Next Post
Brie and Cheddar Apple Beer Soup.
This post may contain affiliate links, please see our privacy policy for details.
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
Is it possible to use low fat or non fat milk the recipe?
Definitely! 🙂 xTieghan
This is my very first time making any cinnamon rolls and your directions were just what I needed to pull it off! Everyone is already asking me to make them again, thanks for the awesome recipes ! I’m a new and dedicated follower now!
Hey there! So glad you enjoyed this recipe, thanks so much for giving it a try! xTieghan
Super easy and oh so good! I was a little nervous but it all worked out perfectly. Can’t wait to make these again!
Hey there! Thanks so much for giving this recipe a try, I’m so glad you enjoyed it! Have a lovely week! xTieghan
These are fantastic!! I have a fear of baking with yeast ?. I would totally recommend this recipe.
Tieghan…can’t wait to try these. I bake a lot but haven’t done cinn rolls in a while. My dough is in the fridge as I type. You’re make ahead is confusing. You say prepare up to step 4. Then you say do not let rise. But up to step 4 includes rise. Just want to clear up as overnight in fridge is a lot of professional bakers secret sauce so to speak. Fermenting is key. I’m just wanting to get the rises down correctly. Thanks!
Hi there! I am so sorry about the confusion! Yes, let rise and then put in the fridge overnight in order to bake in the morning 🙂 Enjoy! xTieghan
OMG. These were absolutely fantastic. Apple bits in every bite…fluffy and tender centers. … and the icing is unbelievable with the maple syrup capping the flavor mountain.
I don’t know why, but when I printed the recipe it did not say to add the butter. I then looked at this recipe and it does…..I guess I will go to this page from now on to print recipes. Darn it….
I had the same problem!
Hi Kathy! I am so sorry about that, I initially forgot to add that into the directions. Hope this recipe is still enjoyable! xTieghan
I followed the recipe (tried it twice) and each time the dough would rise for the first round but then while in the pan, for the second rising, only rise slightly (I even checked the temperature of the milk before adding in the yeast and waiting additional time for proper rising) Liquid was coming out from the sugar / apples, and when baking, it was as if it was drowning in liquid, to the point that the dough wouldn’t cook. Tried it twice, each time, I had to toss it out. I eventually made cupcakes so as not to waste the frosting that I made in advance.
Hey Tara,
So sorry to hear this. What kind of yeast did you use? Is your dough super wet and needing more flour? Let me know how I can help! xTieghan
I have always avoided making homemade cinnamon rolls. (I like easy baking;)) Made these the other day and they were fantastic!! Thank you for the recipe!!! They were such a hit in my family of 6.
Hi there! Thanks so much for giving this recipe a try, I’m so glad to hear you enjoyed it! xTieghan
Can I still put them in a 9×13 pan if I slice them into 15? Thanks!
I would probably put them on a cookie sheet if you are wanting to make 15! 🙂 xTieghan
SO good that I couldn’t believe I made them myself!
These are delicious! I’m already planning to make more and free to bring to my family’s holiday get together. I love the apples in the cinnamon rolls.
This may be my favorite recipe I have made from HBH so far. The buns are awesome and the browned butter icing is perfect. Fully peeled Granny Smith apples in mine and diced fairly small. Just an awesome delicious outcome, thank you!
Just did them! They are so good! Best cinnamon buns I ever tried! Thanks for this great recipe!!
These are AMAZING. My 3 teen boys devoured them fast, and my college student has informed me that these are going on his request list for whenever he gets home from college.
Hi there! Thanks so much for trying out this recipe, so glad to hear it was enjoyed! xTieghan
I have been making cinnamon buns from scratch for years, but as soon as I saw this recipe, I knew I had to try it. The dough was very tender and not too sweet, which was good because the icing is just decadent. It is the difference maker for sure … so delicouus. The apples are just lovely as well. This was a hit and we will absolutely make again.
Hi Sonya! Thanks so much for trying out these rolls, I’m so glad you enjoyed them! 🙂 xTieghan