These cinnamon rolls with apple pie filling would be a perfect breakfast treat to make on a holiday morning. The dough is pillowy soft, filled with a homemade apple pie filling, and topped with cream cheese icing!
These apple cinnamon rolls takes my classic cinnamon rolls and adds warm cinnamon spice and apples to it.
The cinnamon roll dough has both an apple filling and cinnamon butter spread in the middle. So these are ooey gooey with every bite taken!
Looking for more apple recipes? Then check out these: mini apple pies, apple crisp bars, and traditional apple pie.
Jump to:
Why You'll Love These Homemade Cinnamon Rolls
- They're super soft and fluffy.
- The apple flavor pairs perfectly with the cinnamon.
- They're topped with a cream cheese frosting.
- You can use your favorite apples, such as honeycrisp or granny smith.
- These would be so fun to make for a holiday morning, like Thanksgiving or Christmas!
One of my favorite treats to serve on Christmas morning is gooey cinnamon rolls! Just the smell of the cinnamon sugar is enough to put you in a great mood.
Instead of grabbing a can of cinnamon rolls from the grocery store, try making these. They're definitely worth it!
Also, if you're looking to make this sweet treat even sweeter, add a scoop of vanilla ice cream to your plate.
Expert Baking Tips
- Baking Pan: These rolls are baked in a 9x13-inch baking dish. I used a glass pan. Be sure to spray the pan with cooking spray as well.
- Measuring Flour: To help ensure you don’t add extra flour, follow these three simple steps: 1) Fluff up the flour using a fork. 2) Spoon the flour into your measuring cup. 3) Scrape a knife across the top of the measuring cup to level out the flour.
- Rising Method: If possible, I recommend the first rise to happen in the oven. If you can't, then the dough can rise on the counter. I prefer the oven method when I can.
- Apples: Be sure to dice the apples up into small chunks. This helps for an even bake and to not tear the dough when rolling.
- Bake Time: Be careful not to over bake the dough. If over cooked, the dough will be hard and not soft.
- Icing: As soon as the rolls come out of the oven, spread the icing over the top. That way it'll melt into all of the cracks, which is the best part!
Ingredients Needed
Here are some notes on the ingredients we'll be using. For the full list of ingredients, look at the recipe card below.
- Milk: You need warm milk that has been heated to about 110 degrees fahrenheit so the yeast can rise.
- Butter: This needs to be at room temperature for both the filling and icing.
- Yeast: I used active rise yeast. You could also use instant yeast or active dry yeast.
- Flour: I used all-purpose flour.
- Apples: You'll need two large apples that have been peeled, cored, and diced small. Feel free to use your favorite type of apples.
- Apple Pie Spice: You can buy this from the store or make your own. Here is my apple pie spice recipe that I highly recommend!
- Cream Cheese: Use the block-style cream cheese, not the spreadable kind.
Instructions
Here are the step by step instructions on how to make this easy apple pie cinnamon rolls.
Step 1: Prepare the milk. In a small bowl, heat the milk and cubed butter for about 30 seconds. Pour into the bowl of a stand mixer and mix in the yeast, white sugar, beaten eggs, and salt.
Step 2: Combine the wet and dry ingredients. Using the dough hook attachment, add in the flour and mix on low speed until the dough starts to form.
Increase to medium speed and knead until the dough is soft and slightly tacky.
Step 3: Rise the dough. Place the dough into a lightly greased large bowl, cover with plastic wrap, and let it rise for 1 hour in a warm place.
Step 4: Apple pie filling. In a small saucepan over medium heat, combine the diced apples, white sugar, butter, flour, and apple pie spice.
Stir occasionally as the apple mixture starts to thicken. Cook for a total of 5-8 minutes. Remove from the heat and set aside.
Step 5: Cinnamon mixture. In the bowl of a stand mixer, beat the butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon on high speed until completely combined. Set aside.
Step 6: Roll out the dough. On a lightly floured surface using a rolling pin, roll out the dough to ¼ inch thick large rectangle.
Use a rubber spatula to spread on the cinnamon butter mixture and then the apple filling.
Step 7: Roll, cut the dough, and second rise. Roll the dough into a log and use a serrated knife to cut and make 15 rolls. Place into a prepared 9x13 inch baking pan, cover, and let the dough rise for 20 minutes.
Step 8: Bake. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees and bake the rolls for 15-20 minutes, or just until lightly golden brown on top.
Cinnamon Roll Icing
In the bowl of an electric mixer using the paddle attachment, beat the cream cheese and butter on high speed until combined and creamy.
Add the powdered sugar, milk, vanilla extract, and cinnamon and beat on low speed for about 30 seconds. Increase the speed to medium-high and beat for an additional 1-2 minutes until smooth and creamy.
Immediately frost the warm cinnamon rolls with the icing and serve immediately.
Storing Tips
Keep any leftover rolls in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
To reheat, place one cinnamon roll on a plate and heat for 20-25 seconds in the microwave.
Frequently Asked Questions
You can definitely use a can of apple pie filling if you'd like, but I highly recommend making your own! The flavor is so much better and it's easy to make.
It might need a little more flour. If the dough sticks to your fingers when trying to remove it, mix in 1 tablespoon of flour at a time until it doesn't.
Yes you can. Before baking the rolls, add a little bit of heavy cream (or heavy whipping cream) to the bottom of the pan. The rolls will be even more soft and tender. I don't typically do this since my cinnamon rolls always turn out soft and fluffy.
If you made this recipe, please leave a comment and star rating below. I love hearing from you! Also, please tag me on Instagram and check out my Pinterest for even more recipe ideas.
It brings me so much joy to see you make my recipes. 🙂
Happy Baking!
More Cinnamon Roll Recipes
📖 Recipe
Cinnamon Rolls with Apple Pie Filling
Equipment
- 9x13 Glass Baking Pan
- Electric Stand Mixer
- Rolling Pin
- Mixing Bowl
- Saucepan
Ingredients:
Dough
- 1 cup milk, warmed to 110°F
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, cubed
- 2 packets active rise yeast (4 ½ teaspoons)
- ¼ cup sugar
- 2 large eggs, beaten room temperature preferred
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 4 ½ cups all-purpose flour
Apple Pie Filling
- 2 large apples, peeled, cored, and diced small
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
- 1 teaspoon all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon apple pie spice
Cinnamon Filling
- ½ cup unsalted butter, room temperature
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
Cream Cheese Frosting
- 3 ounces block-style cream cheese, room temperature
- ¼ cup unsalted butter, room temperature
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 1 tablespoon milk
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
Instructions:
Dough
- In a microwaveable-safe bowl, heat the milk and cubed butter for 30-40 seconds, or until around 110°F. Pour into the bowl of a stand mixer and mix in the yeast, sugar, beaten eggs, and salt with a fork or whisk.
- Using the dough hook attachment, add in the flour and mix on low speed until the dough starts to form. Once formed, increase the speed to medium and knead until the dough is soft and slightly tacky (2-3 minutes). If the dough sticks to your fingers when trying to remove it, mix in 1 tablespoon of flour at a time until it doesn't.
- Transfer the dough to a lightly greased large bowl and cover with plastic wrap or a kitchen towel. Preheat the oven to 200 degrees and once preheated turn it off, place the bowl in the oven, and keep the door slightly open. Allow the dough to rise in that warm space for 1 hour.*If you can't do this in your oven, let the dough rise on the counter.
Apple Pie Filling
- In a small saucepan over medium heat, mix together the diced apples, sugar, butter, flour, and apple pie spice until combined. Stir occasionally as the apple mixture starts to thicken. Cook for a total of 5-8 minutes. The apples should be a little soft but not all the way cooked. Remove from the heat and set aside to cool completely in the refrigerator.
Cinnamon Filling
- In the bowl of a stand mixer using the paddle attachment, beat the softened butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon on high speed until completely combined. Set aside.
Assemble
- After the dough has risen, roll it out on a lightly floured surface to ¼ inch thick and into a rectangle. Use a rubber spatula to spread the cinnamon butter all over the dough. Then spread on the apple pie filling.
- Starting on the long end, roll the dough up as tightly as you can into a log shape. Use a serrated knife and cut off the uneven ends. Then cut the log into 15 rolls (about 1 inch wide).
- Spray a 9x13-inch pan with non-stick spray and place the rolls inside of it. Cover with a towel and rise for 20 minutes on the counter.
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees and bake for 15-20 minutes, or just until the rolls are lightly golden brown on top and the center of the rolls are cooked through.
Cream Cheese Frosting
- In the bowl of an electric stand mixer using the paddle attachment, beat the cream cheese and butter on high speed until combined and creamy (2-3 minutes).
- Add the powdered sugar, milk, vanilla extract, and cinnamon and beat on low speed for about 30 seconds. Increase the speed to medium-high and beat for an additional 1-2 minutes until smooth and creamy.
- Spread the icing over the hot cinnamon rolls and serve immediately. Keep any leftover cinnamon rolls in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
Notes:
- Baking Pan: These rolls are baked in a 9x13-inch baking dish. I used a glass pan. Be sure to spray the pan with cooking spray as well.
- Measuring Flour: To help ensure you don’t add extra flour, follow these three simple steps: 1) Fluff up the flour using a fork. 2) Spoon the flour into your measuring cup. 3) Scrape a knife across the top of the measuring cup to level out the flour.
- Rising Method: If possible, I recommend the first rise to happen in the oven. If you can't, then the dough can rise on the counter. I prefer the oven method when I can.
- Apples: Be sure to dice the apples up into small chunks. This helps for an even bake and to not tear the dough when rolling.
- Bake Time: Be careful not to over bake the dough. If over cooked, the dough will be hard and not soft.
- Icing: As soon as the rolls come out of the oven, spread the icing over the top. That way it'll melt into all of the cracks, which is the best part!
Hello. Can you freeze these before baking?
Hi Nicole! Yes you can. Just follow all the steps leading up to the baking of the rolls. So instead of throwing them into the oven after their second rise, cover the pan in plastic wrap really well and freeze. They can stay frozen for up to 2 weeks.