Apple cinnamon rolls are a delicious twist on classic cinnamon rolls, combining pillowy layers of cinnamon-flavored dough with tender pieces of apples.

The rolls are easy to make, without eggs, and your choice of regular or vegan butter.

The combination of sweet, tangy, fruity, and aromatic flavors makes them perfect for a cozy breakfast, a delightful dessert, or a tempting snack any day.

apple cinnamon rolls with red apple chunks in the swirls

Dietary Note: this recipe is suitable for a vegetarian and vegan diet. Not suitable for a gluten-free diet.

What are apple cinnamon rolls?

apple cinnamon rolls

Our apple cinnamon roll recipe is based on our popular vegan cinnamon rolls.

You’ll love this recipe because it tastes like apple pie filling, and it’s easy to make with simple pantry staples that you already have at home.

We tested this cinnamon roll dough recipe dozens if not hundreds of times, and we used it in most of our yeast-leavened dough recipes, from Italian cream buns to vegan croissants, from chocolate chip brioche to vegan brioche bread.

Like in all our other fruit desserts, such as our easy apple cake, lemon cake, pear cake, and orange cake, there are no eggs in this recipe, and you can easily make them vegan and dairy-free by using non-dairy milk and vegan butter.

The dough is wonderfully light and airy, producing beautifully soft and fluffy layers alternated with cinnamon sugar and tender apple pieces.

This is an excellent recipe to enjoy during the winter holidays or on the weekend, to make for someone special, or to treat yourself to a delicious homemade delicacy.

Apple cinnamon rolls video

Ingredients & Substitutions for Apple Cinnamon Rolls

Ingredients apple cinnamon rolls

Quantities are in the recipe box at the bottom of the page.

DOUGH INGREDIENTS

Flour

All-purpose flour is best. We have not tried this recipe with gluten-free flour.

Yeast

We recommend using instant dry yeast because it’s reliable and easy to use.

You can substitute active dry yeast for instant yeast in the same quantities.

You’ll need three times more than instant dry yeast if you use fresh yeast. Before using fresh yeast, make sure to dissolve it in lukewarm milk.

Milk

We use almond milk to make apple cinnamon rolls as we love the mild almond aroma with the apple flavor.

Substitute any other non-dairy milk or whole milk for almond milk.

Oil

You can use a neutrally-flavored oil such as canola or sunflower oil, avocado oil, or light olive oil.

We prefer oil to butter because the rolls turn out fluffier and lighter.

The butter tends to make the dough heavier and more compact.

We use butter in the filling, and we think it’s enough to give the rolls a rich buttery flavor.

Sugar

Regular white sugar would be best.

The dough is not overly sweet, but a little sugar helps give structure to the rolls.

Salt

A pinch of sea salt helps lift the other flavors.

FILLING INGREDIENTS

Apples

We like sweet red apples like fuji apples, pink ladies, golden delicious, or Honeycrisp apples.

If you prefer a tangier flavor, we recommend Granny Smith apples.

Butter

You can use unsalted butter or vegan butter.

Make sure you soften the butter at room temperature before using it.

Don’t soften it in the microwave; the butter will melt too fast, and the rolls will get messy and hard to work with.

Sugar

We like to use brown sugar for the filling. It adds a nice golden color and a more complex flavor as it melts in the oven.

Substitute coconut sugar or palm sugar for brown sugar.

Cinnamon

You need ground cinnamon for the filling.

For the icing

We make a quick and delicious icing by whisking together:

  • powdered sugar
  • milk or non-dairy milk
  • vanilla extract

The cinnamon buns are also delicious without icing, with a sprinkle of toasted almonds, caramel sauce, or our vegan cream cheese frosting.

Apple cinnamon rolls with glaze

How to Make Apple Cinnamon Rolls

Make the dough

US cups + grams measurements in the recipe box at the bottom of the page.

Note: We make the dough by hand, but you can also use a stand mixer with a dough hook attachment. You can add the ingredients to the bowl of a stand mixer in the same order.

To a large mixing bowl, add lukewarm milk, sugar, oil, and instant dry yeast.

Stir and let the yeast bloom for 1 minute.

wet ingredients

Add the flour and salt to the yeast-milk mixture and mix with a spatula or wooden spoon until you get a dough bowl.

mix the dough

Knead the dough on a lightly floured surface with your hands for 5 minutes until smooth and elastic.

knead the dough

Shape the dough into a ball, transfer it into a greased bowl, brush it with oil, and cover it with a damp cloth or plastic wrap.

brioche dough

Let proof in a warm place (like a slightly warm oven) for about 1.5 hours or until it doubles in volume.

dough doubled in size

Prepare the filling

Core and chop the apples into small dice. Set aside.

cut the apple chunks

Mix sugar and cinnamon.

Soften the butter at room temperature until it has a spreadable consistency.

cinnamon sugar

Shape the dough

Transfer the proofed dough on a clean worktop, without flour this time, and fold on itself 5 times.

fold the dough

Roll out the dough with a rolling pin into a rectangle of about 12×16 inches or 30x40cm.

rolled out dough

Spread the softened butter on the dough.

layer of butter on dough

Sprinkle with the cinnamon-sugar mixture, leaving some space around the edges.

cinnamon sugar on dough

Add chopped apples on a single layer without overlapping.

apple pieces on dough

Roll the dough, starting from the short side.

rolling the dough

Cut into 9 apple cinnamon rolls with a sharp knife, best if a serrated knife or bread knife.

Apple cinnamon rolls on worktop

Second proofing and baking

Transfer apple cinnamon rolls to a well-buttered baking pan.

We are using a squared 11×11-inch or 30x30cm baking dish.

Apple cinnamon rolls before baking

Proof in a warm place for 40 minutes or until the rolls double in volume.

Proofed Apple cinnamon rolls

In the meantime, preheat the oven to 350°F or 180°C, then brush the rolls with milk or dairy-free milk.

When the oven is hot, bake the rolls for 20 to 25 minutes until they are golden brown on top.

Apple cinnamon rolls

Then, take them out of the oven and let them cool down on a wire rack for 15 minutes before drizzling them with icing or frosting.

To make the icing, whisk together powdered sugar, vanilla, and milk in a small bowl.

Apple cinnamon rolls with glaze

Variations

Vegan cinnamon rolls

Cinnamon rolls just baked

Vegan cinnamon rolls are easy, sweet, pillowy, and packed with a beautiful cinnamon aroma.

We only use simple ingredients that are easy to find and that you probably already have in your pantry.

Check out our vegan cinnamon rolls recipe.

Vegan cream cheese frosting

dairyfree frosting in white bowl

For a more indulgent variation, top the rolls with frosting.

Check out our vegan cream cheese frosting recipe to see how it’s done.

Storage & Make Ahead

Make ahead: apple cinnamon rolls are best eaten right after you bake them. However, if you want to make them for breakfast, you can prepare them in the baking pan the day before and then keep them in the fridge overnight. In the morning, let them proof out of the refrigerator for 1 to 1.5 hours, then bake them in a preheated oven for 20 to 25 minutes.

Room temperature: store cinnamon rolls in a plastic bag for 2 to 3 days. Warm them up in the microwave for 1 minute to add moisture and make them soft again.

Freezer: You can freeze baked cinnamon rolls in a freezer-friendly bag for up to three months. However, it would be best to freeze them before baking them in the baking tray wrapped in several rounds of plastic wrap.

Thaw and bake: Thaw in the refrigerator overnight, then let it second-proof at room temperature for 1 to 2 hours. Bake in a preheated oven for 20 to 25 minutes.

More Breakfast and Brunch Ideas

If you love pampering yourself and your loved ones with delicious and comforting sweets, get more brunch inspiration here:

More Apple Recipes

Got apple leftovers? No problem, take your pick from these sweet and tender apple dessert ideas:

For many more breakfast ideas, check out our breakfast category page.

apple cinnamon rolls with glaze

Apple Cinnamon Rolls

5 from 7 votes
Apple cinnamon rolls are a delicious twist on classic cinnamon rolls, combining pillowy layers of cinnamon-flavored dough with tender pieces of apples.
The rolls are easy to make, without eggs, and your choice of regular or vegan butter.
Prep Time: 30 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Proofing: 2 hours
Total Time: 2 hours 50 minutes
Servings: 9 rolls
Course: Breakfast, Brunch, Dessert
Cuisine: American

Equipment

  • 11×11 inch (30×30 cm) squared baking dish or a 10-inch (25 cm) round cake pan.

Ingredients 

FOR THE DOUGH

  • 1 cup almond milk or any other milk
  • teaspoons instant dry yeast or active dry yeast
  • ¼ cup sugar
  • cup olive oil swap avocado oil or sunflower oil
  • cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon salt

FOR THE FILLING

  • ½ cup brown sugar
  • 4 teaspoons cinnamon
  • ¼ cup butter or dairy-free butter
  • 2 – 3 apples

FOR THE ICING

  • ¾ cup powdered sugar
  • tablespoons milk any, we use almond milk
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions 

MAKE DOUGH

  • Heat 1 cup almond milk until lukewarm, then add it to a large mixing bowl with 2½ teaspoons instant dry yeast, ¼ cup sugar, and ⅓ cup olive oil.
    Stir and set aside for 1 minute.
    wet ingredients
  • Add 3½ cups all-purpose flour and 1 teaspoon salt, and mix with a wooden spoon until you get a dough ball.
    mix the dough
  • Knead on a lightly floured surface for 5 minutes until smooth and elastic.
    knead the dough
  • Shape the dough into a ball and transfer it to an oiled bowl, brush top with oil, and cover with a damp cloth.
    brioche dough
  • Proof in a warm place (like in a slightly warm oven or next to a radiator) for 1.5 to 2 hours or until it doubles in volume.
    dough doubled in size

FILL AND SHAPE

  • Soften ¼ cup butter at room temperature. Core and chop 2 – 3 apples into small dice.
    apples cut into pieces
  • In a small bowl, mix ½ cup brown sugar and 4 teaspoons cinnamon.
    cinnamon sugar
  • Transfer the proofed dough onto a clean worktop and fold on itself 5 times.
    fold the dough
  • Roll out the dough into a 12×16-inch or 30×40-cm rectangle.
    Spread the softened butter on top of the dough with a spatula.
    layer of butter on dough
  • Cover with the cinnamon-sugar mixture.
    cinnamon sugar on dough
  • Add the chopped apples on a single layer.
    apple pieces on dough
  • Roll the dough into a log, starting from the short side.
    rolling the dough
  • Cut into 9 apple cinnamon rolls with a sharp serrated knife.
    Apple cinnamon rolls on worktop

SECOND PROOFING AND BAKING

  • Transfer the rolls onto a well-buttered baking pan.
    We use an 11×11-inch (30×30 cm) baking pan.
    Apple cinnamon rolls before baking
  • Proof a second time in a warm place for 40 minutes or until doubled in volume.
    Proofed Apple cinnamon rolls
  • Preheat oven to 350°F or 180°C, brush the rolls with some milk, then when the oven is hot bake them for 20 to 25 minutes.
    Apple cinnamon rolls
  • Take the rolls out of the oven, let them cool down for 15 minutes, then drizzle with icing or smear with frosting.
    Apple cinnamon rolls with glaze
  • For the icing, whisk together ¾ cup powdered sugar, 1½ tablespoons milk, and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract in a small bowl.
    Apple cinnamon rolls with glaze

Notes

Nutrition information is for 1 apple cinnamon roll out of 9 without icing and made with non-dairy ingredients.
STORAGE & MAKE AHEAD
Make ahead: apple cinnamon rolls are best eaten right after you bake them. However, if you want to make them for breakfast, you can prepare them in the baking pan the day before and then keep them in the fridge overnight. In the morning, let them proof out of the refrigerator for 1 to 1.5 hours, then bake them in a preheated oven for 20 to 25 minutes.
Room temperature: store cinnamon rolls in a plastic bag for 2 to 3 days. Warm them up in the microwave for 1 minute to add moisture and make them soft again.
Freezer: You can freeze baked cinnamon rolls in a freezer-friendly bag for up to three months. However, it would be best to freeze them before baking them in the baking tray wrapped in several rounds of plastic wrap.
Thaw and bake: Thaw in the refrigerator overnight, then let it second-proof at room temperature for 1 to 2 hours. Bake in a preheated oven for 20 to 25 minutes.
ALSO ON THIS PAGE

Nutrition

Calories: 423kcal, Carbohydrates: 69g, Protein: 7g, Fat: 14g, Saturated Fat: 2g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g, Monounsaturated Fat: 8g, Trans Fat: 0g, Cholesterol: 0mg, Potassium: 135mg, Dietary Fiber: 3g, Sugar: 22g, Vitamin A: 24IU, Vitamin B6: 0.1mg, Vitamin C: 2mg, Vitamin E: 2mg, Vitamin K: 11µg, Calcium: 63mg, Folate: 128µg, Iron: 3mg, Manganese: 1mg, Magnesium: 17mg, Zinc: 1mg
Tried this recipe?Leave a comment below or mention @nicoandlouise on Instagram. We are also on Facebook, Pinterest, YouTube, and TikTok.

If you liked these apple cinnamon rolls, you might also like:


Nico and Louise in front of the Consolazione church in Todi

Hi! We are Nico & Louise

Welcome to The Plant-Based School, a food blog with easy, tasty, and wholesome recipes.

Our aim is to help you and your family eat more veggies through delicious recipes with simple ingredients.

Easy right?

5 from 7 votes (7 ratings without comment)

Leave a comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating