Cinnamon Apple Cider Rolls

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     As the leaves begin to turn and the air grows crisp, there’s nothing I crave more than the comforting scent of apples, cinnamon, and butter wafting from the kitchen. These Apple Cider Rolls with Browned Butter Icing are my ultimate cozy-season treat — pillowy-soft dough infused with apple cider, layered with a spiced apple filling and cinnamon sugar, then slathered in rich, nutty browned butter cream cheese icing.

If fall had a flavor, this would most definitely be it. 


Cinnamon Apple Cider Rolls

Ingredients You'll Need

For the Dough:

  • ¼ cup warm water (105–115°F)

  • 2¼ tsp active dry yeast

  • ¾ cup warm apple cider (or apple juice)

  • 6 tbsp unsalted butter, melted

  • 2 eggs, beaten

  • ⅓ cup granulated sugar + a pinch

  • 1 tsp ground cinnamon

  • ¾ tsp salt

  • 4½ cups all-purpose flour (plus more as needed)

Apple Filling:

  • 2 tbsp unsalted butter

  • 4 apples, peeled and finely diced

  • 2 tbsp apple cider (or juice)

  • 1 tsp lemon juice

  • ⅓ cup brown sugar, packed

  • 1 tbsp cornstarch

  • 1 tsp cinnamon

  • Pinch of salt

Cinnamon Filling:

  • 8 tbsp (1 stick) butter, softened

  • 1 cup brown sugar, packed

  • 1 tbsp cinnamon

Browned Butter Cream Cheese Icing:

  • 6 tbsp unsalted butter

  • 6 oz cream cheese, softened

  • 2½ cups icing sugar

Method:

1. Make the Dough

Start by activating your yeast. Mix the warm water with a pinch of sugar and yeast, and let it foam for 5 minutes.

In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine the yeast mixture, warm apple cider, melted butter, eggs, sugar, cinnamon, and salt. Add the flour and knead with a dough hook for 5–6 minutes until the dough is soft and elastic. If it’s too sticky, add more flour a tablespoon at a time.

Transfer the dough to a greased bowl, cover, and let rise in a warm spot for 1 to 1½ hours or until doubled in size.

2. Cook the Apple Filling

While your dough is rising, cook the apples. Sauté the diced apples in butter, apple cider, and lemon juice until just tender. Stir in a mix of brown sugar, cornstarch, cinnamon, and salt, and cook until the mixture thickens into a gorgeous syrupy apple filling. Let cool completely before using.

3. Prepare the Cinnamon Filling

Simply mix the softened butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon until smooth and spreadable.

4. Assemble the Rolls

Once your dough has risen, punch it down and roll it into a large rectangle (about 18"x10"). Spread the cinnamon filling evenly over the dough, then dollop and gently spread the apple filling on top.

Roll the dough tightly from the long edge into a log and cut into 12 even pieces. Place them in a greased 9x13" baking dish. Cover and let rise again for about 30 minutes, or until puffy.

5. Brown the Butter

While the rolls rise, brown the butter for the icing. Melt the butter over medium heat until it foams, the milk solids drop to the bottom, and it starts to smell nutty and golden — about 4–5 minutes. Pour it into a bowl and let it cool until it’s the texture of softened butter.

6. Make the Icing

In a stand mixer, beat together the browned butter and cream cheese until smooth. Add icing sugar and mix until light and fluffy.

7. Bake and Frost

Preheat the oven to 350°F and bake the rolls for 25–35 minutes, or until golden and cooked through. Let them cool slightly, then generously slather them with that luscious browned butter icing.