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    Home > Recipes > Breakfast and Brunch

    Apple Butter Cinnamon Rolls with Vanilla Glaze

    Published: Sep 23, 2021 · Modified: Sep 9, 2022 · by Jess Smith · Jump to Recipe · Leave a Comment · This post may contain affiliate links.

    apple butter cinnamon rolls
    apple butter cinnamon rolls
    apple butter cinnamon rolls

    cinnamon rolls in a round clear baking dish

    Bring fall into your kitchen with Apple Butter Cinnamon Rolls. Soft and fluffy, these cinnamon rolls are totally classic but use sweet, tart apple butter for a filling alongside brown sugar and cinnamon. 

    If you ask me, every season is homemade cinnamon roll season, but when the weather turns cooler, I really start wanting the cozy aroma of breakfast baking. And these cinnamon rolls have a little extra dose of fall flavor thanks to apple butter in the filling.

    What You’ll Love About These Cinnamon Rolls

    These cinnamon rolls are based on my all-time favorite 1-Hour Cinnamon Rolls. I’ve never found a recipe to beat this one that is incredibly easy, rises in under an hour, and always produces light, fluffy rolls with just the right amount of filling. 

    This recipe is:

    • Fall-Themed
    • Quick-Rising
    • Slightly Sweet
    • Tender
    • Make-Ahead Friendly

    uncooked rolls in a clear baking dish

    risen cinnamon rolls in a clear baking dish

    Make-Ahead Cinnamon Rolls

    Cinnamon rolls will barely rise in the refrigerator, so you can pause the process by transferring them to the refrigerator. In the case of these quick-rising cinnamon rolls, you can place them in the baking dishes, cover with plastic wrap, and transfer to the fridge for up to 12 hours. Take them out and let them come to room temperature. Let them rise an additional 15 minutes while the oven heats up. Pack in some protein and prep your whole meal in advance by pairing these cinnamon rolls with the make-ahead friendly Muffin Pan Baked Eggs.

    baked cinnamon rolls in a muffin tin

    adding vanilla glaze to cinnamon rolls

    Make Your Own Apple Butter

    Homemade apple butter is one of the best ways to use up extra apples. The New York Times Apple Butter is my all-time favorite. I’ve made this slow cooker recipe as well, and it’s also great and will make the house smell amazing as it simmers. 

    More Fall-Themed Baking

    • Slow Cooker Pumpkin Cheesecake
    • Apple Cider Donut Mini Muffins
    • Pumpkin Cinnamon Rolls with Maple Icing
    • Applesauce Cake
    • Pumpkin Spice Pretzel Bites

    Favorite Tools

    • 8-inch Round Cake Pans or 9x13 Baking Dish
    • Stand Mixer or Hand Mixer
    • Rolling Pin
    • Anchor 3-Piece Glass Mixing Bowls

    cinnamon rolls in a clear baking dish

    📖 Recipe

    apple butter cinnamon rolls
    Print Recipe
    5 from 2 votes

    Apple Butter Cinnamon Rolls with Vanilla Glaze

    Bring fall into your kitchen with apple butter cinnamon rolls. Soft and fluffy, these cinnamon rolls are totally classic but use sweet, tart apple butter for a filling alongside brown sugar and cinnamon.
    This quick and easy dough can be made an hour before serving or refrigerated overnight to bake in the morning.
    Prep Time1 hour hr 15 minutes mins
    Cook Time16 minutes mins
    Total Time1 hour hr 31 minutes mins
    Course: Breakfast, Brunch
    Keyword: apple recipe, baking, fall
    Servings: 18
    Calories: 201kcal
    Author: Jess Smith via Inquiring Chef
    Cost: $6.00

    Equipment

    • 2 8" Round Baking Pans or 1 9x13" Baking Pan
    • Stand or Hand Mixer
    • Mixing Bowls
    • Rolling Pin

    Ingredients

    Dough:

    • 1 ½ cups Milk
    • 2 Tablespoons Unsalted Butter, melted
    • 1 Tablespoon Fast Acting or “Instant” Yeast (see note)
    • 2 Tablespoons White Sugar
    • 4 cups All-Purpose Flour (500 grams)
    • 1 teaspoon Kosher Salt

    Filling:

    • ½ cup Apple Butter
    • ¼ cup Brown Sugar
    • 1 teaspoon Ground Cinnamon

    Vanilla Glaze:

    • 4 ounces Cream Cheese, softened to room temperature
    • 1 cup Powdered Sugar
    • 1 teaspoon Pure Vanilla Extract
    • 2-4 Tablespoons Milk

    Instructions

    • Spray two 8-inch round cake pans or one 9x13 baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.
    • Heat 1 ½ cups milk in the microwave until warm to the touch. Combine milk and melted butter in the bowl of a standing mixer. Stir in yeast and white sugar. Let sit for 5 minutes.
    • To the yeast mixture, add flour, and salt. Mix on low until the ingredients come together. Increase speed to medium and mix for 5 minutes, until the dough is smooth and elastic and begins to make a slapping sound as it hits the sides of the bowl.
    • Remove the bowl from the mixer and cover the dough with a dish towel. Let dough rise (preferably near the warm oven), until the surface is smooth, about 15 minutes.
    • Turn the dough out on a lightly floured surface and roll it into a rectangle (approximately 9"x18") with the long side facing you.
    • Spread apple butter over the dough, leaving about 1 inch of space on all sides. Combine brown sugar and cinnamon. Sprinkle sugar-cinnamon mixture over apple butter.
    • Starting with the side closest to you, roll up the dough. Slice roll of dough in half. Slice each half into 8 rounds (you should have 16 rolls total). Place the slices in the prepared baking dish(es).
    • Preheat oven to 400°F / 200°C.
    • Set cinnamon rolls, uncovered near the oven as it heats. Let rise until the edges of the rolls are touching (or nearly touching), 15 minutes.
    • Bake until light golden brown on top, 15 to 18 minutes.
    • While the rolls are baking, use a hand mixer to beat the cream cheese, powdered sugar, and vanilla. While beating, add milk a little at a time, until the mixture is smooth and pourable.
    • When the rolls come out of the oven, let them cool for 5 minutes before drizzling icing over top.
    • Serve warm.

    Notes

    Yeast - Be sure to get yeast labeled as Fast Acting, Instant, Quick-Rise, Bread Machine, or RapidRise - any of these will work. Do not use “Active Dry Yeast” which needs to be dissolved in water before using. 

    Nutrition

    Calories: 201kcal | Carbohydrates: 37g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 11mg | Sodium: 162mg | Potassium: 85mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 15g | Vitamin A: 167IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 42mg | Iron: 1mg

    *This post contains affiliate links*

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    About Jess

    Hi! I'm Jess. I am the recipe creator and photographer behind the 900+ recipes you’ll find on Inquiring Chef. As a mom to three young kids and professional cook, my mission is to make every moment in the kitchen and around the table count. If you’re looking for easy, flavorful, family-approved recipes, you’ve come to the right place! Learn more about me here.

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