Is it wrong to want to eat apple pie in the morning?

Heck No!!!…especially if it is made into a Cinnamon roll!

Apple pie will become your favorite pie flavor if it isn’t already. These cinnamons rolls are loaded with perfectly soften apples that are not mushy. The pastry has a slight hint of apple and cinnamon flavor that beautifully accompanies the star of the show … the apple cinnamon filling.

What are the Best Apples to Use?

Hands down Granny Smith apples need to be in the mix. They are tart and provide a wonderful balance to the overall sweetness.

Braeburn apples naturally have a sort of cinnamon nutmeg flavor. Thus, making them a popular choice for apple pies

Honey Crisp are not only a favorite for eating in their raw fruit form but, also for baking because of their intense sweetness

Macintosh apples are a common match with Granny Smith apples in baked goods. They balance the tartness of Granny Smith apples with their warm spice flavor. The down side though is that they can become very soft.

Personally, I like to mix apples to get the best from all flavors. I usually go with Granny Smith and Honey Crisp when I do not need a large quantity…like with making this recipe.

Ingredients Needed

The ingredients for cinnamon rolls are what are referred to as usual pantry stables and/or baking stables. There is nothing that can not be found in your local grocery store.

For the Dough:

• whole milk
• eggs
• butter
• all purpose flour
• sugar
• salt
• yeast
• apples
• cinnamon
• nutmeg

For the Filling:

• brown sugar
• cinnamon
• butter
• apples

For the Glaze:

• powdered sugar
• vanilla
• milk

Equipment

• Bread machine or Electric mixer with dough hook
• Rolling Pin
• 9×13 pan
• Serrated Knife

Recipe Tips

1. Use a Bread Machine

This dough works well in a bread machine. It is an easy alternative if you have a busy schedule and do not have the time for mixing the ingredients, kneading the dough with your mixer or by hand and then waiting for the dough to rise before starting to construct your cinnamon rolls.

All of the ingredients are added to the bread machine and then the machine does the work. It frees up about one and half hours of your time to do other things while the machine to delivery the perfect batch of dough. The bread machine will mix all the ingredients, knead the dough, and do the first rise of the dough.

No worries if you do not have a bread machine. This recipe can be adapted to using a mixer. Please note, this is a “wet” dough” and will take a little longer to mix and knead due to the moisture.

2.Use a crafting Mat

I changed from a pastry mat /silicone mat to a craft mat for a couple of reasons. First, a craft mat is larger than a standard pastry mat. I use a craft mat that is 36x 24. This gives me a large surface to roll out dough. Second, a craft mat is self healing. Cuts made into it disappear unlike a pastry mat.

3. Use a Serrated Knife or Non-Waxed Dental Floss

Using a regular kitchen knife can sometimes make uneven cuts, smooch down the dough causing the filling to come out. A serrated knife allows for a clean cut with a slight sawing motion. Dental floss provides a clean cut. The floss is placed under the roll, the ends are brought up, tied ounce, and then followed by pulling the sting ends until the dental floss cuts through the dough.

Apple Pie Cinnamon Rolls

Print Recipe

A little bit of heaven… Apples pieces immersed in brown sugar and warm spices that are wrapped into a soft bun

Ingredients

Dough for Apple Pie Cinnamon Rolls:

• 2 teaspoons yeast
• 4 1/2 Cups Flour
• 3 Tablespoons Sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon Salt
• 1/4 cup melted butter
• 1 egg- beaten
• 2/3 cup milk
• 1 cup applesauce
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon

Apple Filling:

• 3 med apples-diced
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon

Dough Filling:

• 3/4 cup brown sugar
• 4 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/4 cup soft butter

Glaze:

• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
• 3-4 teaspoon milk

Instructions

Making the Dough Using a Bread Machine

• 1. In your bread machine place the yeast

  2. Add in the flour, sugar, and salt

  3. Follow by adding in the melted butter, milk, beaten egg, apple sauce,and cinnamon

  4.Set the bread machine to the dough setting and wait for the beep.

  The machine will mix the ingredients, knead the dough, and will have a period of time for the first rise. Total time will be about one and half hours.

Preparing the Apple Filling:

• While the bread machine is working on the dough, peel and dice the apples and place them into a sauce pan.

  Add in the brown sugar, lemon juice, and cinnamon. Simmer the apples until the brown sugar melts and the apples are easy to pierce with a fork. You do not want to over cook them and for them to become mushy.

  Remove from the heat and allow to cool to room temperature.

Preparing the Dough:

• Turn the dough from the bread machine onto a floured surface
  
• This is a moist dough. If the dough feels sticky, add some flour to the top of the dough ball and work the flour into the dough by hand kneading for just a few minutes.
  

Constructing The Apple Pie Cinnamon Rolls:

• Roll out the dough into a triangle that is about 1/4 inch thick
• Mix the brown sugar and cinnamon together in a small bowl
• Spread the soft butter all over the surface of the dough. An offset spatula works well, but even better…is using your hands.
• Sprinkle the brown sugar and cinnamon mixture evenly over the butter
  
• Place the cooled apples all over the dough
  
• Roll up the dough. Start with the edge furthest from you and roll the dough onto itself. At the end, about 2 inches from the bottom, fold the dough UP onto the roll.
• Using a serrated knife or unwaxed dental floss, cut the roll in half. Cut each section of the dough into 1 inch pieces
  
• Place the slices into a parchment lined baking pans
  
• Place a kitchen towel over the pans and allow the rolls to rise for about 30 minutes

  Preheat oven to 350 degrees
  
• After the rise period, uncover the pans and bake the rolls for 25 minutes or until a light brown.

  Check the rolls after 15 minutes of baking. The centers of some rolls might rise up high.
  
• Using a fork, push the puffed up rolls back down and continue to bake them
  
• Cool the apple pie cinnamon rolls in the baking pan
  

The Glaze:

• Mix the ingredients in a bowel until smooth and drizzle over the cinnamon rolls.

  The glaze will melt if the rolls are hot/warm.
  

Notes

I like to use one inch cuts into the log roll.  If you prefer a big roll…go for it with 2 inch cut.

The one inch cuts will yield 2 dozen rolls. 

Course: Breakfast, Dessert, Snack

Cuisine: American

Author: Beverly

Many times apple pie is saved for the Holidays. I say why wait for Fall, Thanksgiving or Christmas. Apples are plentiful year round. I also think that apple pie is not just for dessert. Have it for a breakfast treat in this wonderful Apple Pie Cinnamon Rolls.

I hope you give these Apple Pie Cinnamon rolls a try. I know you will love them….

Cheers and Happy Baking !!!!!!