Cinnamon rolls filled with Sweet n tangy caramelized apples and topped with cream cheese icing. These cinnamon rolls make the perfect fall treat and will remind you of apple pie but in a cinnamon roll form.
Watch out Cinnabon there’s a new kid in town! If you love apple pie or cinnamon rolls you are going to fall in love with these apple pie cinnamon rolls – These rolls are the best of both worlds. I really can not even explain how good these apple pie cinnamon rolls are! They are super moist and filled with a delicious caramelized cinnamon spice apple filling that just melts in your mouth.
I love making cinnamon rolls because they can be made in big batches and stored in the fridge or freezer. I’m going to admit I’ve had days where I wake up 7 am and attempt to bake cinnamon rolls before the kids wake up but never finish in time! They usually end up taking a few hours and we end up eating something else instead while they rise. Now I bake them the night before and store them in the fridge and then pop them in the oven or microwave in the morning.
One of the secrets to making perfect cinnamon rolls is to use warm water and milk. Not hot, just a little hotter than lukewarm. It helps them rise and makes the dough very easy to spread.
This recipe calls for 4 and 1/4 cups flour so the dough might seem a bit on the hard side at first but once you knead it will soften up. Be sure to use all the flour or the dough will become loose and get very messy when trying to roll.
I used a cream cheese icing for these rolls but they can also be eaten without frosting at all although I highly recommend the icing!
Apple Pie Cinnamon Rolls with Cream Cheese Icing
Ingredients
For the dough
- 1 package yeast, about 2 & 1/4 teaspoons
- 1/2 cup lukewarm water
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 1/2 cup warm milk
- 1/3 cup melted butter
- 1 egg, room temperature
- 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
- 4 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
For the Apple Pie Filling:
- 5 granny smith apples, peeled and diced
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 5 tablespoons melted butter
- 2 tablespoons butter, room temperature
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon apple spice, optional
For the Cream Cheese Icing:
- 4 tablespoons butter, room temperature
- 1/4 cup cream cheese, softened
- 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
To make the dough
- Combine lukewarm water, 1/4 cup sugar, and yeast in a small bowl; set aside for 5-6 minutes or the mixture begins to bubble and the yeast has begun to activate.In a large bowl whisk the melted butter, egg, warm milk, and salt. Add the yeast mixture and then slowly whisk in 1 cup of flour then another cup. The mixture will begin to thicken, switch from the whisk to a wooden spoon, gradually add the rest of the flour, and continue mixing until the flour is fully combined. Turn the dough onto turn dough to a floured surface and knead for 5 minutes. Place the dough in a greased bowl and cover with plastic wrap, place in the microwave or oven ( turned off) for 90 minutes. Begin working on apple filling.When the dough has risen, remove the cover and punch it down then remove it from the bowl. Roll out on a floured surface into a 16×24 inch rectangle. Spread the 2 tablespoons of butter at room temperature evenly over the dough keeping 1/2 inch from the edges. Mix the brown sugar with the cinnamon and sprinkle evenly across the butter. Spread the apple mixture over the brown sugar as evenly as you can. Roll into a log, starting from one end to the other, lengthwise, so the log is 24 inches. Cut 2-inch slices, this will give you 12 cinnamon rolls or 3-inch slices for 8 big cinnamon rolls. Line a 9×13 baking pan with parchment paper and place the rolls on the paper about 1 inch apart. Cover with plastic wrap and allow to rise for 1 hour. About 20 minutes before the rolls are done rising heat the oven to 375 degrees. Bake the rolls for 20 minutes or until the edges are golden in color. Allow the rolls to cool for at least 15 minutes then top with cream cheese frosting and serve warm!
To make Apple pie Filling:
- While the dough is rising begin working on the apple filling. Heat a large skillet to medium/high heat and add 5 tablespoons of butter and stir until melted. Add the apples and sugar and saute until the apples are lightly caramelized. Remove the skillet from heat and set aside until you are ready to use.
To make Cream Cheese Frosting:
- Mix cream cheese, butter, powdered sugar, vanilla, and salt together with an electric or stand mixer on medium speed until the icing is light and fluffy.
Equipment
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
I’ve made these twice now and the flavors are amazing but I can’t get them to rise properly and get fluffy like normal cinnamon rolls. Anyone else having this problem?
These are the best cinnamon rolls I’ve ever made and might be the best I’ve ever had. So light and fluffy and the apple addition is SO good! I used the drippings from my apples in my cream cheese frosting and it really took it to the next level! Thanks for the great recipe!!
Can these be baked 2 days ahead and stored in fridge till needed?
How does instructions change if I only have active dry yeast?
Omg!!! I have now made these 3 times. They last about 4 or 5 hours n gone. My neighbors are my best pals on roll day…they are the best and only cin n. Roll I will eat or bake.. Thanks for the RECEIPE…wonderful and amazing.
It seems like tons of butter on second rise it all came out almost done we will see but they smell good
Oh, no…
Made a dbl batch and they are sooo good! I frozen one batch unbaked for future because they take awhile to make so why not make 2 batches??
These look incredible
Many UNANSWERED questions belOw, would be helpful FoR others if answers were given. Do yoU freeze rolls baked or unbaked? Im guessing unbaked but since you mention you freeze them, let us know what works best. do you thaw before baking? For how long? When do you add apple pie spice? Add To cooked apples or to brown sugar? There are some typos in your recipe, you may waNt to fix. Thanks for sharing!
any recommendations for the egg substitute for allergy reasons?
These look yummy but, Directions for filling and assembly are a bit lacking and confusing. When am i using the room temp butter? How am i assembling the roLls. How many rolls should i get?
Thanks!
Looks like 2 T of room temperature butter as spread on the dough after it is rolled out to size. You would then sprinkle your brown sugar mixture on top of that then add your apple mixture on top of that. You would then roll it lengthwise (longest) into a log then cut them into 8 even pieces.
Heerlik gaan dit probeer
I would really love to make these,,,they look delish but in the sugar. yeast and lukewarm water instruction. are you suppose to mix for 8-10 mins or mix and let sit for 8-10 mins? please reply asap…thanx
Hey Cindy, I’m sorry I didn’t see your comment earlier. I’ve updated the post to make it easier to understand. You would first combine the sugar yeast and water and then set them aside for a few minutes or until the mixture is bubbly. Hope that helps! 🙂
Step #4 is missing
Can they be frozen before or after baking?
I’m baking these tomorrow, can I use instant yeast?
Yes, you can!
I made these yesterday and went through the first & second rise. I’m testing them for a Christmas overnight recipe. After the second raising I left them covered with saran wrap on the counter and baked them this morning. They turned out wonderful. So, it’s on for Christmas.
One thing I forgot to mention that as it turned out an added benefit for leaving them out overnight is that the water from the apples continues to seep out overnight. So, at the bottom of the pan is a nice syrupy apple flavored sauce at the bottom of the pan after baking. YUM!
I am getting ready to make these and am a bit confused.
First instructions says mix brown sugar and cinnamon to spread over the rolled dough. I don’t see measurements listed for this in the ingredients section.
2nd question…
Apple pie filling ingredients:
5 granny smith apples, peeled and diced
1/2 cup sugar
5 tablespoons melted butter
2 tablespoons butter, room temperature
1 cup brown sugar
2 tablespoons ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon apple pie spice
Apple pie filling instructions
heat butter until melted, add apples and sugar until caramelized. What of the room temp butter and cinnamon and apple pie spice?
Should this actually read
Apple filling:
5 granny smith apples, peeled and diced
1/2 cup sugar
5 tablespoons melted butter
Cinnamon filling
2 tablespoons butter, room temperature
1 cup brown sugar
2 tablespoons ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon apple pie spice
Hey! These look amazing. When you talk about freezing them, how long can they last in the freezer? And then you thaw and bake? Or can you bake from frozen?
When it says to add one cup of flour then another, does it mean only add 2 or the full 4 and a half cups? Please reply asap!
It means to add two cups of the flour to the mixture while using the whisk, then switch over to the wooden spoon and add the other 2 cups. If the dough is still soft, add 1/4 more. Please let me know how it turns out for you!
so I want to cheat a little and use the can of apple pie filling I have in the pantry… will that work at all??
Holy crap! My husband is going to die when I make these. Two of his favorite things in one dish! Very creative!
Oh my goodness these are INCREDIBLE!!! Like, seriously?! I just had dinner and dessert and am hungry all over again after looking at these beauties!
I’ve been looking a some cinnamon roll recipes to try and this just moved to the top of the list! These look delicious and I love that it has the apple pie component. Yum!!
I think these would take me straight to heaven at breakfast time, Layla! Absolutely love them! You are definitely giving Cinnabon a run for their money with these.
Wow Layla! These rolls are like insane, love the combo of two classic desserts in one! Any left over? 🙂
Wow Layla! This rolls like insane, love the combo of two classic desserts in one! Any left over? 🙂
These apple pie rolls look GORGEOUS <3 And wow at that cream cheese icing, I'm so drooling right now! These are definitely 83274987348937498739842 times better than plain cinnamon rolls I tell you ;–) I really need one of these right now OH MY C:
Oh, gosh. It’s 5pm and all I want for dinner tonight is one (or 5) of these gorgeous cinnamon rolls! That apple filling and cream cheese frosting looks TDF! Just gorgeous, Layla! Pinned.
Wow, these look so dang good! Cinnabon really better watch out with these guys! =) I can’t wait to give them a go!
These are just absolutely wonderful My husband loves cinnamon rolls and apple desserts, if I make these he will adore them.
I am in love with these!! And I love how you switched it up and used apple in a recipe right now!
Why aren’t these in my life right now? Just look at that cream cheese icing. It gets me every time! These look sooo good, Layla!
Oh my heavens, these look SO amazing! I had a rather puny breakfast this morning and would looooove one of these instead!
Woah, those look awesome. So much cream cheese frosting and sugar-coated apples! I’ll have to try this variation sometime.
Measures in ounces please
Yummy! Apple pie and cinnamon buns in one! Great idea..
Thanks Medeja!