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Apple Butter Cinnamon Rolls Recipe

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4.4 from 13 reviews

Delight in these soft and fluffy Apple Butter Cinnamon Rolls, featuring a spiced apple butter filling and a creamy maple cinnamon cream cheese frosting. Perfect for breakfast or brunch, these rolls offer a comforting warm treat with a layered swirl of sweet and spice, baked to golden perfection.

Ingredients

Dough

  • 1 envelope active dry yeast (1 tablespoon)
  • 1 cup whole milk
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 2 large eggs (beaten)
  • 6 tablespoons butter (melted and slightly cooled)
  • 4 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon salt

Filling

  • 1 cup apple butter
  • 1/2 cup light brown sugar (packed)
  • 1/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon

Frosting

  • 3/4 cup cream cheese
  • 1 cup powdered sugar
  • 2 tablespoons maple syrup
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • Pinch salt

Instructions

  1. Prep: Gather all ingredients. Using a stand mixer with a dough hook attachment makes kneading easier, but kneading by hand is also possible, though more time-consuming.
  2. Activate yeast: In a large measuring jug, combine yeast with 1 tablespoon milk and 1 tablespoon sugar. Let it sit for 5 minutes until foamy and bubbly, indicating active yeast. If the mixture remains flat, discard and restart with fresh yeast.
  3. Add remaining liquid ingredients: Whisk into the bubbly yeast mixture the remaining milk, sugar, beaten eggs, and melted butter (add butter last to avoid overheating the yeast).
  4. Knead dough: In the mixer bowl, combine flour and salt. Add the yeast mixture and knead on medium speed for 8-10 minutes until the dough is soft, stretchy, and pulls away from the bowl sides. Add flour one tablespoon at a time if dough is too sticky.
  5. Let dough rise: Transfer dough to a greased bowl, cover, and let rise in a warm spot until doubled in size, about 45 to 60 minutes. If kitchen is cool, place in a slightly warm (turned off) oven or warm place not exceeding 100°F.
  6. Roll out and add filling: Punch down the risen dough and roll out on a lightly floured surface into a 18×12-inch rectangle about 1/4 inch thick. Spread apple butter evenly, then sprinkle combined light brown sugar, granulated sugar, and cinnamon over it, leaving a small border along one edge.
  7. Assemble rolls: Roll up dough jelly-roll style from the long edge, then slice into 12 rolls. Arrange rolls in a greased 9×13 inch pan, cover, and let rise again until puffy, about 20-30 minutes.
  8. Bake rolls: Preheat oven to 350°F while rolls rest. Bake rolls for 18-25 minutes until golden and cooked through; tent with foil if tops brown too quickly but centers remain undercooked. Cool slightly on a wire rack.
  9. Make frosting: Beat cream cheese, powdered sugar, maple syrup, cinnamon, and a pinch of salt until smooth. Spread frosting over warm rolls.
  10. Serve: Serve rolls warm for best texture and flavor. They also taste delicious cold the next day.

Notes

  • Use fresh active dry yeast to ensure good rise.
  • Adjust cinnamon amount to your taste; apple butter is already spiced.
  • For easier slicing, use unflavored dental floss to cut rolls cleanly without squashing spirals.
  • If your kitchen is cool, use a warm spot to encourage dough rising but keep temperature below 100°F.
  • Store leftovers covered at room temperature for up to 2 days or refrigerate and reheat gently.
  • Overbaking will make rolls dry; remove them when centers are set but rolls still soft.

Find it online: https://yumntasty.com/apple-butter-cinnamon-rolls-recipe/