This Apple Cinnamon Rolls recipe is delicious warm with a spread of sweet maple frosting and make the perfect breakfast or brunch.

Featured image for Apple Cinnamon Rolls.

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❤️ Why you'll love it
🥘 Ingredients
🔪 Instructions
🥄 Equipment
🥫Storage
📖 Variations
💭 Tips
📚 Related Recipes
🍽 Serve with...
🏫 The last word
📖 Recipe
💬 Comments

❤️ Why you'll love it

Apple fans will love the warm apple pie like filling between layers of sweet dough in these homemade cinnamon rolls.
They are the best of apple pie and cinnamon rolls together in one pan!
The apple filling and cinnamon sugar keeps these gooey cinnamon rolls moist and they don't dry out like regular cinnamon rolls can.

🥘 Ingredients

Milk: I used reduced fat milk, but whole milk, fat free milk, or non dairy milk will work also. The milk should be warm (not hot) so heat in a small saucepan on log heat until about 95 degrees. The warm milk helps to activate the yeast.

All purpose flour

Granulated sugar

Salt

Instant yeast, this will do a rapid rise on the rolls.

Large eggs: these should be at room temperature.

Fresh apples: good ones to choose from are honeycrisp apples, mcintosh, or granny smith.

Lemons

Ground cinnamon

Butter: I use unsalted butter, if you use salted, be sure to cut the amount of salt in half.

Powdered sugar

Maple syrup

Walnuts (optional)

Cooking spray

🔪 Instructions

For the Dough

In the bowl of a stand mixer with a dough hook attachment, add flour, sugar, salt and yeast. Stir to combine.
Add eggs and warm milk and mix on low speed until well incorporated. Continue to add a little bit of flour until dough no longer sticks to sides of the bowl and a soft dough forms.
Turn out onto a lightly floured work surface and knead a few times. Set aside in oiled bowl, cover with plastic wrap, and set in a warm place let dough rise until doubled. (about 1 hour)

For the Apple Filling

While the dough rests, in a large saucepan, saute sugar and butter until bubbly. Add apples and cinnamon, toss to coat. Stir in water and lemon juice. Bring to a boil then turn heat down to a simmer.
Simmer until most of the liquid has absorbed and filling is thickened. Set aside.

Sugar Filling

In a small bowl, mix the sugar and cinnamon. Set aside. The butter will be used in assembly.

To assemble the rolls

Preheat oven to 350. When dough is ready, punch down dough to deflate. Using a rolling pin, oll dough out onto lightly floured surface into a rectangle shape (about 16x2").
Spread softened butter over top of dough. Sprinkle with cinnamon sugar mixture.
Top cinnamon sugar mixture with apple filling.
Roll dough into a cylinder along the long sides. Pinch seams together. Cut using a sharp knife or a piece of unwaxed dental floss, slide the floss under the roll and slice it in half by bringing the floss together and crossing it over. Slice each half again, then slice each quarter into 3 portions.
Place rolls in 9x13 baking dish that has been coated with cooking spray. Let rise until doubled in size (about 30 minutes).
Bake for 30 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from oven and cool.

For the Maple Frosting:

Mix together maple syrup and powdered sugar. Frost cooled rolls with the icing and sprinkle with walnuts.

Up close image of apple cinnamon roll on an orange plate.

🥄 Equipment

Stand Mixer (or mix by hand using a large bowl and wooden spoon)

Small bowl

Rolling pin

Spreader

Dental floss (unwaxed)

9x13 Baking dish

🥫Storage

Store any leftover rolls in an airtight container the fridge or counter up to 5 days. If storing in the fridge, reheat in the microwave for 10-15 seconds to take the chill off.

📖 Variations

Substitute canned apple pie filling, or Mom's Apple Pie in a Jar for the apple filling
For a deeper caramel flavor, substitute dark brown sugar for granulated sugar for the sugar layer in the cinnamon rolls.
Make the frosting with apple cider and powdered sugar instead of the maple syrup.
Use this cream cheese frosting recipe in place of the maple frosting.
Substitute apple pie spice for the ground cinnamon.

💭 Tips

Wash the mixing bowl after the dough is made and use it for the rising of the dough as well.
If you forget to take the eggs out ahead of time, you can bring them to room temperature by placing the whole egg in a bowl filled with very warm water (not hot) for 5 minutes.

🍽 Serve with...

Serve warm cinnamon rolls with a hot cup of coffee, tea, or milk. Or, serve as dessert with a scoop of vanilla ice cream!

🏫 The last word

Apple filled cinnamon rolls are one of my favorite cinnamon roll recipes to enjoy in the fall when fresh apples are in supply and the temperatures begin to drop. This means my favorite season (fall) is on it's way!

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When you make this recipe, please comment below and let me know what you think. I'd love it if you tag me on Instagram @grumpyshoneybunch or #grumpyshoneybunch so I can see your photos!

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