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Apple Cinnamon Rolls | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | these luscious #CinnamonRolls are outrageously good. They're filled with #apples & #cinnamon & slathered with a rich, thick icing to die for. Terrific for a weekend, company or #holiday #breakfast. Every bite will have you drooling. #brunch #SweetRolls #AppleCinnamonRolls

Apple Cinnamon Rolls

Teresa Ambra
Apple Cinnamon Rolls are outrageously good. These luscious sweet rolls are filled with apples and cinnamon and iced with a very thick and rich vanilla buttercream frosting. The frosting melts into the cinnamon rolls as it's spread on the rolls right after they come out of the oven. These cinnamon rolls are perfect for weekend, company or holiday breakfasts or brunches. These drool-worthy rolls are sure to cure any sweet tooth cravings. But be warned! These luscious cinnamon rolls are addictive. You won't be able to stop at just one.
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Course Breads, Rolls and Muffins, Breakfast
Cuisine American
Servings 24
Calories 281 kcal

Equipment

  • 1 breadmaker
  • 1 9x13" glass baking dish
  • 1 7x11" glass baking dish or one of similar size (I used an 8x8")
  • 1 rubber spatula to (gob) spread icing on top of rolls
  • 1 sharp knife to slice roll dough
  • measuring cups
  • measuring spoons
  • 1 spatula
  • 1 sharp knife to peel, core and dice apples
  • 1 electric mixer
  • 1 large mixing bowl
  • 1 wooden spoon

Ingredients
  

DOUGH:

  • 4 tbsp. salted butter (1/2 stick)
  • 1 1/2 cups half-and-half warmed (see note below)
  • 4 cups bread flour
  • 1/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 1/2 tsp. sea salt
  • 2 tsp. Fleischmann’s active dry yeast or bread machine yeast

APPLE FILLING:

  • 6 tbsp. salted butter softened
  • 3/4 cup light brown sugar packed
  • 3 to 3 1/2 tbsp. ground cinnamon or more, as desired
  • 2 cups gala apples peeled, cored and diced

ICING:

  • 1/2 cup salted butter softened (1 stick)
  • 1 tsp. real vanilla extract no substitutes
  • dash sea salt
  • 5 to 6 tbsp. half-and-half
  • 3 cups powdered sugar or as desired

Instructions
 

DOUGH:

  • Layer ingredients in order listed.
  • Cut butter into slivers and place on bottom of bread canister. (Or, if the butter is softened, just place the whole piece in the bread canister).
  • Measure half-and-half into a measuring cup.
  • Microwave at 50% power for 1 minute 30 seconds or up to 2 minutes until warmed.
  • Pour warm cream over top of butter.
  • Spread flour over top of cream.
  • Then sprinkle with granulated sugar, salt and yeast.
  • Place in breadmaker and put on “dough” setting.
  • This will take approximately 1 hour 45 minutes.
  • Remove dough from bread canister and roll out into a very large rectangle.
  • Spread softened butter over top, then sprinkle with brown sugar.
  • With your hand, spread the brown sugar so that it fills in all the crevices.
  • Sprinkle with cinnamon, then apples.
  • Roll up tightly jelly-roll style.
  • Cut into one to two-inch pieces and place in a greased baking dishes.
  • See notes below for raising dough.

APPLE FILLING:

  • Soften unsalted butter.
  • Spread butter as evenly as possible over the large rectangular piece of dough.
  • Sprinkle brown sugar over top.
  • Carefully with your hand, spread the brown sugar across the dough so that all the crevices are filled in to the edges.
  • Sprinkle cinnamon evenly over top of the brown sugar.
  • Then spread the diced apples over top.
  • Roll up carefully and cut dough into even one to two-inch sections with a sharp knife.
  • Place cut side up in a greased rectangular baking dish.
  • Allow to rise in a warm place about an hour and a half until the rolls come up almost to the top of the baking dish.
  • Bake at 350° approximately 17-20 minutes or until rolls test done. (See note below).
  • Add icing and serve.

ICING:

  • Place ingredients in a mixer and beat for several minutes.
  • Dollop over top of hot cinnamon rolls after they come out of the oven.

Notes

NOTE: I usually warm the milk about one minute 30 seconds in the microwave (at 50% power).
 
NOTE: To raise the rolls: I turn the oven on 350° for exactly one minute. Turn off heat and slide pan of rolls into the oven (uncovered). After 20 minutes, heat the oven again for one minute. Repeat again in 20 minutes. If the rolls are raised sufficiently at the hour mark, begin baking, but usually you have to go through this process for about 1 1/2 to 2 hours. Continue heating for one minute each time. Turn off heat and allow rolls to continue raising for 15-20 minutes each time. Once the rolls have been in the oven between 1 hour 30 minutes and 2 hours, they have usually expanded enough to begin baking. 
 
NOTE: I keep the rolls in the oven while the temperature raises to 350°. (This allows the rolls to raise a little more). I set a timer for 20 minutes. The rolls are usually done by that time. But check to make sure they are not doughy or too soft in the middle. If they are, continue baking for 5 more minutes. If you put the rolls in a preheated oven, it usually takes about 15-17 minutes for them to bake sufficiently.
 
NOTE: For best results, do not use any lower percentage of milk than whole milk. Use butter not margarine and real vanilla extract.
 
NOTE: For best results, I recommend using Fleischmann’s yeast. Other brands have a tendency to fail more easily.
 
© Can’t Stay Out of the Kitchen
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Nutrition

Calories: 281kcalCarbohydrates: 43gProtein: 3gFat: 11gSaturated Fat: 7gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0.4gCholesterol: 30mgSodium: 204mgPotassium: 78mgFiber: 2gSugar: 25gVitamin A: 349IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 53mgIron: 0.5mg
Keyword apples, bread, breakfast, brunch, cinnamon, cinnamon rolls, sweet rolls
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