Fluffy Cinnamon Rolls with Apple Pie Filling

By Marley Goldin

on March 8, 2022

last updated January 22, 2025

5 from 2 votes

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These light and fluffy cinnamon rolls have an apple pie filling! What more could you want in a cinnamon bun recipe? Cozy, delicious and topped with icing.

Soft, gooey cinnamon rolls, meet warm, spiced apples! These Cinnamon Rolls with Apple Pie Filling transform a classic into something unforgettable.

These cinnamon buns are cozy, comforting, and filled with a fruity filling to add some extra flavor and texture. Then, they’re smothered with a creamy icing that takes this breakfast treat to the next level.

Because sometimes you simply need to add a little twist to an old favorite (see next: Chocolate Oreo Cinnamon Rolls!) to keep things fresh.

While I know a bake like this can be intimidating, I promise I’ll hold your hand through it. As a time-pressed mom and joyful baker, I appreciate a recipe that doesn’t overcomplicate things.

This recipe for apple pie cinnamon buns is straightforward, and the whole thing comes together in the same day! I guarantee these buns are totally do-able, and definitely worth it!. To help, I’ve included my tips for making the best cinnamon rolls with yeast.

baking dish with all cinnamon rolls and one red apple

Cinnamon Rolls with Apple Pie Filling Ingredient Highlights

You’ll need warm water to jumpstart the activation of your yeast. It doesn’t have to be piping hot, warm from the tap will do! I use instant yeast; it will give you more fluffiness than active-dry yeast in a shorter amount of time.

Truly, any apples will work in this recipe, but I find any apple that has some tartness is preferred. It adds some contrast to the otherwise very sweet treat.

Avoid super-sweet apples like Fuji if you can. I usually make these with green apples or Pink Ladies.

Ingredients for Cinnamon Rolls with Apple Pie Filling - powdered sugar, egg, brown sugar, butter, instant yeast, milk, salt, granulated sugar, and warm water. — Everything you need for the cinnamon rolls.

Cinnamon rolls with apple pie filling - brown sugar, apples, butter, and cinnamon. — You need apples, butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon for the filling.

Cinnamon rolls with apple pie filling - powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla extract — You’ll need powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla extract for the icing.

Cinnamon Buns with Apple Pie Filling Tips and Tricks

How I Make Easy Homemade Cinnamon Rolls

The first step to a fluffy cinnamon roll dough is activating your yeast. This is as simple as mixing it with warm water and sugar and covering it.

After about 5 minutes, you should see bubbles on the surface of the mixture, which will indicate to you that your yeast is activated.

While your yeast is activating, use a second, larger mixing bowl to bring the rest of your ingredients together.

Melt your butter first and then allow it to cool for a couple of minutes before adding it to your dough mixture.

You can do so in the microwave starting with 20 seconds, stirring, and then heating in ten-second intervals, stirring in between until completely melted.

Otherwise, you can melt it in a small pot on the stove over low heat.

Add the flour, granulated sugar, salt, melted butter, milk, and egg to the bowl. Once the yeast is activated, add it to the rest of your ingredients and use a whisk or wooden spoon to stir.

Your dough will be thick and sticky, so you may even need to use your hands to bring it together.

Next, generously flour a clean, flat surface, and add some flour to your hands to avoid too much dough sticking to them when you knead. I like to use a large cutting board for easier clean-up.

The dough should be kneaded for about 3 minutes. I know 3 minutes doesn’t sound like a lot, but kneading is a workout!

Time yourself to ensure you are giving the dough the full 3 minutes it requires. As you are kneading, you may find that your surface needs more flour.

Continue to add flour at your discretion, to avoid the dough sticking to your surface.

Then, place the dough back into the bowl and cover it with a clean kitchen towel.

With instant yeast, you’ll get a rise pretty quickly! You will allow the dough to rise more later, once the homemade cinnamon rolls are formed, but for now, we are just looking for some height.

Set the dough aside to rise, covered, for just about 10 minutes while you prepare your filling.

Adding a packet of instant yeast to a large mixing bowl with hot water and brown sugar. — Mix together the warm water, brown sugar, and yeast. Cover and set aside for about 5 minutes.

Adding sugar to a large mixing bowl to make cinnamon rolls. — In a separate bowl, mix together the flour, granulated sugar, salt, melted butter, milk, and egg.

Adding activated yeast mixture to mixing bowl with other cinnamon roll ingredients. — Once yeast is bubbly, add it to the flour mixture.

Adding flour to the surface of a cutting board to knead dough out on. — Generously flour a clean surface.

Kneading cinnamon roll dough on a floured surface. — Knead the dough for 3 minutes.

covering the cinnamon roll dough for a second time to allow it to rise — Add the dough to a bowl and cover with a clean towel.

How I Make Apple Pie Filling for Cinnamon Buns

The first step to making your filling is to add your softened butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon to a mixing bowl. Use a hand mixer or whisk to combine. At this point, the filling will be thick, almost resembling a paste.

Peel your apples and cut them around the core. Then, dice them into small pieces. Once your apples are peeled and diced, add them to the butter/sugar/cinnamon mixture.

Use a spatula to fold the diced apple into the butter spread, coating each piece.

Using a vegetable peeler to peel two apples. — Peel the apples.

Cutting around two apple cores and dicing the apples into small chunks. — Cut the apples around the core and dice them.

Adding cinnamon to a large mixing bowl with butter and brown sugar. — Cream together the butter, sugar, and cinnamon.

Adding apple pie filling to a bowl with butter and sugar and cinnamon. — Add the apples and toss to coat.

How I Form My Apple Cinnamon Breakfast Rolls

Once your dough has had some time to rise, add more flour to your surface. Turn the dough out onto your floured surface and add some flour to your rolling pin.

Use your rolling pin to roll out your dough into a rectangle shape, roughly 9″ by 12″. It doesn’t have to be perfect, but it’s best to keep the dough as even in thickness as possible for the best filling distribution in your rolls.

Once your dough is rolled flat, pour your filling on top.

Use a spatula to spread out the coated apples, leaving about a 1/2-inch margin on all sides. Again, try your best to get the layer of filling as even as possible on the dough.

Face the rectangle so that the short side is closest to you. Then, carefully roll the dough away from you, as tight as you can, until you are left with a cylinder, about 12″ long.

Slice your cylinder into 6 even pieces, about 2″ wide. You should now be left with 6 individual homemade cinnamon rolls.

For these rolls, I used a 13.5″ long oval baking dish, but you can also use an 11.5″ x 11.5″ square or 13″ x 9″ baking dish.

Add your rolls to your baking dish, with the prettiest swirl side up. Leave at least an inch of space in between each roll, to allow them space to spread.

Cover your rolls with a clean kitchen towel and allow them to rise for an hour and a half before baking.

Once covered, the rolls will continue to rise to fill the extra space in the baking dish.

If after 90 minutes you don’t feel the homemade cinnamon rolls with yeast have enlarged enough, preheat your oven and set the rolls on top.

The heat from the oven should speed up the rising process.

Once your rolls are nice and fluffy, bake them until the top starts to turn golden brown.

Please note that you may notice some liquid at the bottom of your baking pan—leave it. This is just moisture from the apples. They will bake into your rolls in the oven and actually add moisture.

Using a rolling pin to roll out cinnamon roll dough. — Roll out the dough until it’s about 9×12 inches.

Adding apple pie filling to cinnamon roll dough. — Spread the apple pie filling in an even layer.

Using two hands to roll up cinnamon rolls. — Fold the dough tightly over the filling.

Halfway through rolling up apple cinnamon rolls. — Roll the dough tightly away from you to form a log.

Slicing through apple pie filling rolled up in dough to form individual cinnamon rolls. — Slice the log into 6 individual rolls.

Arranging cinnamon rolls in a baking dish to rise. — Place them in a baking dish, leaving space in between each.

Using a clean kitchen towel to cover cinnamon rolls so they can rise. — Cover and allow them to rise.

Cinnamon rolls after doubling in size. — Your cinnamon rolls should double in size before you bake them.

How I Make the Easiest Icing for Cinnamon Rolls

While your cinnamon rolls are baking, whip up your icing!

Start by adding the powdered sugar and vanilla extract to a large mixing bowl. Use your hand mixer on high or a whisk to combine.

While continually mixing, start to slowly add your milk. Please note you may not need all three tablespoons to get the consistency you want.

Ideally, you want a smooth icing that is still thick but easily runs off of your whisk.

Once your cinnamon rolls are golden brown, remove them from the oven and place them on a cooling rack. Allow them to cool for about ten minutes before adding your icing.

Ideally, you will add the icing when the rolls are still warm, so some of that delicious, sticky icing is soaked up by the roll.

However, you don’t want to add the icing when the rolls are piping hot because it will completely melt into the rolls.

Sifting powdered sugar into a bowl to make simple icing for cinnamon buns. — Sift powdered sugar to avoid clumps in the icing.

Adding milk with a hand mixer on to thin out icing. — Add the milk with the hand mixer on to keep control over thickness.

Icing dripping off whisks of a hand mixer to show ideal consistency of icing for cinnamon rolls. — Your icing should easily drip off a spoon.

Pouring icing over apple pie filled cinnamon rolls. — Pour the icing over your cinnamon rolls and spread.

How I Store Cinnamon Rolls with Fresh Apple Filling

These Cinnamon Rolls with Apple Pie Filling will stay fresh at room temperature covered for two days.

In an airtight container in the refrigerator, they will last up to a week. If you want to extend their life even further, you can freeze them for up to two months!

From the freezer, thaw overnight before you dig in. If you want to enjoy one warm from room temperature or out of the fridge, you can microwave them on high for 25-35 seconds.

one cinnamon roll on a cooling rack with icing dripping off the side

Troubleshooting Your Fall Cinnamon Rolls

How to Avoid Cinnamon Rolls with a Soggy Bottom

If your cinnamon rolls are soggy on the bottom, the dough is most likely the culprit. The dough has to have enough structure to rise properly to avoid a dense and soggy roll.

There are a couple of steps you can take to ensure your dough structure is perfect, including making sure you are using fresh yeast, kneading thoroughly, and allowing enough time for the dough to rise.

There are no shortcuts when it comes to making perfectly fluffy homemade cinnamon rolls with yeast.

How to Keep the Filling from Leaking

To avoid your filling from leaking out, it’s best to not overfill your rolls and to make sure you roll them tight.

Take your time and neatly roll your dough, in an outward motion away from you. Do your best to roll them as tightly as possible.

The Secret to Perfectly Fluffy Cinnamon Rolls

Again, ensuring your yeast is fresh is an important step in achieving perfectly fluffy cinnamon rolls. It’s also important to allow ample time for your dough to rise.

Your dough should double in size before you start to roll it out and fill it. The time it takes to double will vary depending on the temperature of your kitchen.

And lastly, for the fluffiest rolls, don’t over-roll your dough. Roll it out until you it is roughly a 9 x 12 inch rectangle. As soon as it’s the right size, resist the urge to continue to flatten it and perfect it. It’s best not to overwork the dough!