Soft & Gooey Apple Cinnamon Rolls with Brown Butter Maple Icing
If there’s one thing that’ll make your kitchen smell like fall in the South, it’s a pan of warm apple cinnamon rolls fresh out of the oven. These beauties are soft, fluffy, and layered with a cozy apple filling, then topped with a rich brown butter maple icing.
Servings: 8 Rolls
Ingredients
- ¾ cup + 1–2 tbsp warm milk or cream 110°F
- 2 ¼ tsp instant yeast 1 packet
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg + 1 egg yolk room temperature
- 10 tbsp unsalted butter 1 stick + 2 tbsp, divided
- 3 cups all-purpose flour plus more for dusting
- ¼ cup packed light brown sugar
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 2 medium apples peeled and finely diced
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1 tsp cornstarch mixed with 1 tsp water slurry
- 3 tbsp apple butter
- 2 tbsp pure maple syrup
- About 1 tsp salt
Instructions
Make the Dough
- In a large mixing bowl, whisk warm milk, yeast, and sugar. Let sit for 5 minutes until foamy.
- Add egg, egg yolk, and melted butter. Stir to combine.
- Mix in flour and salt until a sticky dough forms. Knead on a floured surface for 8–10 minutes (or use a stand mixer with a dough hook, 6 minutes) until smooth and elastic.
- Place in a greased bowl, cover, and let rise 1 hour or until doubled.
Prepare the Apple Filling
- In a small skillet, melt butter over medium heat. Add apples, brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt.
- Cook 3–4 minutes until apples soften slightly.
- Stir in cornstarch slurry and cook 1 more minute until thickened and glossy. Remove from heat and let cool completely.
- Stir in apple butter to make a rich, spreadable filling.
Assemble the Rolls
- Roll dough into a 14x9-inch rectangle.
- Spread apple filling evenly over the dough.
- Roll tightly from the long side into a log. Slice into 8 rolls.
- Place rolls in a greased 9x13 baking dish. Cover and let rise 30–40 minutes until puffy.
Bake
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Bake rolls for 28–30 minutes, until golden brown and centers are cooked through. If the tops brown too quickly, cover loosely with foil.
- Make the Brown Butter Maple Icing
- In a small saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Cook until butter turns golden brown and smells nutty, about 3–4 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool slightly.
- Whisk in powdered sugar, maple syrup, 1 tbsp milk, and salt until smooth. Add more milk, a little at a time, for the desired consistency.
Finish
- Drizzle icing over warm rolls and serve.