Soft-Baked Apple Cinnamon Rolls
Warm and fluffy apple cinnamon rolls with a rich filling and creamy frosting, perfect for breakfast or dessert.
Ingredients
For the Dough
- 250 g whole milk, lukewarm
- 50 g granulated sugar
- 2 1/4 tsp active dried yeast
- 2 large eggs, at room temperature
- 1/2 tsp kosher salt
- 565 g all-purpose flour
- 100 g unsalted butter, at room temperature
For the Apple Filling
- 850 g (about four medium) apples, peeled, cored, and diced small
- 30 g unsalted butter
- 80 g granulated sugar
- 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp kosher salt
- 1 Tbsp cornstarch
For the Brown Sugar Cinnamon Filling
- 125 g pecan halves
- 190 g unsalted butter, at room temperature
- 280 g brown sugar
- 2 Tbsp plus 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/8 tsp kosher salt
For the Cream Cheese Frosting
- 115 g unsalted butter, at room temperature
- 225 g cream cheese, at room temperature
- 250 g powdered sugar, sifted
- 1-2 Tbsp heavy whipping cream
- 1/2 tsp kosher salt
Instructions
Preparation of Dough
- In a bowl, combine lukewarm milk and sugar. Add the yeast and let it sit for about 5 minutes until frothy.
- Whisk in the eggs and salt. Gradually add flour, stirring until a dough forms.
- Add softened butter and knead for about 8-10 minutes until smooth. Let it rise in a warm place until doubled in size, around 1 hour.
Make the Apple Filling
- In a pan, melt 30g of butter and sauté the diced apples with sugar, cinnamon, and salt until soft. Stir in cornstarch and allow to cool.
Prepare the Brown Sugar Cinnamon Filling
- In a bowl, mix together the brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt.
Toast the Pecans
- Lightly toast pecans in a dry skillet over medium heat until fragrant.
Assembly
- Once the dough has risen, roll it out into a large rectangle.
- Spread the softened butter over the dough and sprinkle the brown sugar filling evenly.
- Scatter the apple mixture and toasted pecans over the filling.
- Roll the dough tightly, then slice into individual rolls. Place them in a greased baking dish.
Final Rise and Baking
- Cover the rolls and let them rise for an additional 30 minutes.
- Preheat the oven to 180°C (350°F) and bake rolls for about 25-30 minutes or until golden brown.
Prepare the Cream Cheese Frosting
- Whisk together the cream cheese, remaining butter, powdered sugar, heavy cream, and salt until smooth.
Serve
- Spread frosting over the warm rolls before serving.
Notes
Store your rolls in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days. For longer storage, freeze them wrapped tightly in plastic wrap. Just thaw and warm before serving. Customize the filling by adding dried fruits or variations of nuts according to your preference.