Apple Butter Cinnamon Rolls

Kimberly Killebrew

Fluffy cinnamon rolls filled with gooey apple butter and topped with cream cheese frosting, the flavor of autumn just doesn't get any better than this!

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5 from 2 votes

Prep Time 20

Cook Time 30

Rising Time 2

Total Time 2 50

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Servings cinnamon rolls

Calories 379 kcal

Ingredients

1 cup lukewarm milk
2 1/2 teaspoons active dry yeast
4 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup granulated sugar
2 large eggs , at room temperature
1/3 cup unsalted butter , melted and slightly cooled
1 teaspoon quality pure vanilla extract
For the Filling:
homemade apple butter (highly recommended, click link for recipe)
or store-bought apple butter
1 cup packed brown sugar
2 tablespoons ground cinnamon
1 small apple , peeled, cored and cut into very thin pieces
For the Frosting:
3 ounces full fat cream cheese , softened at room temperature
1/4 cup unsalted butter , softened at room temperature
1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
1/2 teaspoon quality pure vanilla extract

Instructions

Stir the yeast into the lukewarm milk and let it sit for 5 minutes until frothy. Put the flour in the bowl of a stand mixer, stir in the salt and sugar to combine and make a well in the center. Add the eggs, melted butter, and milk/yeast mixture. Attach a dough hook and knead the mixture on the bread setting ("2" on a Kitchenaid) for about 10 minutes.
Remove the dough, form it into a ball, lightly spray the stand mixer bowl with vegetable oil, and place the dough ball back in the bowl. Cover loosely with plastic wrap and place it in a warm place until nearly doubled, up to 90 minutes.
After the dough has nearly doubled in size, punch it down in the center, let it rest for a minute and then place the dough on a lightly floured surface. Roll out dough into a 16x21 inch rectangle. The dough will likely spring back, let it rest for a minute and roll it back out to size.
Combine the brown sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl. Spread the apple butter evenly over the surface of the dough and sprinkle the cinnamon sugar mixture over it, leaving about a 1/4 inch border around the dough. Place the apple pieces evenly over the dough. Roll up the dough, seam side down, and cut it into 15 equal rolls. Place rolls in a lightly greased 9x13 inch baking pan. Loosely cover with plastic wrap and let the rolls rise in a warm place until nearly doubled in size, about 30-40 minutes.
While the rolls are rising, preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
Bake the rolls until lightly browned, about 30 minutes.
To make the frosting, combine the cream cheese, butter, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract, beat until smooth.Spread the frosting over the warm rolls if you prefer more of a glaze. Spread over cooled rolls if you prefer the fluffy white frosting.

Notes

Make Ahead Options
Option 1 (Refrigerate): After you’ve placed the rolls in the baking pan (don’t let them rise), immediately cover them with plastic wrap and put them in the fridge overnight. The next morning place them on the middle rack in the oven (turned off), fill a shallow pan ⅔ full of boiling water and place it on the rack below the cinnamon rolls. Close the oven door. Let the rolls sit in there for about 30-40 minutes until they’ve risen. Then bake as instructed.

Option 2 (Freeze): After you've placed the rolls in the baking pan (don't let them rise), place them in the freezer (don't use a glass pan). Remove them and set them out on the counter to thaw completely (you could set them out overnight) and then continue with the rising process as instructed.

Nutrition

Keyword Apple Butter Cinnamon Rolls

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