Here’s a delicious and thorough apple cinnamon rolls recipe you can try at home. I’ll break it down step by step so it’s easy to follow.
Ingredients
For the dough:
- 2 ¼ tsp (1 packet) active dry yeast
- ½ cup warm milk (110°F / 43°C)
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- ¼ cup unsalted butter, melted
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 large egg
- 2 ½ – 3 cups all-purpose flour
For the filling:
- 2 medium apples, peeled and finely diced
- ¼ cup unsalted butter, softened
- ½ cup brown sugar, packed
- 1 ½ tsp ground cinnamon
- Optional: ¼ tsp nutmeg or allspice
For the glaze (optional):
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 2–3 tsp milk
- ½ tsp vanilla extract
Instructions
1. Make the dough:
- In a small bowl, dissolve yeast in warm milk and let sit 5–10 minutes until frothy.
- In a large bowl, combine sugar, melted butter, salt, and egg. Mix in the yeast mixture.
- Gradually add flour, 1 cup at a time, mixing until a soft dough forms.
- Knead dough on a lightly floured surface for 5–7 minutes until smooth and elastic.
- Place dough in a greased bowl, cover with a clean towel, and let rise for 1–1.5 hours, until doubled in size.
2. Prepare the filling:
- Mix brown sugar, cinnamon, (and optional nutmeg/allspice).
- Peel and finely dice the apples. Set aside.
3. Assemble the rolls:
- Punch down the risen dough and roll it into a rectangle about 12×9 inches.
- Spread softened butter over the dough.
- Evenly sprinkle the cinnamon-sugar mixture over the butter.
- Spread the diced apples on top.
- Starting from the long edge, tightly roll the dough into a log.
- Cut into 9–12 rolls (about 1–1.5 inches each).
- Place rolls in a greased 9×13-inch baking dish, leaving a little space between them.
4. Second rise:
- Cover rolls with a towel and let rise 30–45 minutes until puffy.
5. Bake:
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Bake rolls for 25–30 minutes until golden brown.
6. Make the glaze (optional):
- Whisk powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla until smooth.
- Drizzle over warm rolls.
7. Serve warm and enjoy!
💡 Tips for best results:
- Using slightly tart apples like Granny Smith balances the sweetness.
- Don’t skip the second rise—it makes the rolls fluffy.
- You can toast the diced apples lightly in a pan with a little butter before adding—they stay tender and flavorful.
If you want, I can also give a shortcut version using store-bought dough that’s almost as good but faster. Do you want me to do that?
