Description
Apple Crumble Cinnamon Rolls combine soft, fluffy cinnamon roll dough with a sweet, spiced apple filling and a crunchy crumble topping. Finished with a rich cream cheese frosting, these rolls are perfect for a comforting breakfast or dessert. The recipe allows for making them fresh or preparing them overnight for convenience.
Ingredients
Scale
Cinnamon Roll Dough
- 1 teaspoon dry active yeast
- 1 cup whole milk, warm
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs, room temperature
- ⅓ cup unsalted butter, melted
- 4-5½ cups all purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon salt
Apple Filling
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- ¼ cup light brown sugar, packed
- 6 apples (mix of sweet and tart), peeled and chopped
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
Filling
- ¼ cup unsalted butter, melted slightly
- ½ cup light brown sugar, packed
- 2 tablespoons ground cinnamon
Cream Cheese Frosting
- 8 ounces cream cheese, room temperature
- ¼ cup unsalted butter, room temperature
- 1 cup powdered sugar
Crumble
- ½ cup all purpose flour
- ⅓ cup light brown sugar, packed
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ cup unsalted butter, melted
Instructions
- Activate Yeast: In a large bowl, combine the dry active yeast, granulated sugar, and warm whole milk. Let it sit for about 10 minutes until the mixture starts bubbling, indicating the yeast is active.
- Make Dough: Add room temperature eggs and melted butter to the yeast mixture and stir to combine. Add 4 cups of all-purpose flour and salt, mixing until incorporated. Gradually add remaining flour, ¼ cup at a time, until the dough cleans the sides of the bowl but may stick slightly to the bottom.
- First Proof: Place the dough into a greased bowl, cover with plastic wrap, and let it rise in a warm environment until doubled in size, about 1 hour.
- Prepare Apple Filling: In a medium saucepan over medium heat, melt unsalted butter with granulated and light brown sugars. Add peeled and chopped apples, salt, and ground cinnamon. Cook, stirring occasionally, until apples are softened, about 15 minutes. Let cool slightly.
- Roll Dough and Add Filling: Grease a 9×13″ baking pan with butter and set aside. On a floured surface, roll the risen dough into a 15×20 inch rectangle. Spread softened melted butter over the dough, then sprinkle light brown sugar and cinnamon evenly on top. Spoon the apple filling evenly over the dough.
- Form Rolls: Roll the dough tightly from the long side to form a log. Cut into 12 even rolls and place them in the prepared baking dish.
- Final Proof: For immediate baking, cover rolls with plastic wrap and let them rise in a warm place until doubled in size, about 30 minutes. For overnight preparation, cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate. The next day, bring rolls to room temperature and allow to double in size before baking.
- Bake Rolls: Preheat oven to 350°F (177°C). Bake the cinnamon rolls for 30-35 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 190°F (88°C). If tops brown too quickly, loosely cover with aluminum foil.
- Prepare Cream Cheese Frosting: Beat room temperature cream cheese and butter together until smooth. Add powdered sugar and mix until fully combined.
- Make Crumble Topping: Preheat oven to 350°F (177°C). On a parchment-lined baking sheet, whisk together flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt. Stir in melted butter until just incorporated. Bake for 12-15 minutes, breaking up the crumble halfway through baking, until slightly hardened but not burnt. Let cool for 10 minutes.
- Finish Cinnamon Rolls: Remove rolls from oven and cool on a wire rack. Spread cream cheese frosting evenly over warm rolls. Sprinkle cooled crumble topping over the frosting. Store leftover rolls in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Notes
- The amount of flour needed can vary based on humidity; start with 4 cups and add more as needed to prevent dough from sticking.
- Use a serrated knife or plain dental floss to cut the cinnamon rolls smoothly without squashing them.
- This recipe can be made all in one day or as overnight cinnamon rolls for convenience.
- Cream cheese frosting is recommended, but if preferred, an icing glaze made by mixing 2 cups powdered sugar with 4-5 tablespoons milk works well.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cinnamon roll
- Calories: 420
- Sugar: 28g
- Sodium: 280mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 56g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 6g
- Cholesterol: 60mg
