The history of cinnamon rolls is deeply rooted in Scandinavian countries, but the addition of apple filling takes this classic treat to an entirely new level of deliciousness. With heavenly sweet icing on top of homemade cinnamon roll dough filled with sweet apples, this easy recipe is a delight and perfect for the fall season. This apple cinnamon roll recipe combines the yeasted dough of traditional homemade cinnamon rolls with the sweet and tart flavors of apple pie filling. It’s perfect for this time of year when apples are in their prime, but you can enjoy it any time of year! There’s nothing better on a cool day than the warm aroma of apple cinnamon filling your kitchen as you pull out a pan of freshly baked Apple Cinnamon Rolls! For more sweet roll recipes that are perfect for the holidays, check out my Homemade Orange Sweet Rolls, Tiktok Cinnamon Rolls, and these Gingerbread Cinnamon Rolls for major holiday vibes!
Why We Love This Recipe
This recipe is so versatile, it’s perfect for all kinds of occasions—whether it’s a casual weekend brunch, an impressive dish to bring to a holiday gathering or a special treat to enjoy on a cozy night in. It’s a great recipe to make with the kids. They’ll love rolling the dough or even mixing the apple filling. Customize this recipe to suit your personal tastes. Use Honeycrisp apples instead of Granny Smith apples, or add some caramel sauce to the filling or maple extract to the icing for an even more indulgent twist!
What You’ll Need
Scroll down to the recipe card below this post for ingredient quantities and full instructions.
Flour – Use all-purpose flour for the cinnamon roll dough. You could use bread flour for a slightly chewier texture if you prefer. Instant Dry Yeast – Instant yeast will help your dough rise, making it soft and fluffy. Active dry yeast can be used as a substitute but might require a little longer to rise. Granulated Sugar – Adds just the right amount of sweetness to the dough as well as keeping it moist and balances the tartness of the apples in the filling. Salt – Enhances all of the flavors and balances the sweetness. Apples – Choose a mix of sweet and tart apples like Granny Smith and Honeycrisp for a balanced flavor. Pink Lady and Envy apples are some of our other favorites. Light Brown Sugar – Adds a deep sweetness and slight molasses flavor to the apple filling. Ground Cinnamon – Gives the rolls their classic, warm cinnamon flavor. Cornstarch – Helps to thicken the apple filling while baking and makes it soft and gooey. Butter – Use salted butter to add richness and moisture to the filling, and also to make the icing. Powdered Sugar – Creates a smooth and sweet base for the frosting. Milk – For thinning out the icing. You can substitute heavy cream for a richer texture. Vanilla Extract – Adds a hint of warm, sweet vanilla flavor to the icing.
How to Make Apple Cinnamon Rolls
Tips for Success
Using instant dry yeast is easiest for making these rolls. However, if you’re using active dry yeast, make sure your milk mixture is at the right temperature (around 110ºF) and stir the yeast into the warm milk in a separate bowl and let it sit for about 5 minutes until puffy to activate the yeast. A yeast mixture that’s too hot or too cold can lead to flat, dense rolls. For a balanced, slightly tart filling, consider using a mixture of Honeycrisp and Granny Smith apples. These varieties bring both sweetness and tartness, making your apple cinnamon rolls irresistibly complex in flavor. While a stand mixer with a dough hook attachment makes kneading effortless, you can still achieve great results with a hand mixer and a paddle attachment, or even just a wooden spoon and some elbow grease. Just be prepared to spend a little more time and effort if you’re not using a stand mixer.
Substitutions and Variations
Change the flour. You can also use bread flour for a chewier texture. To make these rolls gluten-free, a gluten-free all-purpose flour mix can also be used. Use other sweeteners. Use coconut sugar or maple syrup instead of sugar if you prefer, but adjustments may be needed for liquid content. Change the milk. Any kind of milk will work well here. Try almond milk, soy milk, or oat milk for a dairy-free option. Try different spices. Cinnamon adds warmth and a classic spiced flavor to the filling, but you could try nutmeg, cardamom, or allspice for a different twist. Use other extracts. Try maple extract, almond extract, or even lemon juice instead of vanilla (you might want to use half of the amount to start) to add a different flavor to the icing.
More Fresh Apple Recipes
German Apple Cake with Streusel Topping (Apfelkuchen mit Streusel) Homemade Apple Chips in the Air Fryer German Apple Strudel No Bake Caramel Apple Eclair Cake Homemade Apple Fritters Crockpot Apple Butter No-Bake Caramel Apple Eclair Cake Apple Crisp
If you’re serving these apple cinnamon rolls for brunch or holiday gatherings, think about offering some savory options to balance the sweetness. Sides like Scrambled Eggs, Bacon, or even a Fruit and Cheese Platter work well. They’ll provide contrasting flavors that will make the sweet, gooey rolls even more enjoyable! To take the indulgence to the next level, add a dollop of Homemade Whipped Cream or a scoop of Vanilla Ice Cream on top. It turns your cinnamon rolls into a decadent dessert that will be the talk of any gathering.
Apple Hand Pies
Glazed Apple Fritter Yeast Bread
German Apple Pancakes with Cider Syrup
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