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Easy Fluffy Apple Cinnamon Rolls with Brown Butter Maple Icing. Just the autumn breakfast we’re all looking for. Buttery, soft, and fluffy dough swirled with cinnamon sugar and sweet Honeycrisp apples. Each roll is frosted generously with a warming brown butter and maple icing that melts into every nook and cranny. There’s nothing not to love, every bite is melt in your mouth delicious.
Cinnamon rolls hold a special place in my kitchen, and by that, I really just mean that we love them to pieces. Growing up, my mom would occasionally buy the cinnamon rolls that come from the can around the holidays. My brothers and I LOVED them. We looked forward to these cinnamon roll breakfasts every single year.
These days we all know I choose to make my own, but still, we love a good cinnamon roll. And you know? Homemade really is best, and they’re really not that difficult to make.
These apple cinnamon rolls are no exception. Everything from the rolls to the icing is pretty close to perfect. They might take a little time to make, because of the rising. But besides that, they really are quite easy.
And the smells coming from the kitchen as they bake? Mmm, too good.
Ingredients
- Warm milk
- Active dry yeast
- Brown sugar
- Salted butter
- Large eggs
- All-purpose flour
- Kosher salt
- Apple filling
- Brown sugar
- Granulated sugar
- Cinnamon
- Salted butter
- Honeycrisp apples
- Brown Butter Maple Icing
- Salted butter
- Cream cheese
- Maple syrup
- Powdered sugar
- Vanilla extract
Let’s jump into the details
The dough is the simplest to make. Simply mix the yeast with warm milk and a small touch of brown sugar. It’s important to let that mix sit for a few minutes to allow the yeast to “activate”.
Next, add the butter, eggs, flour, and salt. Mix until smooth and let the dough rest until doubled in size. Then it’s time to shape the rolls.
While the dough rests, mix the filling
It’s super simple. I love to use a mix of brown sugar, sugar, and cinnamon for the best consistency. The brown sugar adds a nice depth of flavor. And I go heavy on the cinnamon for sweet cinnamon swirls throughout.
And of course, the apples. I like to use Honeycrisp apples, and yes, I do leave the skin on! If you prefer no skin, be sure to peel the apples first.
Assemble and bake
Spread the dough with butter, then sprinkle on the cinnamon sugar, and apples. Roll the dough up into a log, slice, and bake.
The smells coming from the oven will be perfect. Think…fall candle and Christmas morning combined.
Finally, the icing
Brown the butter and mix it with the cream cheese, maple syrup, sugar, and a touch of vanilla. The maple is key. It pairs so well with the apples and cinnamon.
As soon as the rolls come out of the oven, frost, serve, and enjoy every last sweet and delicious bite. They’re soft, fluffy, heavy in the cinnamon swirl, and perfectly spiced with warm autumn flavors.
And gooey, SO gooey. These rolls are beyond good. Great for all the crisp fall weekends to come!
Looking for other cinnamon recipes? Here are a few ideas:
Easy Fluffy Eggnog Cinnamon Rolls
Baked Apple Cider Doughnuts with Cinnamon Maple Glaze
Vanilla Chai Pumpkin Latte Cupcakes with Cinnamon Brown Sugar Frosting
Lastly, if you make these Apple Cinnamon Rolls with Brown Butter Maple Icing be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! Above all, I love to hear from you guys and always do my best to respond to each and every comment. And of course, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram! Looking through the photos of recipes you all have made is my favorite!
Apple Cinnamon Rolls with Brown Butter Maple Icing
Servings: 12 rolls
Calories Per Serving: 545 kcal
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Watch the How-To Reel
Ingredients
- 1 cup warm milk
- 2 1/4 teaspoons active dry yeast
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 4 tablespoons salted butter, at room temperature
- 3 large eggs
- 3 1/2 -4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
Apple Filling
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon cinnamon
- 6 tablespoons salted butter, at room temperature
- 2 Honeycrisp apples, chopped
Brown Butter Maple Icing
- 4 tablespoons salted butter, at room temperature
- 6 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
- 1/4 cup maple syrup
- 2-3 cups powdered sugar
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Instructions
- 1. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the dough hook, combine the milk, yeast, and brown sugar. Let sit 5-10 minutes, until bubbly on top. Add the butter, eggs, 3 1/2 cups flour, and salt. Using the dough hook, mix until the flour is completely incorporated, about 4-5 minutes. If the dough is still sticky, add the additional 1/2 cup flour, adding more as needed until the dough is smooth to touch.2. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let sit at room temperature for 1 hour or until doubled in size.3. Meanwhile, mix the filling. In a bowl, combine the brown sugar, sugar, and cinnamon. Butter a 9×13 inch baking dish.4. Punch the dough down and roll out onto a lightly floured surface, creating a large rectangle about 12 x 18 inches. Spread the butter evenly over the dough. Sprinkle on the apples and cinnamon sugar. Starting with the long edge closest to you, roll the dough into a log, keeping it tight as you go. When you reach the edge, pinch along the edge to seal. Using a sharp knife, cut into 12-15 rolls. Place the rolls into the prepared baking dish. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise 20-30 minutes.5. Preheat the oven to 350° F. Bake the rolls for 25 to 30 minutes, or until golden brown.6. Meanwhile, make the icing. Add the butter to a pot set over medium heat. Allow the butter to brown lightly until it smells toasted, about 2-3 minutes. Remove from the heat. To a bowl with the cream cheese in it, whisk in the maple syrup, powdered sugar, vanilla, and a pinch of salt. Spread the icing over the warm rolls. Serve and enjoy!
Notes
To Make Ahead: prepare the rolls through step 4. Do not let the rolls rise at room temp. Cover the rolls and place them in the fridge (up to overnight). When ready to bake, remove the rolls from the fridge 30 minutes prior to baking, then bake as directed.
To Prepare and Freeze: assemble the rolls through step 4. Then cover the pan and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw the rolls overnight in the fridge or on the counter for a few hours. Once thawed, bake as directed.
To Bake and Freeze: bake the rolls as directed and let cool completely. Cover well and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw and warm, then frost before serving.
This post was originally published on September 28, 2021
Great tasting. Wonderful recipe. The icing step was a little confusing to me. It doesn’t really explain what to do with the melted butter. I assume you just mix it in with the other ingredients-but not really sure if it matters in what order. As always, tanks for sharing!!
Hey Laurie,
Happy Sunday!! I am delighted to hear that this recipe was enjoyed, I truly appreciate you giving it a try! xTieghan
I made these the other day and they are by far the best cinnamon rolls I have ever made. The icing is amazing, don’t skip that part.
I would like that the recipe says how thick to cut the rolls, rather than saying cut into 10-12 slices say cut 2 inches thick or whatever it should be. Mine were a bit thin I think as I ended up with 16 rolls.
secondly I wich the recipe said how much apple to add, rather than say 2 apples say 2 cups of cut-up apple or whatever the equivalent is.
definitely going to make them again.
Hey Fiona,
Happy Sunday!! I am delighted to hear that this recipe was enjoyed, I truly appreciate you giving it a try! xTieghan
WOW! These are absolutely DELICIOUS!!
Hey Laurie,
Happy Sunday!! I am delighted to hear that this recipe was enjoyed, I truly appreciate you giving it a try! xTieghan
Hi Tieghan
I have been eyeing these rolls since I saw the recipe. I made them this morning and I can not tell you enough how amazing they were! You were right, they are best out of oven warm and gooey. Thank you for sharing your recipes. I have shared with friends and family how wonderful these are.
Roberta
Hi Roberta,
Happy Sunday!! I am delighted to hear that this recipe was enjoyed, I truly appreciate you giving it a try! xTieghan
Made these this morning and they turned out wonderfully! It was my first time making cinnamon rolls from scratch, and I feel like a real baker. Only thing that was different was that I needed an additional 1/2 cup flour to get the dough to be smooth, but it’s been pretty humid where I live.
Hi Sayre,
Happy Sunday!! I am delighted to hear that this recipe was enjoyed, I truly appreciate you giving it a try! xTieghan
How would I use instant yeast rather than active dry yeast?
incredible.. as always! love that even the ingredients alone in your recipes create a picture of the end result in my mind. Reading the list made my heart swell with autumn cheer haha (can you tell it is my favourite time of year?) I’m not sure what apples I used, but regardless, this is my favourite cinnamon bun so far. You’re so gifted!
Hi Stephanie,
Happy Sunday!! I am delighted to hear that this recipe was enjoyed, I truly appreciate you giving it a try! xTieghan
Hi! Can I use Fleischmann’s® Rapid Rise Yeast like you have used in past recipes? How would this change the process?
Thanks!
Hey Kristen,
You bet, just add it right in with the flour. I hope this recipe turns out amazing for you, please let me know if you give it a try! xTieghan
I made this recipe today & wanted to note for other bakers – wait until the last minutes of the first rise to make the apple filling! I did not do this & it was very liquidy. I tried to use some paper towels to sop up the liquid but it was still extremely messy to roll & cut. I didn’t use Honeycrisp, so that could potentially be a contributing factor but not so much that it would account for that much liquid. The flavors are lovely though!
Hey Kay,
Awesome!! Love to hear that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks a bunch for giving it a try! Have a great weekend:) xTieghan
For the filling, Do you add the apples and the sugar mix together or do you sprinkle the sugar mix onto the dough then add the apples to that?
Hey there,
It really doesn’t matter, they are going to blend together either way:) I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you give it a try! xTieghan
Can we use a different apple? My nearby store is sold out of Honeycrisp apples. 🙁
Hey Chloe,
Sure, any apple that is your favorite will work well here. I hope this recipe turns out amazing for you, please let me know if you give it a try! xTieghan
Hey Chloe,
Sure, any apple that is your favorite will work well here. I hope this recipe turns out amazing for you, please let me know if you give it a try! xTieghan
The perfect fall cinnamon bun! Easy to make and so delicious!
Hey Kaylan,
Awesome!! Love to hear that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks a bunch for giving it a try! Have a great weekend:) xTieghan
Delicious??
Hi Barbara,
Happy Friday!! I am thrilled to hear that this recipe was enjoyed, thank you so much for making it! xTieghan
Trying this now! Do I add the browned butter to the icing mix?
Hey kerri,
Yes, that is correct, all of the ingredients in step 6 will get mixed together. I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
Such a good recipe!! I am saving this one for sure. The icing is delicious and the cinnamon rolls are moist. I can’t wait to try a batch for the freezer.
Hey Rachael,
Happy Friday!! I am thrilled to hear that this recipe was enjoyed, thank you so much for making it! xTieghan
I made these this evening and they’re AMAZING!!! The icing compliments the apple so well! I will definitely be making v these again!!
Hey Sara,
Happy Friday!! I am thrilled to hear that this recipe was enjoyed, thank you so much for making it! xTieghan
Just made these, they came out wonderfully! So delicious. I did not have powdered sugar so I used regular sugar and cooked it down with the brown butter and maple syrup so that it wasn’t super granular. This created a brown butter maple caramel-like sauce that I mixed in with the cream cheese and vanilla. Turned out pretty good!
Hi Grace,
Happy Friday!! I am thrilled to hear that this recipe was enjoyed, thank you so much for making it! xTieghan