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Apple Cinnamon Rolls with Maple Cream Cheese Frosting

Apple Cinnamon Rolls with Maple Cream Cheese Frosting

I’ve made this recipe three times in the last two and a half weeks and they disappeared in a hurry. I may have helped… a few times.

The filling is so flavourful. Tart granny-smith apples pieces are coated with cinnamon, sugar, vanilla extract, and apple cider vinegar, which gives the apple filling a wonderful, slightly acidic flavour, enhancing the overall apple flavour of the rolls. The rolls are soft, moist, and pulls apart wonderfully. The delicious cream cheese frosting uses pure maple syrup, which goes amazingly well with the apple cinnamon rolls. So good.

Now onto the recipe.

Diced apples, cinnamon, sugar, vanilla extract, butter, and apple cider vinegar.

Under medium-high heat, place diced apples, cinnamon, sugar, vanilla extract, butter, and apple cider vinegar in a medium stockpot. Stir occasionally and allow the apples to soften and the sauce to thicken. Reduce heat to a simmer and add flour and water mixture and thicken sauce further.

Remove apple filling and using a sieve, separate the apples from the sauce. Let it cool.

Eggs being added to the dry ingredients for cinnamon roll dough.
A wooden spoon being used to combine dough ingredients.

Heat milk in a small pot until it begins to bubble, add butter and stir to melt. Remove from heat and let it cool to lukewarm.

Combine dough ingredients using a wooden spoon until just combined.

Cinnamon roll dough in a glass mixing bowl.
Proofed cinnamon roll dough.

Knead the dough on a floured surface for 5 minutes until the dough is smooth. Place it a medium bowl lightly coated with canola oil.

Place a clean, slightly damp towel over top of the bowl and place in a warm place, allowing it to proof for 30 minutes or until doubled in size.

Cinnamon roll dough rolled out on a floured surface and topped with apple filling.

On a clean, floured surface, roll out the dough into a 9 x 12 rectangle. Place the apple filling on top (not the sauce), reserving 1/2 cup of apple filling and roll the dough tightly making a long tube. Cut into 12 even rolls.

Sauce poured over Apple Cinnamon Rolls in two baking dishes.

Place 8 rolls slightly apart in a 9 x 13 baking pan. Place the other 4 rolls slightly apart in a 9 x 9 baking pan. Top with the remaining apple filling and sauce.

Freshly proofed Apple Cinnamon Rolls.

Place damp towels over the top of each baking pan and proof for another 30 minutes, letting the rolls increase in size.

Freshly baked Apple Cinnamon Rolls.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Bake for 20-25 minutes until golden-brown.

Maple cream cheese frosting in a mixing bowl.

Whisk together cream cheese frosting ingredients until smooth.

A plate of Apple Cinnamon Rolls with Maple Cream Cheese Frosting.

Top each apple cinnamon roll with maple cream cheese filling. Serve warm. Enjoy!

Two halves of an Apple Cinnamon Roll stacked on a plate.
Apple Cinnamon Rolls with Maple Cream Cheese Frosting

Apple Cinnamon Rolls with Maple Cream Cheese Frosting

Yield: 12 rolls
Prep Time: 30 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Additional Time: 1 hour
Total Time: 2 hours

These soft, sweet cinnamon rolls are easy-to-make and loaded with cinnamon spiced Granny Smith apples then topped with real maple cream cheese frosting.

Ingredients

For the apple filling:

  • 4 granny smith apples, cored, peeled, and diced
  • 6 tbsp (3 ounces) unsalted butter
  • 1 tbsp cinnamon
  • ⅓ cup sugar
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • ½ cup apple cider vinegar
  • 1 tbsp of all-purpose flour
  • ¼ cup water

For the dough:

  • 1 cup regular milk
  • ⅓ cup unsalted butter, plus more to grease baking pan
  • 2 ½ tsp active dry yeast
  • ¼ cup white sugar
  • 1 tbsp cinnamon
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 3 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for kneading
  • 1 tbsp vanilla extract
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 tsp canola oil

For the frosting:

  • 1 cup cream cheese, room temperature
  • ⅓ cup pure maple syrup
  • ¼ cup confectioner’s sugar
  • ¼ cup unsalted butter, room temperature

Instructions

  1. Make the apple filling. In the medium stockpot under medium-high heat, mix all the filling ingredients together except flour and water; stir occasionally, until the apples begin to soften and the sauce begin to thicken, about 3-5 minutes. Reduce heat to a simmer. Stir in 1 tablespoon of flour with a ¼ cup of water and add to the sauce then allow the sauce to thicken further, 3-5 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool slightly. Using a sieve, separate the apple from the sauce.
  2. Make the dough. In a small saucepan, heat the milk until bubbles begin to form and then remove from heat. Melt ⅓ cup of butter into milk and set aside to allow mixture to cool until lukewarm.
  3. In a large bowl, using a wooden spoon or spatula, mix together yeast, sugar, cinnamon, salt and 1 ½ cup of flour until the ingredients are combined. Then add vanilla extract, egg, and milk mixture and incorporate it well. Then add the remaining 1½ cup flour, a little at a time, stirring well, until a dough ball begins to form.
  4. Turn it out in a lightly floured surface and knead until dough is smooth, about 5 minutes.
  5. Place it into a medium bowl brushed with canola oil and cover with a clean damp cloth. Place it in a warm area to proof for 30 minutes.
  6. After the dough is proofed, remove from the bowl and place it on a flat, floured surface. Using a floured rolling pin, roll out the dough into a 9 x 12 inch rectangle. Place completely cooled down apples on top (not the sauce), reserving ½ cup of apples, spreading it evenly across the dough.
  7. Starting from the longer, 12 inch edge, tightly roll the dough, forming a rolled up tube. Pinch the seam to seal the roll. Take a serrated knife or unwaxed dental floss and cut through the dough to make even 12 rolls.
  8. Place eight rolls slightly apart on a lightly buttered 9 x 13 baking pan. Place the other four rolls in a lightly buttered 9 x 9 baking pan slightly apart. Note: If you have a large enough baking pan, you do not need to separate the rolls.
  9. Place the reserved apples on top of each roll and pour the apple sauce over top the rolls. Cover with a damp cloth over each baking pan and let the rolls rise. The rolls should almost double in size, about 30 minutes.
  10. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Bake for 20-25 minutes, until rolls are cooked through and golden-brown on top. Let it cool while you prepare the frosting.
  11. Make the frosting. Place all the frosting ingredients in a medium bowl and whisk until well combined. Top each bun with cream cheese frosting. Serve warm.

Notes

  • These rolls are best eaten warm. Eat right away or store covered with plastic wrap in room temperature for up to 3 days.

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Nutrition Information:
Yield: 12 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 436Total Fat: 23gSaturated Fat: 14gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 8gCholesterol: 76mgSodium: 322mgCarbohydrates: 51gFiber: 3gSugar: 22gProtein: 6g

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Alison

Saturday 17th of December 2016

This is like everything I love about Fall/Winter. I can't wait to try these - they'd be perfect for a brunch!

Marie @ Yay! For Food

Saturday 17th of December 2016

Thanks, Alison!

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