Apple Crisp Cinnamon Rolls

Imagine warm, homemade cinnamon rolls with a delicious surprise – they’re stuffed with a mix of cinnamon and tasty apple pie filling. On top, there’s a sweet crumbly layer made with oats and brown sugar. To top it all off, there’s a creamy cream cheese icing.

Warm and gooey homemade Apple Crisp Cinnamon Rolls are one of the tastiest breakfast treats you can make! This apple crisp version is perfect for fall.

If you’ve never made cinnamon rolls from scratch, get ready for an amazing experience. Nothing beats the aroma and flavor of freshly baked cinnamon rolls right from your own kitchen. Even those from Cinnabon don’t quite compare to the homemade goodness. These apple pie cinnamon rolls take that goodness to the next level.

Each layer of these rolls, from the buttery dough to the cinnamon apple pie filling, the crisp oat crumble, and the sweet creamy icing, is incredibly delicious. When all these flavors come together, you get a breakfast bite that’s truly out of this world.

Looking at the recipe might seem a bit overwhelming at first, as there are more instructions than some of our other recipes. But don’t worry, it’s easier than it looks! The Apple Crisp Cinnamon Rolls can be broken down into four parts: dough, filling, topping, and icing. The dough might seem challenging, but we have a foolproof recipe and tips to ensure it turns out light and airy every time.

You can make breakfast a breeze by preparing Apple Crisp Cinnamon Rolls the night before. The second stage, known as the “proof” or rising of the filled dough, can be done overnight in the refrigerator. Just make and fill the rolls, put them in a greased pan, wrap tightly with plastic wrap, and refrigerate. In the morning, let the rolls come to room temperature, then bake as usual. Enjoy fresh-baked cinnamon rolls without the morning hassle!

VARIATIONS ON APPLE CRISP CINNAMON ROLLS

• Quick and Easy Cinnamon Rolls: If you’re short on time, you can skip making homemade cinnamon rolls and use two cans of jumbo-sized packaged cinnamon rolls. Grease a baking dish and arrange the cinnamon rolls in the bottom. Spread apple pie filling over the top, add crumble topping, and bake for 20 minutes. Serve with cream cheese icing.
• Add a Crunch with Nuts: For a delightful crunch, include up to 1 cup of chopped pecans or walnuts. Add ½ cup to the streusel topping and ½ cup to the filling.
• Experiment with Different Fillings: Try these Apple Crisp Cinnamon Rolls with alternative fruit fillings such as cherry pie filling or blueberry pie filling. You can also use 2 cups of pumpkin puree or one large can, mixed with 1 tbsp of sugar and 1 tsp of pumpkin pie spice.
• Fresh Apples Instead of Filling: Instead of using apple pie filling, use fresh apples in the cinnamon roll filling. Peel and dice tart apples (like Granny Smith or Honeycrisp) into bite-sized pieces. Spread the diced apples evenly over the cinnamon sugar mixture and assemble as usual.
• Enhance the Icing: If you’re a fan of cinnamon flavor, add ½ tsp of ground cinnamon to the cream cheese icing. You can also experiment with other flavors like apple pie spice blend, maple syrup, melted chocolate, cocoa powder, or molasses for a variety of delicious tastes.

HOW TO STORE APPLE CRISP CINNAMON ROLLS

Serving:

Without Icing: Apple Crisp Cinnamon Rolls are good at room temperature for up to 3 days.
With Icing: If you put cream cheese icing on Apple Cinnamon Rolls, it’s best to store them within 2h.

Storing:

Keep Apple Cinnamon Rolls with Icing in a sealed container in the fridge for up to 5 days.
To warm them up, use the oven until they’re heated through.

Freezing:

You can freeze Apple Crisp Cinnamon Rolls without icing for up to 3 months in a sealed container.
Reheat them directly from the freezer, covered with foil, in a low-temperature oven (300-325 degrees).

Be sure to check out these other delicious cinnamon roll recipes!

• Cinnamon Roll Bites
• Oreo Cinnamon Rolls
• Mini Cinnamon Rolls

 

Apple Crisp Cinnamon Rolls

Apple Crisp Cinnamon Rolls are cinnamon rolls made from scratch, filled with a delicious cinnamon apple pie filling. They’re topped with a brown sugar oat crumble and finished off with a layer of creamy cream cheese icing.

Yield: 18 servings
Prep Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 30 minutes

Ingredients

Cinnamon Roll Dough

• 2 cups whole milk
• 1/2 cup butter, room temperature
• 6 1/2 cups flour, divided
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1 tsp salt
• 2 packets of instant rapid-rise yeast
• 2 large eggs

Cinnamon Roll Filling

• 1 cup sugar
• 3 tbsps ground cinnamon
• 1/2 cup butter at room temperature
• 21 ounces of Apple Pie Filling

Crisp Topping

• 1 1/2 cups flour
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 3/4 cup light brown sugar, packed
• 1/2 tsp kosher salt
• 1 cup rolled oats, not instant
• 1/2 cup cold unsalted butter, diced

Cream Cheese Icing

• 12 ounces cream cheese, (1 ½ packages), softened
• 1/3 cup butter, room temperature
• 1 tbsp vanilla extract
• 5 cups powdered sugar
• 3 tbsps milk

Instructions

Cinnamon Roll Dough:

1. In a small saucepan, warm the milk and butter until it feels warm to the touch (about 110 degrees).
2. In your stand mixer, combine the yeast and milk. Whisk and let it sit for one minute.
3. Add 6 cups of flour, sugar, salt, and eggs to the stand mixer.
4. Pro tip: Place a clean dish towel over your mixer.
5. Attach the dough hook and set the mixer to speed 3-4 (low to medium).
6. Let it mix for 5-7 minutes until the dough forms a non-sticky ball.
7. Tip: If it sticks, add flour ¼ cup at a time until it stops sticking (up to one more cup).
8. Take out the dough, grease the stand mixer bowl, and put the dough back in.
9. Cover the dough with the dish towel you used for the flour in the stand mixer.
10. Let it sit for 10 minutes while you preheat the oven to 350 degrees and prepare the filling.
11. In a medium-sized bowl, mix sugar and cinnamon.
12. On a large, even surface, sprinkle ½ cup of flour. Roll the dough onto the surface to coat the rolling pin and the surface.
13. Roll out the dough into a large rectangle, about ½ inch thick. If your space is limited, you can do this in two halves.
14. Spread butter over the dough (using your hands) and sprinkle cinnamon sugar over it.
15. Take apples from most of the glaze in the can. (Optional: Save glaze for sauce. See Note 2.)
16. Chop apples in half and evenly distribute them on the dough.
17. Roll the dough tightly to form a long log, then use a piece of thread to slice it into pieces. The dough will make 18 large cinnamon rolls.
18. Place the rolls in buttered baking pans or jelly rolls.
19. Put the rolls in a warm place for 20 minutes (See Note 3).

Crisp Topping:

1. Mix together flour, ¾ cup sugar, ¾ cup brown sugar, salt, oats, and butter. Mash them together.
2. Sprinkle this mixture over the cinnamon rolls.
3. For the cream cheese frosting:
4. In your stand mixer, beat cream cheese, sugar, and vanilla extract until it becomes creamy.
5. Add powdered sugar and milk, and continue beating until it becomes light and fluffy.

To Finish:

1. Bake the rolls for 20 minutes or until they turn golden brown.
2. Spread the cream cheese frosting (or glaze as noted) evenly on top of the rolls.
3. Serve them warm or at room temperature.

Notes

• Note 1: Pro Tip: Cover your mixer with a clean dish towel.
• Note 2: If you want, you can save some glaze as a sauce. Just add ¼ tsp ground cinnamon and warm it before using.
• Note 3: If you have a second oven, heat it to warm when starting the recipe. Turn it off, open the door for a few seconds, then close the door. The remaining warmth is perfect for these rolls.

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