Apple Cinnamon Rolls

You’ll never believe that these soft, gooey easy Apple Cinnamon Rolls are made in just over a hour! Tender, light and flakey cinnamon rolls with a cinnamon apple filling topped with a delicious cream cheese frosting on top. They are perfect for the holidays, but great all year long as a sweet breakfast or brunch treats.

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Inspired by my yummy homemade cinnamon rolls recipe, these apple cinnamon rolls are the perfect fall breakfast. Apple and cinnamon are a match made in heaven. Add that to the center of a warm and gooey cinnamon roll and you’ve got a delicious creation on your hands!

This easy recipe is made entirely from scratch. It may seem a bit difficult at first glance, but if you follow the steps that I have outlined, you’ll have no problem making apple cinnamon roll bake. Once you bite into that first apple spiced bun, you’ll realize that the hard work was worth it! They’re too irresistible to ignore!

Why You’ll Love this Recipe

• They are a great special recipe to make for the holidays. Turning a classic favorite into something new is always a blast.
• This recipe is a great way to use an overabundance of fresh apples during apple season.
• Make this apple cinnamon roll bake when you are hosting guests and wow them with the incredible flavor of this sweet treat!

Ingredients for Apple Cinnamon Rolls

• All purpose flour – For best results, use a high-quality all purpose flour. But any flour will do!
• Active dry yeast – This will be the key to making to most light and fluffy homemade rolls.
• Whole milk – You can use 2% milk or skim milk if you prefer, but I say splurge and go for the extra calories with whole milk. It makes a tastier cinnamon roll in the end!
• Granulated white sugar – You need granulated sugar for both the cinnamon roll dough and the apple filling.
• Unsalted butter – Make sure you have enough butter on hand to have some melted for the dough, and softened for the filling.
• Egg – Allow egg to come to room temperature before mixing. This will allow it to mix better with the other ingredients.
• Vanilla extract – Pure vanilla extract is used in the dough, the icing, and the apple filling. The warm flavor of vanilla is perfect for these cozy rolls.
• Kosher salt – Salt not only helps to activate the gluten content in your homemade cinnamon rolls, but it will help to balance out the sweetness of this recipe too.
• Granny smith apples – Peel, core, and finely dice these tart apples.
• Cream cheese – Softened cream cheese will be the base for the deliciously sweet and creamy glaze that tops this perfect apple cinnamon roll recipe.
• Powdered sugar – Use powdered sugar to sweeten the smooth glaze for the top of these rolls.

How to Make Apple Cinnamon Rolls

Begin by lining a 9×13 baking dish or greasing it with non-stick cooking spray. Then set aside for later.

In a large microwave-safe bowl, heat whole milk for 30-40 seconds. You can also heat on the stove top if you prefer. Heat milk until just lukewarm.

Add the dry active yeast and granulated white sugar to the lukewarm milk. Whisk together until dissolved, then cover the mixture with clean dish towel. Allow yeast to bloom for 10 minutes.

While waiting, peel, core and dice the apples and place them into a medium mixing bowl. Then set aside.

Once the yeast has proofed, whisk in cooled melted butter, room temperature egg and vanilla extract.

Add in the salt and flour, one cup at a time. Knead slightly until the dough forms a ball. Then cover with a clean towel or plastic wrap and let rest for 10 minutes.

While the dough rests, combine the filling ingredients in the bowl of diced apples.

Lightly flour a clean surface and a rolling pin. Turn out the dough onto the floured surface and roll it out until it’s a 14” × 18” rectangle that is 1/4” thick.

Spread the apple filling over the entire surface of the dough.

Then, beginning at the short side, tightly roll the dough. Use a serrated knife and cut the log of dough into 12 separate rolls.

Place the apple cinnamon buns into the previously prepared baking dish, cover with a clean towel and let rise for 50 minutes.

Preheat the oven to 350° Fahrenheit and bake for 24-26 minutes until the tops of the rolls are golden brown.

Lastly, beat together the softened cream cheese, powdered sugar, vanilla extract and salt in the bowl of a stand mixer (with whisk attachment) or a medium mixing bowl with an electric mixer.

Once smooth, spread over warm cinnamon rolls.

Serve warm with your favorite sides and enjoy!

What to Serve with this Apple Cinnamon Rolls Recipes

These lovely little fall inspired rolls are perfect not only as breakfast, but dessert too! But at breakfast time, pair this syrupy sweet delight with some crunchy crispy oven baked bacon and crescent roll breakfast casserole. These bacon egg muffins or mini quiche cups are the perfect pairing for brunch.

Eggs benedict is another yummy breafkast match to go with apple cinnamon buns.

If you need something easy to pair with this recipe, just throw together a breakfast crescent roll ring. Don’t forget the bubbly mimosas!

How to Store Leftover Apple Cinnamon Rolls

There are a few different ways to store cinnamon rolls. Here’s my tips:

FRIDGE: Store unfrosted rolls at room temperature in an airtight container for two days. Or, you can store them in the fridge for a week. Alternatively, store frosted apple cinnamon roll bake in an airtight container for up to 3 days.

FREEZER: You can freeze any cinnamon rolls that are not frosted. Just allow them to cool completely, then wrap tightly in plastic wrap. Store in a freezer bag or airtight container for up to three months. Allow to thaw, then bake and frost.

Can I use canned apple pie filling instead of granny smith apples?

In this recipe, I would not recommend subbing in apple pie filling. The extra moisture would likely make very soggy cinnamon rolls. Plus, you wouldn’t be able to sweeten the filling as you’d like. Using fresh apples makes the best flavor and produces the best end result!

Apple cinnamon rolls are just to die for. You’ll love this tasty treat for breakfast on a cool fall morning! And for more twists on the classic cinnamon roll, try these Oreo Rolls.

More Apple Recipes You’ll Love

• Apple Dumplings — a fall treat that everyone should know how to make!
• Make a classic Apple Pie for your next holiday gathering! So much better than store-bought.
• Need a super easy recipe? This Apple Crumble is calling your name!
• Make some Apple Turnovers when you need a classic treat.

Did you make this? If you snap a photo, please be sure tag me on Instagram at @julieseatsandtreats or #julieseatsandtreats so I can see your yummy treat!

 

5 from 5 votes

Apple Cinnamon Rolls

Light, flake Apple Cinnamon Rolls are a homemade cinnamon roll with tender apples in the filling that's topped with cream cheese frosting.

Prep:20 minutes mins

Cook:26 minutes mins

Rise Time:50 minutes mins

Total:1 hour hr 36 minutes mins

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Ingredients

Dough

• ▢ 1 cup whole milk
• ▢ 2 ¼ teaspoon active dry yeast or 1 packet
• ▢ ¼ cup granulated sugar
• ▢ ¼ cup unsalted butter melted and slightly cooled
• ▢ 1 large egg room temperature
• ▢ 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• ▢ ½ teaspoon kosher salt
• ▢ 3 ½ cups all-purpose flour

Filling

• ▢ ½ cup unsalted butter softened *see note
• ▢ ½ cup brown sugar packed
• ▢ ½ cup granulated sugar
• ▢ 2 Tablespoons cinnamon
• ▢ 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• ▢ 3 granny smith apples peeled, cored and diced

Cream Cheese Frosting

• ▢ ¼ cup unsalted butter softened
• ▢ 4 ounces cream cheese softened
• ▢ 1 ½ cups powdered sugar
• ▢ 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• ▢ pinch of kosher salt

Instructions

• Line a 9×13 inch baking dish with parchment paper. Set aside.
• In a large microwave-safe bowl, heat milk for 30-40 seconds, until the milk is lukewarm. Add in yeast and sugar and stir with a whisk until dissolved. Cover with a clean dish towel and let the yeast proof for 10 minutes.
• While your yeast is proofing, peel, core and dice the apples and put in a medium mixing bowl. Set aside.
• After the yeast has proofed, whisk in melted butter, egg, and vanilla, until fully combined.
• Add in salt and flour, 1 cup at a time. Knead it slightly until the dough forms a ball. Cover the bowl with a clean towel or plastic wrap. Rest the dough for 10 minutes.
• While you let the dough rest, add the rest of the filling ingredients to the bowl with the diced apples and stir until it is combined. Set aside
• Lightly flour a surface and a rolling pin. Roll the dough out until it is approximately a 14” × 18” rectangle that is 1/4” thick.
• Spread filling over the entire surface of the dough.
• Beginning at the short side, roll the dough up.
• Use a serrated knife to cut the dough into 12 rolls.
• Place cinnamon rolls in the pan, cut-side down. Cover with a clean dish towel and let rise for about 50 minutes.
• Preheat the oven to 350℉. Bake for 24-26 minutes until the tops are slightly golden brown.
• For the frosting, add softened cream cheese, powdered sugar, vanilla extract, and a pinch of salt to a medium-sized bowl. Mix with a hand mixer until combined and smooth. Frost cinnamon rolls and serve warm!

Tips

FRIDGE: Store unfrosted rolls at room temperature in an airtight container for two days. Or, you can store them in the fridge for a week. Alternatively, store frosted apple cinnamon roll bake in an airtight container for up to 3 days.

FREEZER: You can freeze any cinnamon rolls that are not frosted. Just allow them to cool completely, then wrap tightly in plastic wrap. Store in a freezer bag or airtight container for up to three months. Allow to thaw, then bake and frost.

Nutrition Information

Serving: 1cinnamon roll, Calories: 458kcal (23%), Carbohydrates: 73g (24%), Protein: 6g (12%), Fat: 16g (25%), Saturated Fat: 10g (63%), Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 4g, Trans Fat: 0.5g, Cholesterol: 56mg (19%), Sodium: 146mg (6%), Potassium: 165mg (5%), Fiber: 3g (13%), Sugar: 42g (47%), Vitamin A: 563IU (11%), Vitamin C: 2mg (2%), Calcium: 69mg (7%), Iron: 2mg (11%)

© Julie's Eats & Treats ®

We are not dietitians and recommend you seek a nutritionist for exact nutritional information. The information in the nutrition box is calculated through a program and there is room for error. If you need an accurate count, I recommend running the ingredients through your favorite nutrition calculator.