Warm, fluffy apple cinnamon rolls are filled with a gooey cinnamon apple pie filling , then topped with a sweet maple glaze. Having one is the perfect way to start or end your day!
If you love apple dessert recipes, be sure to try these apple rose puff pastries, this classic french apple cake or this easy apple dump cake.
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Easy Apple Cinnamon Buns
Just imagine the smells that come from your kitchen when there’s a batch of these homemade apple cinnamon buns in the oven. Fluffy rolls made with a sweet apple filling then topped with a gooey maple glaze.
It’s like an apple pie and cinnamon bun rolled into one!
The chunks of apples, brown sugar, cinnamon, and melted butter nestled in the nooks and crannies of these homemade cinnamon rolls give us warm and cozy fall vibes.
These are made completely from scratch, and yet still super easy to make with very little rise time. Which makes them a great choice for special occasion brunches, breakfast on Thanksgiving or Christmas morning, a midday snack with a cup of tea, or as a dessert after a meal.
Then, any rolls you have left over, you can reheat in the microwave the next day, and they’ll be just as good!
Ingredients/shopping list
Below is a list of the ingredients you’ll need to gather to make this recipe. Scroll down to the full recipe card with amounts
For the Dough
- Brown sugar: Yeast feeds on sugar, which helps to activate it. It also gives the dough added sweetness.
- Active dry yeast: Make sure your yeast is fresh! Expired yeast will lead to disappointing results.
- Warm water: Along with the sugar, yeast needs warmth, so be sure the water is not too hot or too cold.
- You’ll also need: Milk, butter, all-purpose flour, and salt.
The Filling
- Apples: I use Honeycrisp apples, peeled and diced, but you can use whichever kind you prefer.
- Brown sugar and cinnamon: The essence of any apple cinnamon recipe!
- Melted butter: Gives the cinnamon sugar mixture a gooey, syrupy consistency once baked.
Maple Glaze
- Powdered sugar: It sweetens the glaze without leaving any grittiness. Also known as confectioners’ sugar, it contains cornstarch, which helps to thicken the glaze.
- Maple syrup: For the maple flavor. Use pure maple syrup, if you can.
- Milk: Adds a bit of creaminess and body to the glaze. Any kind of milk will do. Whole milk, skim milk, or 2%.
- Vanilla extract: For flavor.
Variations/ Substitutions
1. Use a different kind of apple or a combination of a few fresh apples. Granny Smith apples, Gala apples, Ambrosia apples, and Fuji apples will all deliver a slightly different apple flavor, but they are all delicious.
2. For a shortcut, use apple pie filling instead.
3. Swap the maple glaze for a regular vanilla glaze or a caramel frosting. You could also go the classic route with a cream cheese frosting.
4. To add extra flavor, use brown butter rather than regular melted butter. It’ll add an unbelievable depth of flavor.
How to Make this Recipe
This recipe will come together in a few steps with just 1.5 hours of rise time. Believe me, they are worth the wait!
Step 1: Stir the brown sugar, warm water, and yeast in a small measuring cup and let it sit for 10 minutes. You’ll know it’s activating because it’ll start to foam.
Step 2: In the meantime, add the butter and milk to a small saucepan over low heat and heat until the butter is melted. Be careful not to get it too hot.
Step 3: In a large mixing bowl (or bowl of a stand mixer), combine the flour and salt. Then, pour the warm milk and butter mixture into the dry ingredients. Follow this with the yeast/sugar mixture.
Step 4: Mix everything until a dough is formed. Use the dough hook to knead for 3–4 minutes until smooth.
Step 5: Transfer the dough to a greased bowl and cover with a clean, damp towel (or cover with plastic wrap). Let the dough rise in a warm place for an hour depending on the temperature of your environment. It should double in bulk.
Step 6: Once the dough has risen, turn it out onto a lightly floured surface. Use a rolling pin to roll the dough out into a large rectangle, about 9 x 14″.
Step 7: Brush the dough with melted butter and sprinkle with brown sugar. Then, distribute the diced apple across the entire surface of the dough. Sprinkle with cinnamon.
Step 8: Starting from the long edge of the rectangle closest to you, roll it up tightly into a log. Use a sharp serrated knife to carefully cut the cinnamon rolls into about 1 inch pieces. If you don’t have a sharp knife, unflavored dental floss works too!
Step 9: Place rolls in a prepared baking dish and once again cover them using a clean, damp towel. Let the rolls rise for a second time for 30 minutes until they’ve expanded and are nice and fluffy.
Step 10: Towards the end of the rise time, preheat the oven to 350°F. Bake the homemade cinnamon roll dough for 20–22 minutes until the tops are golden brown and the dough is cooked through.
Step 11: Once rolls are out of the oven, cover the rolls using a generous topping of maple icing to each one. Now, it’s time to dig in!
Tips
- We’re using active dry yeast for this recipe. This means it needs to be proofed before added to the rest of the ingredients. Don’t skip this step!
- If you do use instant yeast, you can skip the proofing and add it directly into the dough mixture.
- For a more deeply spiced roll, try using apple pie spice or add some nutmeg to the cinnamon.
- To prepare these ahead of time, add cinnamon rolls to the prepared baking dish, and instead of letting them rise at room temperature, cover them in plastic wrap and refrigerate them overnight.
How to Store Leftovers?
Refrigerate: Keep leftover sweet rolls in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.
Reheat: A quick zap in the microwave is all these babies need to become warm and fluffy again.
FAQ’s
Sure you can! Use dairy free milk and vegan butter and you’re good to go!
Using a stand mixer with the dough hook attachment is definitely the easiest way to go, but not the only way to go.
I would, however, suggest using a wooden spoon or spatula to mix before using an electric hand mixer with beaters. It’ll take a little extra elbow grease, but since the dough will get caught in the beaters, it’ll still be the easier way to go.
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Apple Cinnamon Rolls
Ingredients
For the Dough:
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 2 ¼ teaspoon active dry yeast
- ¼ cup warm water
- 1 ¼ cup milk
- 6 tablespoons butter
- 3 ½ cups all purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon salt
For the Filling:
- 2 honey crisp apples peeled and diced
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons butter melted
- 1 tablespoon cinnamon
For the Maple Glaze:
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- ¼ cup maple syrup
- 3 tablespoons milk
- 1 ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- In a small measuring cup, combine brown sugar, warm water, and yeast. Stir to combine and let sit for 10 minutes until activated.1 tablespoon brown sugar, 2 ¼ teaspoon active dry yeast, ¼ cup warm water
- While you are waiting for the yeast to activate, combine the milk and 6 tablespoons butter in a small saucepan and heat over low heat until melted. Be careful it doesn't get too hot!1 ¼ cup milk, 6 tablespoons butter
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, and salt.3 ½ cups all purpose flour, ½ teaspoon salt
- Pour the butter and milk mixture into the flour mixture and add the yeast/sugar mixture in as well.
- Combine until a dough is formed, and knead for 3-4 minutes until smooth.
- Place the dough in an oiled bowl, cover with a clean damp towel and let rise for an hour or until it has doubled in size.
- After the dough has completed rising, place it on a floured surface and, using a rolling pin, roll it into a large rectangle about 9 x 14-15 inches long.
- Brush melted butter on top of dough and sprinkle with brown sugar. Evenly distribute the peeled, diced apples across the surface of the dough, and sprinkle with cinnamon.2 honey crisp apples, ¼ cup brown sugar, 2 tablespoons butter, 1 tablespoon cinnamon
- Tightly roll up the dough along the long side and carefully cut the rolls into about 1 inch pieces.
- Place them in a greased baking dish.
- Cover again with a clean, damp kitchen towel and let them rise again for about 30 minutes or until nice and fluffy.
- Remove the towel, and place in a preheated oven at 350° F for 20-22 minutes or until tops are golden brown and dough is fully cooked.
- While the cinnamon rolls are in the oven, combine the glaze ingredients in a medium bowl, and stir to combine.2 cups powdered sugar, ¼ cup maple syrup, 3 tablespoons milk, 1 ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- Remove rolls from the oven and top with maple glaze.
Notes
Of course! You would substitute with dairy free ingredients here! Tips for baking with yeast: Use the correct yeast! This recipe calls for active dry yeast, which means it needs to be
activated before using! Make sure to check the date on your yeast! Expired yeast will not perform well. Storage- Store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Pop them in the microwave when ready to eat.
Nutrition
Nutritional Disclosure
Nutrition information is automatically calculated and should only be used as an approximation.
Deborah Earles
Can you use crescent rolls for the dough?