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Apple Cider Cinnamon Rolls

Apple Cider Cinnamon rolls made with reduced apple cider to create a rich and flavorful apple taste. Sauteed apples are rolled up into these cinnamon rolls along with brown sugar, cinnamon, and hints of nutmeg.

The icing on these cinnamon rolls is made with cream cheese, apple cider, and confectioner's sugar creating a thick and sweet glaze that complements the flavors of the cinnamon rolls.

An oval baking dish with apple cider cinnamon rolls with a cream cheese icing.

Ingredients in Apple Cider Cinnamon Rolls

  • All-purpose flour
  • Granulated sugar
  • Active dry yeast
  • Salt
  • Milk
  • Apple cider
  • Unsalted butter
  • Egg
  • Tart apples
  • Brown sugar
  • Ground cinnamon
  • Confectioner’s sugar
  • Cream cheese

RELATED: Apple Cinnamon Babka

A cinnamon roll made with apple cider that is drizzled with apple cider cream cheese icing.

Apple Cider Cinnamon Rolls

Make the Apple Cider Cinnamon Roll Dough- The first thing to do is to combine the all-purpose flour together with the sugar, dry active yeast, and salt. Then, In a small saucepan, add the apple cider and heat on a low boil until about a ¼ cup of cider is left. This will take a few minutes.

Reduce the apple cider- Once the apple cider is reduced, measure the boiled cider leaving ¼ cup of it in the saucepan. Discard any remaining cider. Add the butter into the boiled cider and stir it in to melt. Remove the saucepan from the heat.

Finish making the dough- Add the milk into the apple cider mixture. Beat in the room temperature egg and combine well. Carefully pour the mixture into the dry ingredients. Beat for 6 to 8 minutes using a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook attachment. Turn the dough over onto a lightly floured workspace and knead the dough for a few minutes until a soft dough forms. Shape the dough into a ball and lightly grease a bowl and place the dough inside.
Cover the dough with a towel and allow it to rise for about 60 minutes.

Make the Apple Filling- Heat the butter and the cider on medium-low heat in a skillet.
Peel and dice the tart apples and add them to a skillet. Sauté the apples and coat them in the ground cinnamon and sprinkle the salt into the mixture. Remove the apple filling from the heat once the apples are tender.

RELATED: Apple Crumb Coffee Cake

Apple cider cinnamon rolls baked in a white oval baking dish topped with a sweet cream cheese glaze.

Make the Cinnamon Rolls- Once the dough rises, place the dough back onto a lightly floured workspace and roll the dough into an 11 x 15 rectangle. Spread the apple filling onto the dough leaving ½ inch of dough on all sides. Roll the dough up tightly starting with the short side. Slice the dough into equal slices and place them in a greased 9-inch baking dish.

Proof the prepared cinnamon rolls- Cover and allow to rise for another half an hour.

Bake the apple cider cinnamon rolls- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Bake the risen cinnamon rolls for 23-26 minutes or until the tops are golden brown. Allow the cinnamon rolls to cool and make the apple cider glaze.

Make the Apple Cider Icing- Beat the softened cream cheese until smooth. Add in two tablespoons of apple cider and slowly beat in the confectioner’s sugar. Beat until smooth. Spread the apple cider icing over the cool apple cider cinnamon rolls.

📖 Recipe

Yield: 12

Apple Cider Cinnamon Rolls

A 9 inch oval baking dish with apple cider cinnamon rolls.

Apple Cider Cinnamon rolls made with reduced apple cider to create a rich and flavorful apple taste. Sauteed apples are rolled up into these cinnamon rolls along with brown sugar, cinnamon, and hints of nutmeg.

Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 22 minutes
Proof Time 1 hour 30 minutes
Total Time 2 hours 7 minutes

Ingredients

Apple Cider Cinnamon Roll Dough

  • 3 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
  • ¼ cup granulated sugar
  • 2 ¼ teaspoon active dry yeast
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ¾ cup milk
  • ½ cup apple cider (reduced to ¼ cup)
  • ¼ cup unsalted butter, melted
  • 1 egg

Apple Filling

  • 2 cups tart apples, peeled and diced
  • ¼ cup apple cider
  • ¾ cup brown sugar, packed
  • 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
  • ⅛ teaspoon salt

Apple Cider Icing

  • ¾ cup confectioner’s sugar
  • 2 tablespoons apple cider
  • 4 oz cream cheese, softened

Instructions

Make the Apple Cider Cinnamon Roll Dough

  1. Combine the all-purpose flour together with the sugar, dry active yeast, and salt.
  2. In a small saucepan, add the apple cider and heat on a low boil until about ¼ cup of cider is left. This will take a few minutes.
  3. Measure the boiled cider leaving ¼ cup of it in the saucepan. Discard any remaining cider.
  4. Add the butter into the boiled cider and stir it in to melt.
  5. Remove the saucepan from the heat.
  6. Add the milk into the apple cider mixture.
  7. Beat in the room temperature egg and combine well.
  8. Carefully pour the mixture into the dry ingredients.
  9. Beat for 6 to 8 minutes using a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook attachment.
  10. Turn the dough over onto a lightly floured workspace and knead the dough for a few minutes until a soft dough forms.
  11. Shape the dough into a ball and lightly grease a bowl and place the dough inside.
  12. Cover the dough with a towel and allow it to rise for about 60 minutes.


Make the Apple Filling

  1. Heat the butter and the cider on medium-low heat in a skillet.
  2. Peel and dice the tart apples and add them to a skillet.
  3. Sauté the apples and coat them in the ground cinnamon and sprinkle the salt into the mixture.
  4. Remove the apple filling from the heat once the apples are tender.



Make the Cinnamon Rolls

  1. Once the dough rises, place the dough back onto a lightly floured workspace and roll the dough into an 11 x 15 rectangle.
  2. Spread the apple filling onto the dough leaving ½ inch of dough on all sides.
  3. Roll the dough up tightly starting with the short side.
  4. Slice the dough into equal slices and place them in a greased 9-inch baking dish.
  5. Cover and allow to rise for another half an hour.
  6. Preheat the oven to 350° F
  7. Bake the risen cinnamon rolls for 23-26 minutes or until the tops are golden brown.
  8. Allow the cinnamon rolls to cool and make the apple cider glaze.


Make the Apple Cider Icing

  1. Beat the softened cream cheese until smooth.
  2. Add in two tablespoons of apple cider and slowly beat in the confectioner’s sugar.
    Beat until smooth.
  3. Spread the apple cider icing over the cool apple cider cinnamon rolls.

Notes

Save time proofing by using an Instant Pot on the yogurt setting. Place the dough in a warm spot to encourage proper rising.

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Nutrition Information:

Yield:

12

Serving Size:

1

Amount Per Serving: Calories: 312Total Fat: 8gSaturated Fat: 5gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 36mgSodium: 158mgCarbohydrates: 55gFiber: 2gSugar: 27gProtein: 6g

Nutrition calculation is a rough estimate and can vary depending on the cooking technique and the exact ingredients used. For informational purposes only.

Did you make this recipe?

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Kate

Sunday 24th of October 2021

The apple cider vinegar gave the rolls an amazing flavor! We all loved these rolls and I cant wait to make them again!

Liz

Saturday 23rd of October 2021

So excited to try this tomorrow morning! Love cinnamon rolls, but never thought of adding apples!

Natalie

Friday 22nd of October 2021

These rolls look amazing. I never used apple cider for icing. Sounds like a great idea and it's so seasonal. I'm going to give this recipe a try.

Swathi

Thursday 21st of October 2021

Apple cider cinnamon rolls delicious. I would love to have it for my breakfast.

Gail Montero

Thursday 21st of October 2021

This is totally right up my alley! Love the apple cider flavor twist!

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