This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.
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?

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

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.

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!

Frequently Asked Questions
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!
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.
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.

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.
Dietary Considerations
- Vegetarian
- Nut Free
- To make Gluten Free, simply use a 1 to 1 gluten free flour in this recipe.
Hungry for more easy recipes? Sign up for my free recipe club and have amazing recipes delivered directly to your inbox each week!
More Apple Recipes
- Baked Apple Slices
- Apple Butter Ice Cream
- Apple Pound Cake
- Skinny Apple Tart
- Apple Cinnamon Bread Recipe
- Apple Salad Recipe
Did you make this? Rate the recipe and tag me on social @julieblanner!

Apple Cinnamon Rolls
Ingredients
Dough 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
Filling Ingredients
- 4 tablespoons butter melted
- ¾ cup brown sugar light brown, packed
- 3 tablespoons cinnamon ground
- 1 cup apples chopped fine
Add Just Before Baking
- ¼ cup heavy whipping cream
Icing Ingredients
- ½ cup unsalted butter softened
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 2 tablespoons heavy cream can substitute milk
Instructions
For Dough
- In a saucepan over medium heat, add milk and butter. Stir until melted and remove from heat.
- In a mixing bowl, combine 2 ¼ c flour, sugar, salt. Add yeast and lukewarm milk mixture. Combine. Add egg.
- Using the dough hook attachment on your mixer, knead while gradually adding in 1 cup flour until the dough forms a ball and pulls away from the edges of the bowl. You can also knead by hand.
- Let dough rest for 10 minutes. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
For Filling
- On a floured surface, roll out dough into a rectangle. Spread melted butter on top and then add diced apples. Combine cinnamon and sugar and sprinkle on top. Using a knife or pizza cutter, cut 10 strips. Roll and place in a baking dish or cast iron skillet.
- Turn oven off. Cover rolls with a damp towel and allow to rise 25 minutes. Remove from oven, preheat again to 350 degrees.
Just Before Baking
- Cover rolls in ¼ cup heavy cream. Bake 15-20 minutes, or until slightly golden.
For Icing
- Mix icing ingredients until smooth and drizzle over rolls.
Tips
- 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.
Nutrition Information
Estimated nutrition information is provided as a courtesy and is not guaranteed.
Julie says
Thanks, Mariah! Enjoy!
Patricia @ Grab a Plate says
These look and sound amazing! Apples make so much sense for cinnamon rolls! Thanks for sharing – can’t wait to try!
Michelle | A Latte Food says
Apple season is my favorite! These rolls look absolutely divine! And your pictures are straight gorgeous!
Maryanne @ the little epicurean says
Apple season hasn’t arrived in Southern California…yet, but I’m super excited! These apple cinnamon rolls look absolutely heavenly!
Mariah @ Mariah's Pleasing Plates says
So excited for apple season! These cinnamon rolls look divine! Pinning for later!