Apple Cinnamon Rolls

Name: Apple Cinnamon Rolls
Prep time: 60 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 80 min
Ingredients: ¾ cup milk ((Full fat, but anything works)); ⅓ cup butter (unsalted); 3 ¼ cup all-purpose flour; ¼ cup white granulated sugar; ½ teaspoon salt; 1 packet active quick rise yeast (2 and ½ teaspoons); 1 egg (size large); 4 tablespoons butter (melted); ¾ cup brown sugar (light brown, packed); 3 tablespoons cinnamon (ground); 1 cup apples (chopped fine); ¼ cup heavy whipping cream; ½ cup unsalted butter (softened); 2 cups powdered sugar; 2 tablespoons heavy cream ( can substitute milk)

1 hour 20 minutes

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By: Julie Blanner9 Comments
Posted: 8/31/15

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These easy apple cinnamon rolls are a perfect breakfast or brunch to feed a crowd. Even though they are made from scratch, they are simple to make and perfectly light and fluffy.

Homemade apple cinnamon rolls are better than the ones you buy at your bakery! Plus, the fragrance and flavors of the apples speaks of everything we love about autumn. It’s like a combination of your favorite cinnamon rolls and apple pie – what’s better than that?

Apple Cinnamon Rolls in a white baking dish with text overlay

This time of year, I like to incorporate apples into a lot of my cooking and baking – apple bread, apple soup, apple pizza, apple ravioli and guess what now… apple cinnamon rolls.

With a fresh, fabulous new spin, this recipe is a reboot of some childhood favorite fall sweet rolls. Rather than using frozen dinner rolls, I now make it from scratch – in almost the same amount of time and without having to think ahead the night before.

This apple cinnamon rolls recipe is a little twist on my better than the bakery cinnamon rolls. We’ve added a touch more cinnamon, a basic glaze and of course, diced apples!

It’s so easy and really feels special. Whether you have them for breakfast, dessert or deliver them to friends, they’re sure to bring a lot of smiles!

If you want to take a no yeast shortcut, you can make my Easy Cinnamon Rolls and use this filling and glaze – along with a touch of heavy cream, of course! If a touch of heavy cream is ever bad, I don’t want to be right.

Table of Contents

Why You’ll Love these Apple Cinnamon Rolls

Easy to Make
Filled with Fall Flavor
Perfect for Brunch
A Great Gift

I love apples so much year round, but especially in the fall. In fact, I’ve created a completely free APPLE RECIPE GUIDE filled with fabulous photos, printable recipes and my favorite tips and tricks – don’t skip it!

Apple Cinnamon Roll Ingredients

Milk – Full fat is always best for decadent rolls, but whatever you have on hand will work.
Butter – unsalted. If using salted butter, eliminate the added salt in the dough.
All-purpose flour
White granulated sugar
Salt
Active quick rise yeast – just one packet of active yeast is all you need!
Egg – size large

Filling Ingredients

Butter, melted
Brown Sugar – light brown, packed
Cinnamon – ground
Apples – any kind, chopped fine

Add Just Before Baking

Heavy whipping cream

Icing

Unsalted butter, softened
Powdered Sugar
Heavy cream – can substitute milk

If you need tips for learning about yeast, be sure to read my complete guide to baking with yeast! It’s full of can’t-miss tips and tricks!

Variations

Frost with a lighter Cinnamon Roll Icing
Use Cream Cheese Icing
Apple Glaze
Apple Butter Icing

Dough rolled out on a work surface, a bowl of apples in the background

How to Make Apple Cinnamon Rolls

In a saucepan over medium heat, add milk and butter. Stir until melted and remove from heat.
In a mixing bowl, combine flour, sugar, and salt. Add yeast, milk mixture and egg.
Knead while gradually adding more flour until the dough forms.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Roll out dough into a rectangle.
Spread melted butter on top. Sprinkle cinnamon, sugars and apples on top. Cut strips. Roll and place in a baking dish or cast iron skillet.
OPTIONAL for extra large rolls (not shown) cover with a damp towel, turn oven off and allow to rise 25 minutes. Remove from oven, preheat again to 350 degrees. Otherwise you can bake immediately.
Cover rolls in heavy cream. Bake 15-20 minutes, or until slightly golden.
Combine all ingredients until smooth. Pour over the hot apple cinnamon rolls to serve.

Cream being poured over the unbaked rolls

Tips To Make Apple Cinnamon Rolls

You can knead the dough by hand or in a stand mixer. Kneading by hand will take about 10 to 12 minutes and in a mixer it will take around 8 to 10 minutes.
Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge and reheated in the oven.
Take a little seasoning shortcut and make my apple pie spice ahead of time to store in your pantry!
If you prefer to make your glaze thinner, just add a little more cream.
If you are making larger rolls, allow 25 minutes for the dough to rise.
I prefer to serve these rolls freshly baked, but if you prefer you can bake them and the store covered in the fridge and they will keep well for a couple of days. You can reheat them in the oven or enjoy cold.

Scaling up, down or substituting? You’ll love this printable Measurement Conversion Chart!

An apple cinnamon roll on a white plate cut with a fork

Frequently Asked Questions

Why are my cinnamon rolls chewy?

This generally means that you’ve added too much flour to your dough mixture. Just be sure to keep the amounts correct and you’ll be fine!

How do you know if the dough is kneaded enough?

When kneading the dough, it will gradually start to become smooth. The finished dough should be smooth and slightly tacky to the touch and form a ball. Poke the ball with your finger, if it comes quickly back to shape the dough is ready, if the indentation stays deep, knead the dough for a little longer.

How do you keep cinnamon rolls moist when baking?

In these fabulous apple cinnamon rolls, the key is lots of butter and then pouring heavy whipping cream over them just before baking. Incredibly moist results!

Make Ahead Tips

These rolls are a great make ahead of time option. You make the rolls the day before, but don’t add the cream. You can then cover the rolls and keep them in the fridge overnight.

The next morning, just pour the cream over, pop them in a pre heated oven and finish with the glaze.

Or, to reheat after they’ve been baked and iced, throw them individually in the microwave for 20 seconds or in the casserole dish in a preheated oven at 350 degrees for 5 minutes.

an apple cinnamon roll served on a white plate with a fork

How to Store Cinnamon Rolls

Room Temperature – Store at room temperature in an airtight container up to two days.
Refrigerate – Store in an airtight container up to five days.
Freeze – You can also freeze cinnamon rolls, storing in an airtight container covered in plastic wrap to avoid any freezer odor up to three months.