Caramel Apple Pie Cinnamon Rolls
Serves 12
10 mins prep
40 mins cook
60 mins Rise Time
110 mins total
These caramel apple pie cinnamon rolls are super soft, fluffy, have a gooey spiced apple filling, a crisp cinnamon crumble topping, and a salted caramel cream cheese glaze. It’s like a caramel apple crumble pie - but in a cinnamon roll! These rolls have all the textures - soft, crisp, and gooey. And the dough is an easy no knead dough recipe that you don’t need a mixer for. They’re the perfect comforting cinnamon rolls to make for fall and the holidays.
Dough
Filling
Crumble
Glaze
Cinnamon Roll Dough
Add the water, yeast, and 1 teaspoon of sugar into a medium bowl. Whisk to dissolve the yeast and set aside while you work on the dough. If a thick foam doesn’t form on top of the mixture within 10 minutes, it’s expired and you should try a new packet of yeast.
cup warm water
tsp granulated sugar
packet active dry yeast
In a very large bowl, add sifted flour. Make a well into the middle and add sugar, salt, butter, whisked eggs, vanilla extract, and warm milk. Add the dissolved yeast mixture on top. Starting with the middle, stir the wet ingredients together and slowly incorporate the flour into the dough.
cup all purpose flour
cup brown sugar
tsp sea salt
cup butter
large eggs
tsp pure vanilla extract
cup milk
Mix until a wet and sticky dough forms and all of the flour is combined into the dough. Use your hands to help combine it. Cover and set aside in a warm place and let it rise until doubled in size, about 45 minutes. Work on the filling and crumble while it rises.
Spiced Apple Filling
In a large bowl, combine butter, brown sugar, cinnamon, cloves, cardamom, and salt. Stir until smooth and creamy. Set aside for later.
cup butter
cup brown sugar
tbsp ground cinnamon
tsp ground cloves
tsp ground cardamom
tsp sea salt
Peel the apples and chop them into small cubes. Drizzle with lemon juice and set aside for later.
medium-large apples
tbsp lemon juice
Crumble
Combine granulated sugar, cinnamon, oats, flour, and salt in a separate bowl. Add melted butter and stir until everything is evenly coated and crumbly. Set aside for later.
cup granulated sugar
tsp cinnamon
cup rolled oats
cup all purpose flour
tsp sea salt
tbsp unsalted butter
Assembly
Butter a 9” by 12” pan with a small piece of butter. Punch down the risen dough and fold it a few times until a smooth dough forms.
Sprinkle flour onto a smooth, clean surface. Place the dough and sprinkle a bit of flour on top. Use a rolling pin to roll out into a large rectangle, about 12” by 18
Spread cinnamon butter sugar mixture onto the rolled dough and sprinkle chopped apples on top. Drizzle caramel on top.
cup caramel sauce
Roll up into a long log starting at the long ledge. Mark into 12 equal pieces and use a piece of unflavored floss or cotton string to wrap around and pull tight to cut without squishing the rolls.
Place rolls into the buttered baking pan. Let rise in a warm place for about 15 minutes while you preheat the oven to 355°F (180°C).
Sprinkle the rolls with the crumble mixture and bake for 25-30 minutes until golden brown and dough springs back to the touch. Make the glaze while the rolls cool.
Salted Caramel Cream Cheese Glaze
In a large bowl or standmixer, mix together the softened cream cheese until smooth and creamy. Add the salted caramel sauce, mix together to combine.
oz cream cheese
cup salted caramel sauce
Add powdered sugar half a cup at a time and mix well. Add enough milk to get a pourable glaze consistency.
cup powdered sugar
tbsp milk
The rolls are best served warm. Drizzle the glaze over the rolls right before serving so that the crumble stays crunchy. Enjoy!