Homemade Apple Cinnamon Rolls
Deliciously soft and fluffy apple cinnamon rolls with cream cheese frosting.
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 1 cup whole milk, lukewarm
- 0.25 cup granulated sugar
- 2.25 tsp active dried yeast
- 2 large eggs, at room temperature
- 0.5 tsp kosher salt
- 4.5 cups all-purpose flour
- 0.875 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
- 4 medium apples, peeled, cored, and diced small
- 0.25 cup unsalted butter (for apple filling)
- 0.33 cup granulated sugar (for apple filling)
- 0.5 tsp ground cinnamon (for apple filling)
- 0.25 tsp kosher salt (for apple filling)
- 1 tbsp corn starch (for apple filling)
- 1 cup pecan halves
- 0.75 cup unsalted butter (for brown sugar filling)
- 1.25 cups brown sugar
- 2.25 tbsp ground cinnamon (for brown sugar filling)
- 0.125 tsp kosher salt (for brown sugar filling)
- 0.5 cup unsalted butter (for frosting)
- 8 oz cream cheese, at room temperature
- 2 cups powdered sugar, sifted
- 1 tbsp heavy whipping cream
- 0.5 tsp kosher salt (for frosting)
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, combine lukewarm milk, 1/4 cup sugar, and yeast. Let it sit for 10-15 minutes until foamy.
- In a stand mixer bowl, mix flour, salt, and remaining sugar. Add the milk mixture and eggs, mix on low for 2-3 minutes. Increase speed and mix for 5 minutes. Gradually add butter and mix for 7-10 minutes until smooth. Shape into a ball, cover, and refrigerate for at least 2 hours or overnight until doubled.
- Melt 1/4 cup of butter in a skillet, add diced apples, sugar, cinnamon, and salt. Cook until tender, about 3-5 minutes. Add corn starch and cook until thickened. Chill in a container.
- Preheat oven to 350°F (180°C). Toast pecans on a lined sheet pan for about 10 minutes until browned. Set aside.
- In a bowl, mix 3/4 cup butter, brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt until well combined.
- Grease a baking dish. Roll out the dough into a rectangle. Spread the brown sugar filling, followed by the apple filling and chopped pecans. Roll into a tight spiral. Cut into pieces and place on a baking sheet. Let rise for 45 minutes.
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C). Bake the rolls for 35-40 minutes until golden brown. Let them cool for 15 minutes.
- In a bowl, mix butter and cream cheese until combined. Add powdered sugar, cream, and salt, whipping until fluffy. Spread over warm cinnamon rolls.
Notes
For a quicker option, you can use store-bought dough and apple pie filling.