Preheat oven to 350 degrees
Spray a medium baking dish with nonstick spray
Mix sugar and cinnamon together until well combined and set aside
Place apple pieces in a small bowl and sprinkle with 2-3 tsps. cinnamon and sugar mixture
Stir to coat apple pieces with the cinnamon and sugar-set aside
Open tube of crescent roll dough-gotta love that pop open scare!
Separate the dough at the perforations forming 8 individual triangles
Place 1 apple quarter onto the widest end of a crescent roll dough triangle
Roll the dough over the apple slice and continue rolling to the pointed end of the dough
Tuck the open sides under the apple piece
Continue with the remaining dough triangles and apple pieces
Place the dumplings into the greased baking dish
Sprinkle cinnamon and sugar mixture liberally on top of each apple dumpling and all around them to flavor the sauce mixture
Place a slice of butter on top of each apple dumpling
Pour Sprite™ around all the dumplings in the baking dish-do not pour on the dumplings or they will be soggy
Do not add soda to more than 1/3 to 1/2 way up the sides of the dumplings or they will be soggy
I tend to use extra soda, because I like a bit more sauce with each dumpling
Add vanilla into the soda mixture and swirl around a bit to combine-optional but adds more flavor
Place in preheated oven to bake for 40 minutes until dumpling dough is golden brown, firm and the sauce is bubbly
Allow to cool slightly before serving
Serve as is, or top with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream
Spoon sauce around the dumpling(s) when serving