Ohhh wow—apple cinnamon rolls are next-level cozy 🍎🍥
Soft rolls, gooey cinnamon filling, little pockets of apple… absolute fall energy (but honestly great anytime).
🍎🍥 Apple Cinnamon Rolls
Dough
- ¾ cup warm milk
- 2¼ tsp active dry yeast
- ¼ cup sugar
- 1 egg
- ¼ cup melted butter
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- ½ tsp salt
Apple Filling
- 2 apples (Granny Smith or Honeycrisp), peeled & diced small
- ½ cup brown sugar
- 2 tbsp butter, softened
- 1½ tsp cinnamon
- ¼ tsp nutmeg (optional)
Cream Cheese Glaze
- 4 oz cream cheese, softened
- 2 tbsp butter
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- ½ tsp vanilla
- 1–2 tbsp milk
Instructions
- Activate yeast:
Mix warm milk, yeast, and sugar. Rest 5–10 minutes until foamy. - Make dough:
Add egg, butter, flour, and salt. Knead until soft and elastic.
Cover and let rise 1–1½ hours, until doubled. - Prep filling:
Toss apples with brown sugar and cinnamon. - Roll & fill:
Roll dough into a rectangle. Spread butter, sprinkle apples evenly. - Roll & cut:
Roll tightly, slice into 9–12 rolls. - Second rise:
Place in greased baking dish, cover, rise 30 minutes. - Bake:
Bake at 350°F (175°C) for 30–35 minutes, until golden. - Glaze:
Whisk glaze ingredients and spread over warm rolls.
🔥 Pro tips
- Dice apples small so they soften fully
- If apples are juicy, sauté them 3–4 minutes first
- Pour ¼ cup warm cream over rolls before baking for extra gooey centers
Variations
- Add chopped pecans or walnuts
- Use caramel glaze instead of cream cheese
- Try puff pastry for a shortcut version
Want a no-yeast, overnight, or store-bought dough hack?
