Combine the cozy flavors of spiced apples, buttery caramel, and soft, pillowy cinnamon rolls for a fall-inspired treat that’s irresistible year-round. These Decadent Caramel Apple Cinnamon Rolls are a dessert lover’s dream, filled with tender Honeycrisp apples, rich caramel, and topped with a luscious caramel cream cheese icing. Perfect for breakfast, brunch, or dessert, this recipe will make your kitchen smell like pure heaven.
Ingredients:
Caramel Apple Cinnamon Roll Filling:
- 4 large Honeycrisp apples (1000 g), peeled and diced
- ½ cup unsalted butter, room temperature (113 g)
- 1½ cups light brown sugar, packed (300 g)
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- ¼ tsp fine salt (1 g)
- ¼ cup water (60 g)
- ¼ cup cornstarch (30 g)
- ½ cup unsalted butter, softened (113 g), for spreading later
Cinnamon Roll Dough:
- 4¼ cups all-purpose flour (550 g)
- 4½ tsp or 2 packets instant dry yeast (14 g, ½ oz.)
- 1 tsp fine salt (6 g)
- 1 cup whole milk, warmed (245 g)
- ½ cup unsweetened applesauce (125 g)
- ½ cup unsalted butter, room temperature (113 g)
- ½ cup granulated sugar (100 g)
Caramel Sauce:
- 1 cup granulated sugar (200 g)
- 6 Tbsp unsalted butter, room temperature (85 g)
- ¼ cup heavy cream, room temperature (60 g)
- ¼ tsp fine salt
Caramel Cream Cheese Icing:
- ¼ cup cream cheese, room temperature (56 g)
- ¼ cup unsalted butter, room temperature (56 g)
- ¼ cup caramel sauce (60 g), from above
- 2 tsp vanilla extract (8 g)
- ¼ tsp salt
- 1½ cups powdered sugar (190 g)
Instructions:
- Make the Cinnamon Roll Dough : Warm the milk until it’s lukewarm (not hot) and combine it with the yeast in a mixing bowl. Let sit for 5 minutes until frothy. Add the applesauce, butter, sugar, and salt to the yeast mixture, then gradually mix in the flour. Knead the dough for about 7-10 minutes until smooth. Cover the dough with a damp cloth and let it rise in a warm spot for about 1 hour, or until it doubles in size.
- Prepare the Apple Filling : In a large skillet, melt butter over medium heat. Add the diced apples, brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt. Cook until the apples are softened (about 10 minutes). Mix water and cornstarch in a small bowl to create a slurry. Stir it into the apple mixture, cooking until thickened. Remove from heat and let cool.
- Make the Caramel Sauce : Heat sugar in a saucepan over medium heat, stirring continuously until it melts into a golden caramel. Add butter and mix until fully incorporated, then slowly stir in the heavy cream and salt. Let cool to room temperature.
- Assemble the Rolls : Roll out the dough into a large rectangle (about 12×16 inches). Spread the softened butter over the surface, then evenly distribute the apple filling on top. Roll the dough tightly into a log and slice into 12 equal pieces. Place the rolls in a greased baking dish, cover, and let rise for 30 minutes.
- Bake the Rolls : Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Bake the rolls for 25-30 minutes, or until golden brown.
- Make the Caramel Cream Cheese Icing : Beat the cream cheese and butter until fluffy. Add the caramel sauce, vanilla extract, salt, and powdered sugar. Mix until smooth.
- Glaze and Serve : Spread the caramel cream cheese icing over the warm cinnamon rolls. Drizzle with extra caramel sauce for a finishing touch and serve!
Conclusion:
These Decadent Caramel Apple Cinnamon Rolls are the ultimate indulgence, with layers of caramel sweetness, tender apple filling, and rich cream cheese frosting. Whether you’re celebrating a special occasion or just want a comforting treat, this recipe is sure to become a favorite.
Decadent Caramel Apple Cinnamon Rolls
These Decadent Caramel Apple Cinnamon Rolls are theultimate indulgence, with layers of caramel sweetness, tender apple filling,and rich cream cheese frosting.
Caramel Apple Cinnamon Roll Filling:
- 4 large Honeycrisp apples (1000 g, peeled and diced)
- ½ cup unsalted butter (room temperature (113 g))
- 1½ cups light brown sugar (packed (300 g))
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- ¼ tsp fine salt (1 g)
- ¼ cup water (60 g)
- ¼ cup cornstarch (30 g)
- ½ cup unsalted butter (softened (113 g), for spreading later)
Cinnamon Roll Dough:
- 4¼ cups all-purpose flour (550 g)
- 4½ tsp or 2 packets instant dry yeast (14 g, ½ oz.)
- 1 tsp fine salt (6 g)
- 1 cup whole milk (warmed (245 g))
- ½ cup unsweetened applesauce (125 g)
- ½ cup unsalted butter (room temperature (113 g))
- ½ cup granulated sugar (100 g)
Caramel Sauce:
- 1 cup granulated sugar (200 g)
- 6 Tbsp unsalted butter (room temperature (85 g))
- ¼ cup heavy cream (room temperature (60 g))
- ¼ tsp fine salt
Caramel Cream Cheese Icing:
- ¼ cup cream cheese (room temperature (56 g))
- ¼ cup unsalted butter (room temperature (56 g))
- ¼ cup caramel sauce (60 g, from above)
- 2 tsp vanilla extract (8 g)
- ¼ tsp salt
- 1½ cups powdered sugar (190 g)
- Make the Cinnamon Roll Dough : Warm the milk until it’s lukewarm (not hot) and combine it with the yeast in a mixing bowl. Let sit for 5 minutes until frothy. Add the applesauce, butter, sugar, and salt to the yeast mixture, then gradually mix in the flour. Knead the dough for about 7-10 minutes until smooth. Cover the dough with a damp cloth and let it rise in a warm spot for about 1 hour, or until it doubles in size.
- Prepare the Apple Filling : In a large skillet, melt butter over medium heat. Add the diced apples, brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt. Cook until the apples are softened (about 10 minutes). Mix water and cornstarch in a small bowl to create a slurry. Stir it into the apple mixture, cooking until thickened. Remove from heat and let cool.
- Make the Caramel Sauce : Heat sugar in a saucepan over medium heat, stirring continuously until it melts into a golden caramel. Add butter and mix until fully incorporated, then slowly stir in the heavy cream and salt. Let cool to room temperature.
- Assemble the Rolls : Roll out the dough into a large rectangle (about 12×16 inches). Spread the softened butter over the surface, then evenly distribute the apple filling on top. Roll the dough tightly into a log and slice into 12 equal pieces. Place the rolls in a greased baking dish, cover, and let rise for 30 minutes.
- Bake the Rolls : Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Bake the rolls for 25-30 minutes, or until golden brown.
- Make the Caramel Cream Cheese Icing : Beat the cream cheese and butter until fluffy. Add the caramel sauce, vanilla extract, salt, and powdered sugar. Mix until smooth.
- Glaze and Serve : Spread the caramel cream cheese icing over the warm cinnamon rolls. Drizzle with extra caramel sauce for a finishing touch and serve!