My scratch-made cinnamon rolls are so soft and fluffy, made with a traditional yeast dough. As a bonus, they’re loaded with homemade apple pie filling and slathered with sweet cream cheese icing. I’m not sure which cinnamon rolls recipe is the best one for the fall season. Is it my Pumpkin Cinnamon Rolls or these Apple Pie Cinnamon Rolls? Honestly, I love them both so much, I’ll let you try both and make your own decision! Today I want to show you how I make cinnamon rolls filled with apples though. These delicious seasonal sweet rolls are so soft, filled with a homemade apple pie filling with warm spices, and topped with a divine cream cheese maple frosting. Need more sweet rolls? Try making Sticky Buns topped with goey pecans, or learn the recipe my mom taught me for Plushki, or Russian Cinnamon Buns.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Soft, Homemade Cinnamon Rolls – Have you made cinnamon rolls from scratch before? If not, you are in for a wild ride and a divine flavor experience. Homemade yeasted sweet rolls are so much better than the kind you buy at the grocery store, you’ll see! Homemade Apple Pie Filling – It takes just a few minutes to turn diced apples into a sweet, spiced sticky filling, and it’s absolutely perfect. Cinnamon rolls and apple pie filling are the best combination. The Best Cinnamon Roll Frosting – Apple Pie Cinnamon Rolls without frosting just shouldn’t be allowed! The thick, sweet, maple-flavored frosting here makes these buns melt in your mouth.
Key Ingredients
Here’s everything you need to make these apple pie filled cinnamon rolls, plus some tips about a few of the most important ingredients: Complete list of ingredients and amounts can be found in the recipe card below.
For the Dough:
Whole Milk: Because we’re working with a yeasted dough here, it’s important that the milk is warmed to a temperature between 105° and 115°F. At this temperature, the yeast will “bloom” or wake up and start working for us. Yeast: This recipe uses instant yeast. This type of yeast starts working quicker so it’s a little bit of a shortcut. Butter: Melted butter adds fat and flavor to the cinnamon roll dough. Eggs: Allow the eggs to come to room temperature before mixing them into the dough. Cold eggs won’t incorporate as easily. Pantry Staples: Granulated sugar, salt, and all-purpose flour.
For the Filling:
Apples: The best apple pie filling is made with firm, flavorful apples. Go for Honeycrisp or Granny Smith for the best flavor. Gala or Fuji apples will work too. Butter: This adds so much richness and flavor. Spices: I’ve never been thrilled with store-bought apple pie spice, so I mix up my own! You’ll need cinnamon, ground ginger, and ground nutmeg. Light Brown Sugar: Adds the perfect amount of sweetness to the apple pie filling. Cornstarch: To thicken the filling. Vanilla Extract: To enhance all of the other flavors!
For the Frosting:
Cream Cheese: It’s important that you allow the cream cheese to soften fully at room temperature so that you create a frosting without any lumps. Powdered Sugar: This adds sweetness and body to the frosting. Maple Syrup: To further build on the warm fall flavors in this recipe, maple syrup is the perfect special touch!
How To Make Apple Pie Filled Cinnamon Rolls
Recipe Tips
Heating the Milk. It’s important to heat the milk to the proper temperature so that it activates the yeast but doesn’t kill it. Use a thermometer to make sure that the milk is between 105°-115°F (40 -46°C). Proofing the Yeast. It’s technically not a requirement when using instant yeast, but I like to do it anyway. Why? Because if you proof the yeast in the warm milk you will see it start to bubble. This way, you know that your yeast is fresh before you mix up the whole batch of dough. Use a Stand Mixer. This is the best tool for the job! It makes the process of kneading the dough quick and low effort. If you don’t have one, use an electric mixer or whisk to combine the ingredients, then knead the dough by hand for 5-10 minutes until it’s smooth. Cutting the Rolls: Use a serrated knife to cut the rolled up dough into rounds, and use a gentle sawing motion. You want to avoid squishing the rolls. Instead of a knife, you can also use unflavored dental floss.
Storing Tips
To Store: Once the rolls are baked, they can be kept at room temperature for up to 2 days, covered. To Reheat: Add the whole pan to a 350°F oven for a few minutes, or microwave for 30 seconds. To Freeze Cinnamon Rolls: Wrap them and place in a freezer container for up to 3 months. Pop one or two directly into the microwave when you’re ready to enjoy. Heat at 30-second intervals until warmed though.
Overnight Make Ahead Option
These cinnamon rolls with apple pie filling are most delicious if you eat them when they’re fresh, but you can adjust the process so that the 2nd rise happens overnight in the fridge! This way, you can bake them when you wake up and have them warm and ready for breakfast. Instead of letting the cut rolls rise for an hour at room temperature, cover them and let them rise in the fridge for 8-24 hours. You may not get quite as high of a rise, but they will puff up in the oven.
Freezer Make Ahead Cinnamon Rolls
Once the dough has completed its first rise, wrap it and freeze it for up to two weeks. Allow the dough to thaw overnight in the refrigerator, then proceed with rolling, cutting, the second rise, and baking.
What type of flour should I use for Cinnamon rolls?
All-purpose flour works just fine in this recipe, but if you have some bread flour hanging around, use that instead! Bread flour has more protein and gluten in it, so the rolls will be extra chewy and airy. I have not tested this recipe with gluten-free flour.
Can I use this recipe to make plain cinnamon buns?
Yes! Instead apple pie filling for cinnamon rolls, spread on a mixture of 4 tablespoons softened butter, ¾ cup light brown sugar, and 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon.
Can I use active yeast instead of instant yeast?
You absolutely can. If you’re using active dry yeast, allow the yeast to sit with the warm milk and sugar for about 10 minutes before mixing in the rest of the ingredients. It should bubble and foam when it’s ready. Cinnamon Rolls with Apple Pie Filling are like two perfect desserts rolled into one! Enjoy these for breakfast, brunch, or as a sweet dessert with your family. © Little Sunny Kitchen
