Valentine’s Week Treat: Just 4 ingredients. I make this when I want a dessert that tastes like hours of rolling dough, but it only takes minutes to prep. The bubbly sauce created by the secret soda in

This 4-ingredient slow cooker apple dumpling recipe is my go-to when I want a cozy, Valentine’s Week dessert that tastes like I spent hours rolling out dough—but really took me about 10 minutes to throw together between work emails. Store-bought crescent roll dough wraps tender apple slices, then everything simmers away in a bubbly, caramel-like sauce made from a secret soda ingredient. It’s very much a Midwest-style shortcut dessert: practical, inexpensive, and wildly comforting, with that golden, pillowy pastry floating in an amber syrup that smells like a hug.

Serve these slow cooker apple dumplings warm, spooning plenty of the syrupy sauce over each portion. They’re fantastic with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, a dollop of whipped cream, or even a drizzle of heavy cream if that’s what you have on hand. I like to sprinkle a little cinnamon over the top right before serving for extra cozy vibes. Pair with coffee, hot tea, or a small glass of cold milk for a simple weeknight dessert, or dress it up with fancy bowls and candles for a Valentine’s Week treat that still feels low-effort.

2 large apples, peeled, cored, and cut into 8 wedges each
1 (8-ounce) can refrigerated crescent roll dough
1 cup granulated sugar
1 (12-ounce) can lemon-lime soda (such as Sprite or 7UP)