Apple Cinnamon Rolls with Cream Cheese Glaze

A few months ago when I made blueberry sweet rolls, I was left with so many scraps of dough that I just couldn't bear to throw them away. I decided to turn those scraps into a new, more fall-themed cinnamon roll with excellent results. These make a really decadent Sunday breakfast and go excellently with a cup of tea. I immediately went on another hike to the Hollywood sign after devouring one of these, but it was well worth it! This is my last regular post as I prepare to take off on a long vacation for the holidays. There will be a few things popping up while I'm gone so be sure to check in. I'll be back with plenty of recipes, restaurants, photos, and musings in 2012. Happy holidays!



Leftover dough (I'm so happy I think to freeze almost everything)


Filling ingredients


Start melting the butter


Mix the cinnamon and sugar


Butter is still melting


Peeled apples


The butter has melted


Almost browned


Don't forget to add lemon to the apple pieces so they don't brown


Butter the dish


Un-package the dough


Roll out the dough to a "rustic" rectangle


Brush the dough with browned butter


Spread the cinnamon and sugar over the butter

 
Top with the apples


Roll it up


Cut into equal(ish) pieces


Put them in the baking dish


Cover with a damp cloth


Glaze ingredients


Don't forget to sift the sugar


Mix them together


Almost ready


Practically irresistible


So cute and little


Now it's covered in glaze. Eat it.



Apple Cinnamon Rolls
(By Esi)

Makes about 5 cinnamon rolls

For the dough:
Leftover sweet roll dough

For the filling:
2 pink lady apples, peeled, cored, and chopped
Juice from 1 small lemon
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, melted and browned

For the glaze:
4 ounces reduced-fat cream cheese, at room temperature
3-4 tablespoons milk
1/4 cup powered sugar, sifted
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Butter an 8x8 baking dish with unsalted butter.

To make the filling, mix the apples and lemon juice in a small bowl and set aside. In another bowl, mix the brown sugar and cinnamon and set aside.

On a floured surface, roll the dough out to a 12x9 rectangle. Brush the entire top of the dough with the browned butter. Spread the cinnamon sugar mixture over the browned butter, and then top with the apples in a single layer.

Starting with the long side, roll the dough into a log, tucking the ends underneath the log. Cut into equal pieces and place in the prepared baking dish. Cover with a damp cloth and let the dough rest for 30-45 minutes.

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Bake the cinnamon rolls for 30-35 minutes or until the dough is cooked through and lightly browned. Let the rolls cool on a wire rack.

Meanwhile, whisk together the glaze ingredients. Drizzle the cinnamon rolls with the cream cheese glaze and serve warm

Printable Recipe

Blueberry Sweet Rolls

I need to apologize to you. Blueberry season seems to be over and I snatched up a few more just as it was ending so I could make these rolls. Save this until next year, and trust me, you'll want to. After my enormous success with non-cinnamon rolls last year, I knew I had to make another fruit roll soon. I saw a different recipe for blueberry rolls, but it seemed a little fussy. I finally found this recipe last week and knew I had to make it now since blueberry season is done. Late season blueberries are not as sweet as mid-season so they are great to bake with and bring out their delicious flavor. The only real change I made to the recipe was to add some lemon zest to the dough to brighten it up a bit, but next time (oh yes, there will be a next time), I'll do a lemon glaze instead of the vanilla. I always prefer that contrast of sweet and tart. If you have one, bake these in a 9x9 dish to give the rolls some room to expand. These rolls need to be prepped a day ahead of time so plan accordingly, but what an excellent treat they are! 


One year ago: Classic Salade Nicoisse
Two years ago: Cuban Opera Cake
Three years ago: Creme Brulee Oatmeal



Blueberry Sweet Rolls
(Adapted from Food Blogga)

Makes 9 rolls

For the dough:
4 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, plus more as needed
2 packets ( 1/2 ounce or 4 1/2 teaspoons) active dry yeast
1 cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon finely grated lemon zest
1/2 cup warm water
3/4 cup warm milk
1 cup (2 sticks) butter, melted and cooled
2 large eggs at room temperature
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 tablespoon melted butter for brushing over the dough

For the filling
2 cups fresh blueberries, washed and patted dry
1/2 cup sugar
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

For the icing:
1 cup confectioner's sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
A few drops of lemon juice or milk

To make the dough:
In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, yeast, sugar, salt, and lemon zest. Stir in the water, milk, butter eggs, and vanilla. Using a wooden spoon, mix until the dough clears the sides of the bowl, adding more flour a tablespoon at a time as needed.

Lightly oil a large clean bowl and transfer the dough to the new bowl. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate the dough overnight.

To make the rolls:
Let the dough come to room temperature on the counter. Butter an 8-inch square pan.

Lightly flour a large surface. Roll out the dough to a 12-inch by 19-inch rectangle, cutting away any scraps as needed.

In a bowl, mix together the filling ingredients until evenly coated. Spread the filling evenly over the dough. Starting with the long side closest to you, roll the dough as tightly as possible, tucking in any blueberries that may escape. Place the end seam side down and tuck the sides of the roll under. Using a sharp knife, cut the dough into 9 equal pieces.

Place each piece into the prepared pan. Cover the pan with a clean, slightly damp towel and let the dough rise for 45 minutes.

Place the rack in the center of the oven and preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Bake the rolls for 35-45 minutes, or until the tops of the rolls are golden and a toothpick inserted in the center roll comes out clean. Transfer the pan to a wire rack and let cool completely.

Whisk together the icing ingredients until smooth, but not too think. Separate the cooled buns and place them on a rack over a sheet of parchment paper. Drizzle with icing and let rest until the icing has hardened. Serve at room temperature.

Printable Recipe

Pumpkin Cinnamon Rolls

I should warn you...this post contains some serious food porn. It all started a few weeks ago when I promised my friend Tony some kicked up pumpkin pancakes. This was mostly because I have vats of pumpkin left over from Halloween (bought too much). Tony does lots of little things for me, mostly like being my taste tester for recipes on this site, so I like to reward him once in a while. Last week we settled on the kicked up pancakes...until I saw a post on TasteSpotting that I knew I had to make. I have never made cinnamon rolls mostly because most recipes I see call for the use of my non-existent stand mixer (I'm working on getting one before the new year, but there are no promises). I have been wanting to make cinnamon rolls ever since I recently overcame my fear of yeast. I made only a few modifications, mostly because of what I had on hand. I had to sub honey in for molasses, and I used a little less powdered sugar than called for in the frosting. I must say though, this is one of the best cream cheese frostings I have ever made and this may be my go to from now on. Even though my rolls were clearly not even, this recipe was so easy these were frakking amazing. After I tried one, I immediately texted Tony and said he should start looking for a wedding ring for me...even though in my state we recently (ridiculously) outlawed the right for people like him to get married. ANYway, if you have some pumpkin and the rest of the ingredients, I strongly suggest you back away from your computer and go make these immediately. You will not be sorry.


Pumpkin Cinnamon Rolls
(Adapted slightly from Fullblown Technicolor)

For the dough:
1 packet of active yeast
1/2 cup of warm water
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla
3/4 cup pumpkin puree
1/4 cup sugar
1/2 tsp course salt
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/8 tsp nutmeg
3 cups all purpose flour

For the filling:
1/2 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup sugar
1 tsp honey
2 tsp cinnamon


For the frosting:
1/4 cup butter, softened
4 ounces cream cheese, softened
1 tsp vanilla
1 or 2 dashes cinnamon
1 cup powdered sugar, sifted

Mix yeast and warm water in a large bowl and allow to sit for 10 minutes. Add in the rest of the dough ingredients and thoroughly combine. Add a little more flour if it needs a more doughy consistency.

Turn dough out on a lightly floured surface and knead for 5 minutes, then allow to rest for 15 minutes.

Mix filling ingredients together in a small bowl until you have a sugar paste.
Roll dough out in a large rectangle to 1/4 inch thick then spread the sugar filling evenly over the dough, roll into a long cylinder and cut into 9 equal pieces. Place slices in a greased 8x8 baking dish and allow to rise for 45 minutes to an hour until doubled in size, then bake at 400 degrees for 20 minutes.

Mix together frosting ingredients. When the rolls have cooled slightly, spread with a rubber spatula over the top of the rolls while they're still in the dish.