These Caramel Apple Cinnamon Rolls combine soft, pillowy dough with a sweet apple-cinnamon filling and gooey caramel sauce. Perfect for breakfast, brunch, or a dessert, they’re a delicious twist on the classic cinnamon roll, with the warm flavors of fall.
Ingredients:
For the dough:
- 1 cup warm milk (about 110°F)
- 2¼ teaspoons active dry yeast (1 packet)
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¼ cup unsalted butter, melted
- 4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon salt
For the apple-cinnamon filling:
- 3 large apples (Granny Smith or Honeycrisp), peeled and diced
- 1 cup brown sugar, packed
- 2 tablespoons ground cinnamon
- 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour (to thicken filling)
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
For the caramel sauce:
- 1 cup brown sugar, packed
- ½ cup heavy cream
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Pinch of salt
Instructions:
Make the dough:
- Activate the yeast:
- In a small bowl, mix the warm milk, yeast, and 1 tablespoon of the granulated sugar. Let it sit for 5-10 minutes until frothy and activated.
- Mix the dough:
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the remaining sugar, eggs, vanilla extract, and melted butter. Add the activated yeast mixture and stir to combine. Gradually add the flour and salt, mixing until a soft dough forms.
- Knead the dough:
- Knead the dough on a floured surface for about 5-7 minutes, or until smooth and elastic. Transfer the dough to a greased bowl, cover, and let it rise in a warm place for 1-1½ hours, or until doubled in size.
Prepare the filling:
- Cook the apples:
- In a medium saucepan, melt 1 tablespoon of butter over medium heat. Add the diced apples and cook for about 5-7 minutes until softened. Remove from heat and set aside.
- Mix the cinnamon sugar:
- In a small bowl, combine the brown sugar, cinnamon, and flour.
Assemble the rolls:
- Roll out the dough:
- Once the dough has risen, punch it down and roll it out on a floured surface into a large rectangle (about 12×18 inches).
- Spread the filling:
- Spread the softened butter evenly over the rolled-out dough. Sprinkle the cinnamon-sugar mixture on top, then evenly distribute the cooked apples.
- Roll and slice:
- Roll the dough tightly into a log starting from the long side. Slice the log into 12-14 even rolls.
- Second rise:
- Place the rolls in a greased 9×13-inch baking dish, cover, and let them rise for an additional 30-45 minutes.
Bake and make the caramel sauce:
- Bake the rolls:
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Bake the rolls for 25-30 minutes, or until golden brown.
- Make the caramel sauce:
- In a saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the brown sugar and heavy cream, stirring until the sugar dissolves. Bring the mixture to a simmer and cook for 3-5 minutes until thickened. Stir in the vanilla extract and a pinch of salt. Remove from heat.
Serve:
- Top the rolls:
- Drizzle the warm caramel sauce over the freshly baked cinnamon rolls.
- Enjoy:
- Serve warm and enjoy these gooey, delicious Caramel Apple Cinnamon Rolls, perfect for any fall morning or special occasion!
These rolls can be enjoyed fresh, and any leftovers can be stored in an airtight container and reheated when needed.
