Apple Cinnamon Rolls with Cream Cheese Frosting
Apple cinnamon rolls are a cozy, fall-inspired twist on the classic cinnamon roll, filled with tender spiced apples and swirls of sweet cinnamon sugar. As they bake, the apples soften and release their juices, creating a gooey, caramel-like filling that pairs perfectly with the soft, fluffy dough.
Topped with a drizzle of icing or cream cheese frosting, these rolls are warm, comforting, and ideal for breakfast, brunch, or a holiday treat that fills your kitchen with the irresistible aroma of apples and spice.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
This recipe for Apple Cinnamon Rolls is one of those recipes that will make your house smell like heaven. Here’s why we love this recipe:
- Perfectly Soft and Fluffy: The secret to the perfect cinnamon roll is a soft and fluffy dough. This recipe nails it!
- Sweet Apple Filling: The combination of sweet cinnamon and tart apples is simply irresistible. It reminds me of my Apple Pie Cinnamon Roll Recipe.
- Creamy Frosting: What’s a cinnamon roll without a delicious topping? The cream cheese frosting on these rolls is out of this world, like in my Strawberry Cinnamon Rolls recipe.
- Easy to Make: Although this recipe has quite a few steps, they’re all simple and easy to follow just like my Pumpkin Cinnamon Rolls. You’ll be a pro in no time!
- Family Favorite: We guarantee these apple cinnamon rolls will become a family favorite. They’re just that good!
Key Ingredients
All you need are some simple, pantry staple ingredients to make this apple cinnamon rolls at home.
- Yeast or instant yeast – This is what makes the dough rise, giving our cinnamon rolls their fluffy texture.
- Apples – We use Fuji apples for our filling – their sweet, crisp flesh is perfect for baking.
- Mayonnaise – A little bit of mayonnaise in the dough gives these cinnamon rolls an extra layer of moisture and flavor. I use homemade mayo for best results but feel free to use store-bought in a pinch.
- Cream Cheese – The cream cheese glaze is what takes these rolls to the next level – it’s tangy, sweet, and utterly delicious.
For a full list of ingredients and quantities, please check the recipe card at the end of this post.
How to Make Apple Cinnamon Rolls
Prep for the batter: Mix yeast, sugar, and water in a small glass cup. Set aside to rise.
In a small saucepan, bring whole milk and water to a boil. Cool to room temperature.
Combine the yeast mixture with the boiled milk and water, and set it aside until ready for use.
In a separate bowl melt the butter and cool to warm temperature. Then mix in mayonnaise and set aside until ready for use.
Prepare the dough: In an electric mixer bowl of a stand mixer, beat large eggs and sugar for 5 minutes or until pale in color. Reduce the mixing speed to low and add warm milk with yeast, melted butter mixture, and a pinch of salt.
Replace the whisk attachment to the dough hook attachment of the mixer and add the flour into the egg mixture one cup at the time until all well mixed and the dough does not stick to your fingers or a spatula.
First rise: Cover the bowl and let it rise in a warm place for 1 ½ to 2 hours.
Shape the rolls: Once the dough has risen, divide it into two equal parts.
Roll out one half on a floured board. Brush the square with melted butter and sprinkle cinnamon sugar mixture.
Cut the dough into strips and place thinly sliced apples on each strip. Roll the strips and place them on a prepared baking dish (greased and lined with parchment paper). Repeat the process with the second half of the dough.
Second rise: Let shaped rolls rise in the a baking pan for about 30-45 minutes.
Bake: Preheat oven temperature to 350°F. Bake rolls for 30 minutes, or until golden brown and cooked through.
Make glaze: While the rolls are baking make the cream cheese glaze. In a small bowl, beat the softened cream cheese with softened salted butter on medium speed until creamy. Mix in powdered sugar and vanilla until fully incorporated.
Cool and glaze: Allow rolls to cool slightly, then drizzle with icing or spread with cream cheese frosting.
For a full list of ingredients and instructions, see the recipe card below.
Apple Cinnamon Rolls Recipe Tips
- Use crisp apples: Honeycrisp, Granny Smith, Gala, or Fuji for the best flavor balance of sweet and tart.
- Dice apples small: they soften evenly and blend smoothly into the filling without creating soggy spots.
- Don’t overfill the dough: too many apples can cause the rolls to unroll or bake unevenly.
- Rise fully: Let the dough until doubled in size for extra fluffy, bakery-style rolls.
- Brown sugar: Use dark brown sugar in the filling for a rich, caramel-like sweetness.
- Bake until golden: n top, then cool slightly before frosting so the icing doesn’t melt completely.
Substitutions and Variations
This apple cinnamon roll recipe is a real crowd-pleaser, and the following are some of our favorite variations:
- Different Apples: We love Fuji apples for their sweet flavor and firm texture, but feel free to use your favorite apple variety.
- Dried Fruits and Nuts: You can also try adding a handful of raisins or chopped nuts to the filling for some extra flavor and texture.
- Different Glaze: If you’re not a fan of cream cheese, you can make a simple vanilla glaze instead.
- Crumb Toppings: Instead of a glaze, top your apple cinnamon rolls with a crumb mixture made of flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, and cold butter for a sweet, crunchy finish. Sprinkle it over the rolls before baking to create a coffee-cake style topping that adds extra texture and flavor.
Serving Apple Cinnamon Rolls
Breakfast or Brunch
- These apple cinnamon rolls are a wonderful addition to a weekend breakfast, brunch or a dessert. They are sweet, comforting, and perfect for sharing with family or friends.
- Enjoy them with a hot cup of coffee or a cold glass of milk for a delicious start to your day.
- They are also a great option for a special occasion breakfast, such as Christmas or Easter morning.
Snack Time
- Apple cinnamon rolls make a great snack for any time of day. They are especially tasty when they are still warm from the oven.
- Pack them in a lunchbox or take them on a road trip for a satisfying treat on the go.
- If you have any leftovers, they can be reheated in the microwave for a quick and easy snack.
Frequently Asked Questions
The rolls are done when the edges are golden brown. This usually takes about 30 minutes in a preheated oven at 350°F.
Yes, you can! While the recipe instructions mention using an electric mixer, you can still achieve great results by using a hand mixer. The dough may be a bit stickier to handle, but the end result will be just as delicious.
For the best results, slice the apples very thinly. You should be able to see the knife through the apple. If the slices are too thick, it will be hard to roll them.
How to Store Apple Cinnamon Rolls
- Storing: After enjoying these delicious apple cinnamon rolls, you can store any leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days or in the fridge for un to a week.
- Freezing: I don’t recommend freezing these apple rolls since the texture and consistency of apples will change once thawed.
- Reheating: Before serving, warm the rolls in a preheated 350°F oven for 20-25 minutes. This will help them regain their fresh-baked flavor and texture.
More Apple Recipes You’ll Enjoy
- Apple Fritter Bread – Apple fritter bread combines the best of both worlds: the warm, comforting flavors of a traditional apple fritter and the soft, moist texture of a classic bread loaf.
- Apple Pie – This Simple Apple Pie recipe features fork-tender apple filling that’s flavored with cinnamon and nutmeg and a buttery pie crust that works perfectly with the pie filling.
- Homemade Apple Crisp – Who doesn’t love an Apple Crisp? Delicious apple mixture, covered with a crisp topping that bakes to perfection and is perfectly golden brown.
- Apple Cinnamon Muffins – These Apple Cinnamon Muffins are incredibly moist and delicious, and will most certainly be the best muffins you’ll ever have.
Apple Cinnamon Rolls with Cream Cheese Glaze
Ingredients
For the Dough:
- 1 tsp. active dry yeast
- 1 tsp. sugar
- 2 tbsp. warm water
- 1 ½ cup milk low fat
- ½ cup water
- 5 eggs large
- 1 cup sugar
- 8 tbsp. unsalted butter
- 1 tbsp. homemade mayonnaise or store-bought
- ½ tsp. vanilla extract
- 6 cups all-purpose flour +1 tbsp. for dusting
For the Apple Filling
- 2 tbsp. unsalted butter melted
- 4 tbsp. white granulated sugar
- 2 tbsp. ground cinnamon
- 4 Fuji apples
For the Glaze
- 4 oz. cream cheese room temperature
- 1 cup confectioners’ sugar
- 1 tbsp. unsalted butter room temperature
- ¼ tsp. vanilla extract
- ⅛ salt
Instructions
- Prep for the batter: Mix yeast, sugar, and water in a small glass cup. Set aside to rise.
- In a small saucepan, bring whole milk and water to a boil. Cool to room temperature.
- Combine the yeast mixture with the boiled milk and water, and set it aside until ready for use.
- In a separate bowl melt the butter and cool to warm temperature. Then mix in mayonnaise and set aside until ready for use.
- Prepare the dough: In an electric mixer bowl of a stand mixer, beat large eggs and sugar for 5 minutes or until pale in color. Reduce the mixing speed to low and add warm milk with yeast, melted butter mixture, and a pinch of salt.
- Replace the whisk attachment to the dough hook attachment of the mixer and add the flour into the egg mixture one cup at the time until all well mixed and the dough does not stick to your fingers or a spatula.
- First rise: Cover the bowl and let it rise in a warm place for 1 ½ to 2 hours.
- Shape the rolls: Once the dough has risen, divide it into two equal parts.
- Roll out one half on a floured board. Brush the square with melted butter and sprinkle cinnamon sugar mixture.
- Cut the dough into strips and place thinly sliced apples on each strip. Roll the strips and place them on a prepared baking dish (buttered and lined with parchment paper). Repeat the process with the second half of the dough.
- Second rise: Let shaped rolls rise for about 30–45 minutes.
- Bake: Preheat oven temperature to 350°F. Bake rolls for 30 minutes, or until golden brown and cooked through.
- Make glaze: While the rolls are baking make the cream cheese glaze. In a medium bowl, beat the softened cream cheese with softened salted butter until creamy. Mix in powdered sugar and vanilla until fully incorporated.
- Cool and glaze: Allow rolls to cool slightly, then drizzle with icing or spread with cream cheese frosting.
Notes
- Always remember to use warm water when activating the dry yeast. It helps the yeast to dissolve and activate more effectively, giving your dough a better rise.
- When boiling the milk, make sure to stir constantly to prevent it from burning. Burn milk can give your dough an unpleasant flavor, so keep an eye on it.
- Be patient and allow the dough to rise in a warm place for 1 ½ to 2 hours. This is essential for the texture and fluffiness of your apple cinnamon rolls.
- For the filling, try to slice the apples very thinly. They will soften and caramelize beautifully during baking, making them easier to roll into the dough and giving your rolls a delicious apple flavor.
- If you’d like to enjoy freshly baked apple cinnamon rolls for breakfast, you can prepare the rolls the night before. Let them sit at room temperature while you preheat the oven. This is a great time-saving tip for a hassle-free breakfast.
Thank you for following me on Instagram, and Pinterest!
This recipe was originally posted on November 4, 2014(original picture below), and updated for a better user experience. The post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure.
My mom made these and they were soo good. 🔥🔥😋😋
Aww, thanks sweetie 🙂
These rolls are gorgeous!! I love how you put the apple slices inside the cinnamon roll, so beautiful. Pinned!
Thank you for Pinning Rachel it is really appreciated. 🙂
How many eggs would you advise to use if i want to make only half of the portion?Thanks
You can use 3 small eggs.
I love cinnamon rolls and such a great idea to put apples in them! they look beautiful kinda look like roses! 😉
Thanks Michele! You’re right! They do look like roses, especially before baking.
Your creations looks so gorgeous! I love how you add apples and then roll into a neat roll instead of making roulette and then cut into individual rolls. Thank you for your time and wiliness to share your kitchen creations with us!
This type of cinnamon rolls recipe requires slicing the square of dough before rolling, because you need to lay out apple slices. I also make cinnamon rolls with raisins, which I roll into roulette and then cut it. Thank you for you encouraging words Tatyana! 🙂
These look like the ultimate cinnamon rolls! I’ve never made my own before because I’ve been too intimated, but I love your step by step tutorial. And that cream cheese frosting looks amazing!
I like home made so much better. Worth the time making it. Thanks Gayle! 🙂
Oooh that looks so delicious! And attractive. I want to make these soon. I really need a KitchenAid mixer, I think I would bake much more:) I’ll look for deals on black friday.
Thank you Nina! Kitchen Aid mixer is great. Let me know how they turn out for you. 🙂