Easy Apple Pie Cinnamon Rolls
These Easy Apple Pie Cinnamon Rolls only require one rise and can be made in roughly an hour and are perfect for the beginner baker. The rolls are filled with a homemade apple pie filling and topped with a vanilla icing. Each roll is ultra soft with the most delicious swirl. These rolls freeze well, too.
I can’t think of a better fall bake than cinnamon rolls stuffed with apples. Cinnamon rolls are one of my favorite treats. It’s not something that I crave every day, but having a cinnamon roll every once in a while is a special, sweet treat.
Growing up, my family would always have a big Sunday brunch after church. Often times our brunch ended with dessert – either doughnuts or cinnamon rolls. The once a week indulgent sweet treat was something I always enjoyed.
These apple pie cinnamon rolls are easy to make. They only require one rise time, then are stuffed with a brown sugar cinnamon mixture and apple pie filling. The rolls are melt in your mouth delicious, and I’m telling you, you need to make these! So, let’s get baking.
Here’s what you need to know…
These rolls require one rise time, that’s it! Why? The rolls rise a bit longer during the first rise, allowing them time to develop the necessary gluten structure, texture and flavor. You may be wondering why a second rise is necessary in the first place. A second rise typically allows for the dough to develop extra flavor.
You’ll knead the dough for 10 minutes, a couple minutes longer than usual. This will allow for extra gluten development in the dough. After kneading the dough, you’ll let the dough rise for 40 minutes. While the dough rises, you’ll make the apple pie filling.
Once the dough is done rising, you’ll roll the dough into a 12×18 inch rectangle, then spread the butter, brown sugar/cinnamon mixture, and cooled apple pie filling over dough. Roll the dough into a cylinder, then cut the rolls, using a serrated knife. Cut 9 rolls, then place in a lightly greased 8×8 pan.
The rolls are ready to bake at this point. They should look puffy and fill out the 8×8 pan. Bake in preheated oven for 22-26 minutes, or until golden brown. Spread icing over the rolls once they’ve cooled a few minutes. The icing will harden as it sits.
If you make this recipe, let me know what you thought in the comments and ratings below. Make sure you find me on instagram and youtube to see the full baking video as well as some fun behind the scenes.
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Easy Apple Pie Cinnamon Rolls
- Total Time: 1 hour 12 minutes
- Yield: 9 1x
Description
These Easy Apple Pie Cinnamon Rolls only require one rise and can be made in roughly an hour and are perfect for the beginner baker. The rolls are filled with a homemade apple pie filling and topped with a vanilla icing. Each roll is ultra soft with the most delicious swirl. These rolls freeze well, too.
Ingredients
- 1 cup warm whole milk (warmed to 110F)
- 1 packet (2 1/4 teaspoons) instant dry yeast
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1 large egg
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
Apple Pie Filling:
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1/2 tablespoon ground cinnamon
- 3 1/2 cups apples, chopped
- 1/4 cup water
- 1 tablespoon all purpose flour
Spread on the Dough:
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Vanilla Icing:
- 3 tablespoons whole milk or heavy cream
- 2 tablespoons salted butter, melted
- 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
1. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the dough hook attachment, or a large mixing bowl, add all ingredients for dough to mixing bowl (I like to add the milk, yeast and sugar, then add the egg, flour and salt and butter on top of the flour). Since you are using instant yeast, there is no need to let the yeast bloom.
2. Mix the dough until a dough ball forms on low speed, then increase to medium speed and knead for 10 minutes. Alternatively you can knead by hand if you do not have a stand mixer.
3. Transfer dough to a lightly greased bowl. Spray top of dough with nonstick spray, then cover with plastic wrap. Allow to sit for 40 minutes.
4. In a large skillet over medium heat, add butter, apples, brown sugar, cinnamon and water. Cook for 4-5 minutes to soften apples, then stir in flour. Cook mixture until sauce thickens, stirring frequently.
5. Preheat oven to 375F. Roll dough on a lightly floured surface into a 12×18 inch rectangle. Spread 3 tablespoons softened butter over dough. In a small bowl stir together ¼ cup brown sugar and 1 teaspoon cinnamon. Sprinkle over dough, then using hand, rub the mixture into dough (it’s okay if it doesn’t entirely cover the dough). Spread apple filling over dough. You will have to spread the filling thin to get it cover the entire dough (you don’t want too much of the wet apple pie filling, otherwise the dough won’t bake properly).
6. Roll dough, starting at short edge, into a cylinder. Using a serrated knife, cut into 9 rolls. Place in lightly greased 8×8 pan.
8. Place rolls in preheated oven. Bake for 22-26 minutes, or until rolls are golden brown in color.
9. While the rolls bake, make the icing. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the butter until light and fluffy. Gradually and slowly add in powdered sugar until combined, along with milk and vanilla extract. Beat until icing is fluffy.
- Prep Time: 50
- Cook Time: 22
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Oven
- Cuisine: American
So yummy and quicker to make than other cinnamon rolls!!
Jennifer,
I’m so glad to hear that! Thanks for making them!
-Jolene
Hi, Jolene.
This looks delicious! I will try making this soon. In instruction #1, what do you mean by “make sure to not mix the salt and yeast directly”?
April,
When making something with. yeast in it, if you add the salt directly on top of the yeast it can deactivate it. In other words, when mixing the dough you can just add milk, yeast sugar, egg, flour, then add the salt on top of the flour. I usually add the butter on top of the flour too. Hope that makes sense! If you have any other questions feel free to reach out! Hope you enjoy these!
-Jolene
Delicious!
Jenna,
So glad you enjoyed these! Thanks for making them :).
-Jolene
These were easy to make. I need practice but nobody is complaining about that! They are really good and a great way to use up a few more of the abundance of apples we have this year! Thank you!
Angela,
I agree, they are easy and a wonderful way to use up a few apples for a tasty treat. I’m really glad to hear you enjoyed them! Thank you so. much for making them!
-Jolene
I forgot to leave star rating!! Oops!
5 stars!! 😁
Angela,
No worries!! Thank you so much. I am thrilled to hear you enjoyed them! 🙂
-Jolene
Just made these this morning! I was skeptical to try a new recipe but they turned out so perfect! The icing is amazing! Will make these again!!
Amy,
I am thrilled to hear that! I know the method is maybe not the “standard” for making cinnamon rolls, but it works and I think it’s a bit easier. Thank you so much for making these. Happy Sunday! 🙂
-Jolene