Apple Cinnamon Rolls with Caramel Frosting

These gooey apple cinnamon rolls with caramel frosting are a fun dessert. Made from scratch, these sweet sticky buns are filled with fresh apples and then slathered in a homemade caramel frosting.

This post was originally published in October 2017 and has been updated for content.

These apple stuffed cinnamon rolls are a twist on our family favorite, overnight cinnamon rolls. They are the best treat for a cool Fall night or holiday brunch. I highly recommend eating them warm out of the oven with the freshly made caramel frosting slathered on top!

🍎 Ingredient notes

• Dough - This soft, sweet dough is perfect for these cinnamon rolls. It's the same one I use for my maple bacon cinnamon rolls as well as my overnight cinnamon rolls.
• Apples - There are a TON of varieties of apples to choose from when cooking or baking. My go to's are typically gala, fuji or pink lady apples. They all have a fairly sweet flavor that is good for baking.

📋 Substitutions and variations

• Nuts - Sprinkle chopped pecans or walnuts on top of the other filling ingredients before rolling up and cutting the cinnamon rolls.
• Frosting - Instead of caramel frosting, a more standard cinnamon roll frosting can be used or your favorite store bought frosting may also be used.

🥣 Step by step instructions

First, heat the milk in a small pot on the stove until bubbles just start to form on the top. Mix the warm milk with the warm water, yeast and sugar in a mixing bowl and let it set for 5 minutes till foamy.

Mix in the egg and 2 cups of the flour and then while the mixer is still running, add in the remaining flour, ½ cup at a time, until the dough pulls away from the sides and forms a ball. Knead the dough by hand or in a mixer for 5-10 minutes until it's smooth and elastic.

Grease a clean bowl with butter or baking spray and place the dough inside. Cover and let it sit for about an hour, until doubled in size. Punch down the dough and shape into a large rectangle.

Spread the softened butter evenly over the dough and then sprinkle on the brown sugar, cinnamon, salt and apples. Starting on the long side, roll up the dough as tightly as possible with the filling inside.

Cut the roll into 12 equal pieces and place them on a sheet pan lined with parchment paper.

Cover the rolls and let them rise for another hour until doubled in size. Bake the apple cinnamon rolls in a 350˚ oven for 25-30 minutes until golden brown

While the rolls are cooling, combine the butter, brown sugar and heavy cream in a pot on the stovetop until it starts to boil. Allow the mixture to boil for about 5 minutes or until the temperature reaches 220˚ when checked with candy thermometer.

Remove the pot off of the heat and whisk in the powdered sugar. Continue to whisk until the frosting is smooth and no lumps of sugar remain.

Pour the fresh caramel frosting over the cinnamon rolls and use an offset spatula to spread the frosting completely over the top of them.

⭐ Expert tips

• Make sure to warm the milk up until it just barely shows bubbles on the surface. If you heat it too much, it will burn and possibly ruin the yeast. The temperature of the warm water and milk should be around 110˚. This can easily be checked with a infrared thermometer.
• The amount of flour required for the cinnamon roll dough will vary based on temperature, humidity and method of measuring. All of the flour may need to be used or you may need more or less. The dough has enough flour when it pulls away from the bowl and is no longer sticky, but tacky when touched.
• Rising times may be less or more depending on the temperature and humidity. Try to place the dough in a warm spot to help them rise properly.
• Allow the baked cinnamon rolls about 10-15 minutes to cool while you make the frosting. This will make sure that the frosting will coat and cover the cinnamon rolls, but not completely melt off of them.

⏲️ Make ahead instructions

The cinnamon rolls can be prepped the night before to make for easy baking the next morning.

• Follow the instructions for making the cinnamon rolls all the way up to just before the second rising time.
• After placing the cut rolls on a sheet pan, cover it tightly in plastic wrap and place them in the refrigerator to rise slowly overnight.
• In the morning, remove them from the refrigerator 1 hour before baking time to allow them time to come to room temperature.
• Frosting can also be made ahead of time and stored in the refrigerator in an airtight container. Heat in a pot on low on the stovetop, stirring frequently until just warm enough to pour on the cinnamon rolls.

🥡 Storage suggestions

The baked and frosted apple cinnamon rolls will keep in an airtight container at room temperature for 2-3 days. They can be heated up in the microwave for 15-30 seconds to make them warm again.

🍪 More dessert recipes

If you loved this recipe for apple cinnamon rolls with caramel frosting, check out these other dessert recipes that I know you will love too!

• Caramel Apple Sundaes
• Pumpkin Roll Cake with Mascarpone
• Tiramisu Brownies

📖 Recipe

Apple Cinnamon Rolls with Caramel Frosting

Amanda

These gooey apple cinnamon rolls with caramel frosting are a fun dessert. Made from scratch, these sweet sticky buns are filled with fresh apples and then slathered in a homemade caramel frosting. 

5 from 1 vote

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 45 mins

Cook Time 30 mins

Rising Time 2 hrs

Total Time 3 hrs 15 mins

Course Baking, Breakfast, Brunch, Dessert

Cuisine American

Servings 12 servings

Calories 431 kcal

Ingredients

  

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Cinnamon Roll Dough

• ½ cup whole milk
• ½ cup warm water approximately 110˚
• 2 teaspoons dry active yeast
• ⅓ cup granulated white sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1 ½ teaspoons kosher salt
• 4-5 cups all purpose flour

Apple Filling

• ½ stick unsalted butter room temperature
• ½ cup light brown sugar
• 1 ½ teaspoons ground cinnamon
• ½ teaspoon kosher salt
• 2 medium gala apples peeled, cored and diced

Caramel Frosting

• 6 Tablespoons unsalted butter
• ¾ cup light brown sugar
• ⅓ cup heavy cream
• ¾ cup powdered sugar

Instructions

 

Cinnamon Roll Dough

• Pour milk into a small pot and place on the stovetop over medium heat. Heat until the milk starts to steam and small bubbles start to form around the edges.
• Pour the heated milk in a mixing bowl or the bowl of a stand mixer and stir in the warm water, yeast and sugar. Let the mixture sit for 5 minutes until it starts to foam.
• Add in the egg, salt and two cups of the flour. Mix on low until the flour is incorporated.
• Mix in the remaining flour, ½ cup at a time, until the dough pulls away from the bowl and forms a ball. The dough should soft and tacky to the touch, but not sticky.
• Continue to knead the dough by hand or in the mixer for 5-10 minutes until the dough is soft,  smooth and quickly bounces back when a finger is pressed in it. 
• Spray a clean bowl with baking spray or rub it lightly with butter. Place the dough in the greased bowl and cover it with a light towel or plastic wrap. Let the dough rise for about 1 hour in a warm spot until doubled in size. 
• Punch down the risen dough and turn it out onto a floured surface. Shape the dough into a large rectangle that is about ½ - 1 inch thick. 

Apple Filling

• Spread the softened butter on the dough in an even layer and then sprinkle the buttered dough with the brown sugar, cinnamon, salt and chopped apples.
• Starting on the long side of the rectangle, tightly roll up the dough into a large roll.
• Cut the rolled dough into 12 equal slices that are approximately 1 - 1 ½ inches thick. 
• Place the cut rolls in a 9x13 inch baking dish that has been greased or lined with parchment paper.
• Cover the pan with a light towel or plastic wrap and let the rolls rise in a warm spot for 1 hour or until doubled in size.
• During the last 15 minutes of rising, preheat the oven to 350˚. Bake the rolls in the oven for 25-30 minutes until golden brown.
• Allow the rolls to cool for 10-15 minutes while the frosting is made.

Caramel Frosting

• In a small pot, combine butter, brown sugar & heavy cream.
• Heat the mixture over medium high heat on the stove top, stirring occasionally, until the mixture boils.
• Continue to boil for 3-5 minutes or until the temperature comes to 220˚ when checked with a candy thermometer.
• Remove the pot off of the heat and whisk in powdered sugar until the frosting is smooth and no lumps of sugar remain.
• Pour the warm frosting over the apple cinnamon rolls and use an offset spatula to spread the frosting evenly over the rolls.

Notes

• Make sure to warm the milk up until it just barely shows bubbles on the surface so it doesn't ruin the yeast. 
• The amount of flour required for the cinnamon roll dough will vary based on temperature, humidity and method of measuring. The dough has enough flour when it pulls away from the bowl and is no longer sticky, but tacky when touched.
• Rising times may be less or more depending on the temperature and humidity. Try to place the dough in a warm spot to help them rise properly.
• Allow the rolls to cool about 10-15 minutes while you make the frosting so it doesn't melt off of the rolls when you add it.

Substitutions and Variations

• Apples - Gala, fuji or pink lady apples all have a fairly sweet flavor that is good for baking.
• Nuts - Sprinkle chopped pecans or walnuts on top of the other filling ingredients before rolling up them up.
• Frosting - Instead of caramel frosting, regular cinnamon roll frosting can be used.

Make Ahead Instructions

The cinnamon rolls can be prepped the night before to make for easy baking the next morning.

• Follow the instructions for making the cinnamon rolls all the way up to just before the second rising time.
• After placing the cut rolls on a sheet pan, cover it tightly in plastic wrap and place it in the refrigerator to rise slowly overnight.
• In the morning, remove them from the refrigerator 1 hour before baking time to allow them time to come to room temperature.
• Frosting can also be made ahead of time and stored in the refrigerator in an airtight container. Heat in a pot on low on the stovetop, stirring frequently until just warm enough to pour on the cinnamon rolls.

Storage Instructions

Leftovers will keep in an airtight container at room temperature for 2-3 days. Heat the cinnamon rolls up in the microwave for 15-30 seconds to make them warm again.

Nutrition

Serving: 1rollCalories: 431kcalCarbohydrates: 73gProtein: 6gFat: 13gSaturated Fat: 8gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 51mgSodium: 411mgPotassium: 155mgFiber: 3gSugar: 39gVitamin A: 446IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 52mgIron: 2mg

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