If you’re a cinnamon roll lover, then this Apple Cinnamon Rolls recipe is for you! This is kinda like your traditional cinnamon roll with a kick, and a bit healthier!
What’s cozier than baking with fall spices and filling your house with sweater-worthy aromas? I don’t know if it gets much better! And lucky for me I’m forced to do some fall baking after ditching my favorite apple cinnamon plugins and candles several years ago. (Read here why I chose to ditch scented air fresheners) There’s no need for fall-scented plugins when I have the real thing sending glorious smells throughout the house!
Now, if you’ve never made Cinnamon rolls, and I mean REAL homemade cinnamon rolls you should give this a try! It’s easier than you may think and so good that you may have to give some away so you don’t eat them all!
Making the dough for your Apple Cinnamon Rolls
Don’t over-complicate the process. I promise it’s easy!
You can buy the little packets of yeast from the store. I like them because they are easy and convenient. Make sure your yeast isn’t expired, then dissolve it into a ¼ cup of warm water. The temperature doesn’t have to be perfect…not too hot, and not too cold, just warm. Let it sit for a couple of minutes and activate. You will know when it’s ready because it will look foamy. At this time you can whisk in your sugar, salt, spices, and egg. While I’m whisking these things in I like to warm my milk and butter.
Again, you don’t want it too hot or too cold, just warm to the touch. After whisking in your warm milk and butter its time to add the flour. Stir it in with a wooden spoon 1 cup at a time. You can use a mixer if you would like, I just like a good old wooden spoon. Once you mix in your flour and your dough is a nice consistency, its time to cover it (I like to use press-n-seal)and set it in a warm spot in your kitchen to let it rise.
Ahhhh, your dough is rising, and now it’s time to mix up the filling. The end result is going to be soooo good! and did I mention this recipe is a little healthier? In this recipe, I ditch the cream cheese frosting for a healthier maple cinnamon glaze! I hope you love these as much as we did!
For more cinnamon roll recipes check out Orange Cardamom Cinnamon Rolls!
For more fall desserts check out:
Apple Cinnamon Rolls
Equipment
- 2 Iron Skillets
Ingredients
- ¼ cup warm water + 1 package of yeast
- 6 tablespoon melted real butter
- 1 cup milk or milk alternative
- 1 whole egg
- 1 teaspoon pink salt or sea salt
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- ⅓ cup sugar
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
- ⅛ teaspoon nutmeg
- 4-4 ½ cups unbleached all purpose flour start with 4 and then add a tablespoon at a time until you get a nice dough
Filling
- 1 stick real butter softened 2 tablespoon reserved for the bottom of iron skillets
- 2 tsp cinnamon
- couple dashes nutmeg
- ⅛ teaspoon pink salt or sea salt
- ½ cup brown sugar
- ⅓ cup pecans chopped
- 1 whole apple diced in small chunks like pictured above
Maple Cinnamon Glaze
- ⅓ cup maple syrup
- ¼ teaspoon pink salt or sea salt
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
Instructions
Apple Cinnamon Rolls
- In a large mixing bowl place warm water and yeast. Let sit until frothy.
- In a small saucepan melt butter and add milk and turn off. Make sure milk & butter are warm to the touch then whisk into yeast and water mix. Add the flour in one cup at a time. After 4 cups add one tablespoon at a time until you have a less sticky dough.
- Cover and set in a warm part of your kitchen to double in volume.
- Preheat the oven to 400 when the dough is ready.
- When the dough is ready turn onto a floured surface and press with fingers or use a rolling pin to form dough into a rectangle of about 15 inches.
- Spread filling on the dough evenly (as pictured above). Sprinkle diced apple and pecan pieces on top, then with the long side, tightly roll into a log.
- To evenly cut, cut in half, then each in half, and repeat until you have about 16-18 rolls.
- Turn fire on low and melt the 2 tablespoon of reserved butter (one in each iron skillet) along with 1 teaspoon of brown sugar in each skillet.
- Place approximately 8 rolls in each iron skillet, and let sit until they rise to double.
- Place in preheated oven and bake for about 30 minutes or until golden brown.
Filling
- Mix softened butter, cinnamon, nutmeg, salt, and brown sugar in a bowl until combined.
- Peel and dice apples into very small cubes and set them aside.
- Set aside pecans.
Maple Cinnamon Glaze
- In a saucepan pour in maple syrup, salt, and cinnamon.
- Bring to a simmer and simmer for 3-5 minutes or until the glaze starts to thicken.
- Turn fire off and let cool for a couple of minutes to allow to thicken.
- Spoon over fresh-baked cinnamon rolls and serve warm!
Notes
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