There’s nothing quite like the smell of freshly baked Apple Cinnamon Rolls filling your kitchen on a crisp morning. These soft, gooey rolls are swirled with a luscious apple-cinnamon filling and topped with a creamy glaze that melts into every crevice. It’s a comforting, bakery-style treat that’s easy enough to make at home and guaranteed to impress family and friends.
If you love classic cinnamon rolls but crave something with an extra fall-inspired twist, this recipe is for you. Combining sweet apples, warm spices, and tender dough, these apple cinnamon rolls are the ultimate cozy breakfast or dessert.
🍏 Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Bursting with fall flavor: Sweet apples, brown sugar, and cinnamon in every bite.
- Soft and fluffy dough: Tender and pillowy texture baked to golden perfection.
- Make-ahead friendly: Prepare the night before for easy morning baking.
- Perfectly glazed: A creamy icing that seeps into every swirl.
- Smells like heaven: Your home will smell like an autumn bakery!
🧂 Ingredients You’ll Need
For the Dough:
- 1 cup warm milk (about 110°F / 43°C)
- 2 ¼ teaspoons active dry yeast (1 packet)
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg, room temperature
- ¼ cup unsalted butter, melted
- 3 ½ cups all-purpose flour (plus more as needed)
- ½ teaspoon salt
For the Apple-Cinnamon Filling:
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
- 2 cups finely chopped apples (Granny Smith or Honeycrisp work best)
- ½ cup brown sugar, packed
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon nutmeg (optional for extra warmth)
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice (to prevent apples from browning)
For the Glaze:
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 2 tablespoons milk (or heavy cream)
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
🍞 How to Make Apple Cinnamon Rolls
Step 1: Activate the Yeast
In a large bowl, combine warm milk, sugar, and yeast. Let it sit for about 5–10 minutes until foamy — this means the yeast is alive and ready to rise.
Step 2: Make the Dough
Add egg and melted butter to the yeast mixture and whisk to combine.
Gradually mix in flour and salt until a soft dough forms.
Knead on a floured surface for 6–8 minutes, or until smooth and elastic.
Place the dough in a lightly greased bowl, cover, and let it rise in a warm spot for about 1 hour, or until doubled in size.
Step 3: Prepare the Apple Filling
While the dough rises, peel and dice your apples.
In a small skillet over medium heat, melt butter, then add chopped apples, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and lemon juice.
Cook for 5–7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until apples are softened and caramelized.
Remove from heat and let cool slightly.
Step 4: Roll and Fill
Once the dough has risen, punch it down and roll it into a rectangle (about 12×18 inches) on a floured surface.
Spread softened butter evenly over the dough.
Spoon the apple-cinnamon mixture evenly across the surface.
Starting from the long edge, roll up tightly into a log.
Use a sharp knife or dental floss to cut into 12 even rolls.
Step 5: Let Them Rise Again
Arrange rolls in a greased 9×13-inch baking dish, leaving a little space between each.
Cover and let rise for another 30–45 minutes, until puffy.
Step 6: Bake to Golden Perfection
Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
Bake rolls for 25–30 minutes, or until golden brown and cooked through.
Let cool slightly before glazing.
Step 7: Make the Glaze
In a small bowl, whisk together powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla extract until smooth.
Drizzle generously over warm rolls — the glaze will melt beautifully into the soft spirals.
🍂 Tips for Perfect Apple Cinnamon Rolls
- Warm milk is key: Too hot will kill the yeast; too cold and it won’t activate.
- Soft apples: Pre-cooking the apples ensures they’re tender and caramelized.
- Use a sharp knife or floss: It keeps your rolls neat and even.
- Don’t skip the second rise: It gives the rolls their signature fluffiness.
- Glaze while warm: It melts into the rolls and adds that gooey bakery-style finish.
🍏 Make-Ahead Instructions
- Overnight option: After shaping the rolls, cover tightly and refrigerate overnight.
In the morning, let them rest at room temperature for 45 minutes before baking. - Freezer option: Freeze unbaked rolls on a tray, then transfer to a bag. When ready to bake, thaw overnight in the fridge, rise, and bake as directed.
🧁 Variations You’ll Love
- Apple Pecan Rolls: Add ½ cup chopped pecans to the filling for a nutty crunch.
- Caramel Apple Rolls: Drizzle caramel sauce over the baked rolls for extra indulgence.
- Maple Glaze: Replace milk in the glaze with maple syrup for a deeper fall flavor.
- Cream Cheese Frosting: For a richer topping, mix 4 oz cream cheese, 2 tbsp butter, 1 cup powdered sugar, and ½ tsp vanilla.
☕ Serving Suggestions
These Apple Cinnamon Rolls are perfect for:
- Weekend brunch or breakfast gatherings 🍽️
- Holiday mornings like Thanksgiving or Christmas 🎄
- Afternoon coffee or tea snacks ☕
- Dessert served warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream 🍨
🧊 Storage Tips
- Room temperature: Store in an airtight container for up to 2 days.
- Fridge: Keeps fresh for up to 5 days. Reheat before serving.
- Freezer: Freeze for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight and warm in the oven before serving.
💡 Pro Tip: Reheat rolls in the microwave for 20 seconds to restore that soft, gooey texture!
❤️ Final Thoughts
These Apple Cinnamon Rolls are a celebration of fall flavors — warm, spiced, and full of homemade comfort. The combination of soft dough, caramelized apples, and sweet glaze creates an unforgettable treat that’s as good for breakfast as it is for dessert.
Whether you’re baking them for your family, a cozy brunch, or a festive occasion, these rolls deliver that nostalgic, bakery-fresh magic every time. One bite, and you’ll understand why apple and cinnamon are truly a match made in heaven. 🍎✨
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🍎 Apple Cinnamon Rolls – The Perfect Cozy Fall Breakfast
Ingredients
For the dough:
• 2 ¼ tsp (1 packet) active dry yeast
• ½ cup warm milk (105–110°F / 40–43°C)
• 2 tbsp sugar
• 2 cups all-purpose flour (plus more for dusting)
• ⅓ cup granulated sugar
• 1 egg
• ¼ cup melted butter or coconut oil
• ½ tsp salt
For the filling:
• 1 medium apple (Honeycrisp or Granny Smith), peeled and finely diced
• ¼ cup brown sugar
• 1 ½ tsp cinnamon
• 2 tbsp melted butter or coconut oil
For the glaze (optional):
• ½ cup powdered sugar
• 1–2 tbsp milk or apple cider
• ½ tsp vanilla extract
Instructions
- Activate yeast: In a bowl, mix warm milk, 2 tbsp sugar, and yeast. Let sit 5–10 minutes until foamy.
- In a large bowl or stand mixer, add yeast mixture, ⅓ cup sugar, egg, melted butter, and salt. Mix well.
- Gradually add flour, ½ cup at a time, mixing until a soft dough forms. Knead 3–5 minutes until smooth and elastic.
- Place in a greased bowl, cover, and let rise 1 hour or until doubled.
- Make the filling: Toss diced apples with brown sugar and cinnamon. Stir in melted butter.
- Roll dough into a 9×12-inch rectangle on a floured surface. Spread filling evenly over dough.
- Roll up tightly from the long side. Pinch seam to seal. Cut into 12 slices.
- Place rolls cut-side up in a greased 9-inch round or square baking dish. Cover and let rise 30 minutes.
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Bake 22–25 minutes, until golden brown.
- Cool slightly, then drizzle with glaze for extra sweetness!
✨ Serve warm—the perfect fall breakfast or brunch centerpiece!
💡 Make ahead: Assemble the night before, refrigerate, then bake fresh in the morning.
PREP TIME & NUTRITION :
Prep Time : 20 mins + 1 hr 30 mins rise , Cook Time : 25 mins , Total Time : 2 hrs 35 mins , Servings : 12 rolls , Calories : 180 , Net Carbs: 28g , Fats: 6g , Protein: 3g