Apple pie bombs are a delicious dessert that is made with a homemade apple pie filling that is wrapped in crescent dough, flash-fried, then baked until golden brown. The bombs are then rolled in cinnamon sugar and drizzled with caramel sauce.
Apple pie is one of my all-time favorite varieties. They’re the perfect dessert for all seasons, but I’m an especially big fan in the fall. I couldn’t begin to count how many apple pies I’ve made over the years. I’m sure it’s in the thousands, though. And you know what? I never get tired of them. Of course, to make sure I never get tired of them, I switch things up. I’ll use apple filling for bread or in pastry cups. I use it in all kinds of ways. One way that I’ve been obsessed with over the past few years is stuffing apple pie filling inside crescent roll dough and then frying it. Holy cow, is it good. It has all the flavor of apple pie, but with a crispy, flaky twist thanks to frying the crescent dough prior to baking.
Apple Pie Bombs
These delicious little bites start with a homemade apple pie filling full of Granny Smith apples, lemon juice, sugar, and cinnamon. I take that, add it to crescent dough squares, and fold them over to create little apple pie bombs. After that, I flash fry them until they’re golden, then baked them until the dough is cooked through. They are rolled in a cinnamon and sugar mixture and drizzle with caramel sauce. When it’s all done, I have deliciously sweet apple pie bombs that make the perfect fall dessert or addition to any party or holiday table.
Why You’ll Love This Apple Pie Bomb Recipe
- They are a fun and unique way to enjoy all the flavors we love in apple pie in a bite-size version of this classic dessert.
- They are perfect for parties, potlucks, or simply a sweet treat that will be requested over and over again.
- The kids love these hand-held treats that even adults flip over, they’re that good.
- They are easy to make and do take a few more steps, but the end results are so worth the extra few steps.
Apple Pie Bombs Ingredients
As with most of my recipes, you’ll only need a few simple ingredients to make these delicious apple pie bites. Everything you need is either in your kitchen right now or just a quick trip to the grocery store away!
- Granny Smith apples
- Granulated sugar
- Cornstarch
- Lemon juice
- Ground cinnamon
- Pillsbury refrigerated crescent dinner rolls
- Caramel sauce
- Vegetable oil
How to Make Apple Pie Bombs
Making these apple pie bombs is easier than you might think. Although they take a few extra steps, those steps are very simple, quick, and easy. This is a recipe that even beginners should have no trouble with.
Step 1: Make the Apple Pie Filling
Bring water, cornstarch, sugar, cinnamon, and lemon juice to a boil in a medium saucepan over medium heat, stirring constantly. Cook for 3 to 4 minutes until the sauce thickens up. Then, add the diced apples, stir, and simmer for 8 to 10 minutes. Remove the filling from the heat and let it cool.
Step 2: Cut the Dough
Unroll the crescent dough on a lightly floured surface and pinch the seams together. Then, roll out until just smooth. Cut the dough into 2 ½ to 3-inch squares.
Step 3: Fill
Add a tablespoon of apple pie filling to the center of each dough square. Then, fold up the 2 ends and fold the sides over each other. Pinch together to seal.
Step 4: Fry
Heat the oil in a frying pan over medium-high heat. Then, add a few pie bombs at a time to the oil and flash fry them until golden. Remove them with a slotted spoon and place them on a paper plate lined with paper towels. Continue until all the bombs are fried.
Step 5: Bake
Place the fried apple pie bombs on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and bake them for 10 to 12 minutes at 350.
Step 6: Top and Serve
Remove the apple pie bombs from the oven, roll them in cinnamon sugar, and place them on a serving platter. Drizzle with caramel sauce and enjoy!
How to Flash Fry Apple Pie Bombs
To flash fry these apple pie bombs, heat the oil to a medium-high temperature. Then, add the bombs a few at a time just until the exterior is golden and no longer.
Recipe Tips
- If your bombs won’t seal, try moistening the edges of the dough just a bit.
- Don’t crowd the pan when frying the bombs. Adding too many will reduce the oil’s heat and make soggy bites. Work in batches.
- Be careful not to over-fill the crescent dough or you won’t be able to close the bombs.
- Stir constantly while making the pie filling to avoid scorching.
Variations
- Try your favorite diced fruits to make various fillings.
- Make a berry filling with your favorite berries.
- You can air fry these apple pie bites, if you like.
What to Serve with Apple Pie Bombs
These apple pie bombs are wonderful with a glass of milk or a cup of coffee or tea. You can also top them with whipped cream or serve them in a bowl with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
Recipe FAQ
Apple pie bombs are mini desserts made with apple pie filling wrapped in crescent dough or biscuit dough and then fried, baked, or air fried.
Lemon juice is added to pie filling to ensure that the filling keeps its fresh flavor. It also helps reduce the fruit’s contact with the starch.
Apple pie bombs freeze very well and will last for up to 3 months when stored properly.
Flash frying is a frying technique in which you fry food at a high temperature for a short amount of time. While you don’t have to do it before baking, flash frying helps get a crispy exterior without soaking the food in grease for an extended period of time, and it helps seal in the ingredients prior to baking.
You can absolutely air fryer apple pie bombs. Simply place them in an air fryer seam-side down in the air fryer basket and air fry for 7 to 8 minutes at 350 degrees.
How to Store and Reheat Leftover Apple Pie Bombs
Refrigerate these bombs in an airtight container for up to 4 days. For longer storage, wrap the bombs in plastic wrap, place them in an airtight, freezer-safe container, and freeze for up to 3 months.
To reheat the bombs, place them on a baking sheet and bake for 10 minutes at 350 or until heated through.
Try These Delicious Apple Pie Bombs Today
These apple pie bombs are easier to make than you might think, and they’re absolutely full of apple pie flavor. The crescent dough is perfectly flash-fried, then the bites are baked. That gives you a piping-hot interior and a flaky, golden exterior without excessive frying. Give this recipe a try, and I know you’ll fall in love with it. There’s nothing better for the fall!
More Apple Dessert Recipe You’ll Enjoy
This Apple Cinnamon Pretzel Salad is made with a pretzel crust, a sweet cream cheese layer, and topped with a homemade apple pie filling. It’s a family favorite apple dessert recipe and the sweet and salty combination is simply irresistible.
Apple Pie Bombs
Ingredients
Apple Filling
- 2 Granny Smith apples, peeled, and diced into small pieces
- ¾ cup water
- ⅓ cup granulated sugar
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- 1 ½ teaspoon lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Assembling the Pie Bombs
- 2 containers Pillsbury refrigerated crescent dinner rolls
- ½ cup sugar
- 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
- Caramel sauce, for drizzle
- Vegetable oil, for frying
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
Apple Filling
- In a medium saucepan over low heat, bring water, cornstarch, sugar, cinnamon and lemon juice to a boil, stirring constantly, and cook for 3-4 minutes until sauce thickens up.
- Add diced apple pieces, stir, and let simmer for 8-10 minutes.
- Remove from heat and let cool.
Assembling the Pie Bombs
- Unroll the crescent dough on a lightly floured surface, and pinch the seams together, and roll out just until smooth.
- Cut dough into 2½-3 inch squares.
- Add a tablespoon of apple pie filling into the center of the dough. Fold up the two ends then fold the sides over each other and pinch together to seal.
- Heat oil in a frying pan over medium heat.
- Add a few pie bombs at a time into the hot oil and flash fry them until golden.
- Remove with a slotted spoon and place on a paper plate lined with paper towels.
- Next, place the fried pie bombs on a baking sheet and bake for 10-12 minutes.
- Remove from the oven, and roll each pie bomb in the cinnamon sugar mixture, and place on a serving platter.
- Drizzle with the caramel sauce right before serving.
Notes
Nutrition
Follow us on Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube. Remember to “like” or “follow” us on all social media. Here are a few pics that are perfect to save to your favorite Pinterest boards on Pinterest.
Your recipe is SO easy to follow. They turned out perfect (I’m not great at drizzling). Husbando liked them and I need to make more!!
Thank you so much for sharing, Bridget! Appreciate the 5-star rating too! I am so glad you and your husband enjoyed these. :)
My husband loved these! They were delicious.
Hi Linda,
Thank you so much for sharing! I’m so glad your hubby loved these. And, thank you for the 5-star rating! :)