaukee, Wisconsin on June 09, 2012:

This looks delicious! You're right that it doesn't look tricky either. Thanks for another great recipe.

only best recipes from Montreal, Quebec. Canada on June 09, 2012:

Great and delicious.Thank you

Lela from Somewhere near the heart of Texas on June 09, 2012:

Beautiful and awesome! My husband will love this one.

LaThing from From a World Within, USA on June 08, 2012:

This is very easy, and looks delicious! Will make it for sure, can't resist it lol,lol!

Voting up, and delicious!

DigbyAdams on June 08, 2012:

Okay, you are officially my apple hero now. This is an amazing recipe. I already have everything I need to make this amazing looking dessert in my pantry. I'm going to give it a try over the weekend. Why did I not think of this?

luisj305 from Florida on June 08, 2012:

Awesome, I'm going out for the ingredients this afternoon,and will be trying this recipe tonight.

Bill Holland from Olympia, WA on June 08, 2012:

The pictures make this look absolutely delicious. Great recipe and if it tastes as good as it looks then I must have some soon.

Jason Menayan from San Francisco on June 08, 2012:

habee, you're killing me! Like your husband, I have a MAJOR sweet tooth. I could eat that apple ring in one sitting and still have room for ice cream. ;) Thanks for sharing this and all those gorgeous pictures.

Leah Lefler from Western New York on June 08, 2012:

My mouth is watering - this looks delicious! And very easy to make - I have to add this one to my "weeknight dessert recipes" since it is so simple to make!

Penny Lulich from Indiana on June 08, 2012:

Okay, this I'm definitely going to try! This recipe speaks to me. It's bread, apples and sugar; what could be better! Thanks, Habee!