
Soft, gooey cinnamon buns filled with sweet, caramelized apples make the ultimate mash-up treat. These rolls blend the tender texture of cinnamon buns with a spiced apple filling that's cooked down with brown sugar, warming cinnamon, and a touch of nutmeg. After baking, they're drizzled with a silky glaze that takes them over the top. Perfect for lazy weekend mornings or as an after-dinner sweet, these treats will satisfy anyone who can't decide between classic cinnamon rolls and homestyle apple pie.
INGREDIENTS- Canned cinnamon rolls: 1 tube, icing packet included
- Apples (Honeycrisp or Granny Smith): 3 medium, diced and peeled, needed for stuffing
- Butter (unsalted): 2 tbsp, for cooking the apples
- Sugar (brown): 2 tbsp, gives the filling its sweetness
- Cinnamon (ground): 1 tsp, adds warmth to the apple mixture
- Nutmeg (ground): ¼ tsp, brings a hint of spice
- Juice from lemon: 1 tbsp, cuts through the sweetness
- Sugar (powdered): ½ cup, forms the base of your glaze
- Milk: 1 tbsp, helps create a pourable glaze
- Extract (vanilla): ¼ tsp, adds depth to the glaze
- Step 6:
- When rolls have cooled a bit, pour the packaged icing or your homemade glaze over the top.
- Step 5:
- While waiting for the rolls to bake, mix your glaze by combining powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla until it's smooth. Add more milk if you want it thinner.
- Step 4:
- Pop them in the oven following the package timing, usually about 15-18 minutes, until they turn golden.
- Step 3:
- Carefully open each cinnamon roll, add some apple mixture inside, then roll them back up. Place them in your greased dish.
- Step 2:
- Get your oven hot according to what the cinnamon roll package says. Don't forget to grease your baking dish.
- Step 1:
- Melt butter in a pan over medium heat. Toss in apples, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and lemon juice. Cook for 5-7 minutes, stirring often until apples soften and get sticky. Let cool a bit before using.
- Leftover rolls stay good in a sealed container for about 2 days. A quick zap in the microwave brings them back to life.
- You can make the apple filling a couple days ahead and keep it in the fridge until needed.
- Want more crunch? Throw some chopped pecans onto the apple filling before rolling the dough.
- If you like your glaze to stay put rather than run off, just use less milk or add extra powdered sugar.
Tips from Well-Known Chefs
- Chef Suggestion: Try adding a splash of maple syrup to your apple mix while cooking for an amazing flavor boost.
Is it okay to use homemade dough instead of canned rolls?
Absolutely! Homemade dough will taste amazing but you'll need to plan ahead since it takes more time to make from scratch.
Can I swap apples for different fruits?
Totally! Try pears or peaches if you want. Just watch your cooking time as softer fruits might cook down faster than apples do.
