This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.
Caramel Apple Cinnamon Rolls
Homemade salted caramel paired with tart apples all rolled into and baked in a sweet dough. These Salted Caramel Apple Cinnamon Rolls will knock your socks off!
Giddy up, everyone. These caramel apple rolls are something else! They are comfort food on steroids and the year 2020 is all about eating our feelings. 🙂 I don’t know about you…but I have baked more than ever this year!
My husband loves when I make homemade cinnamon rolls, caramel pecan rolls, or any carb that is made from scratch. So since we all enjoy delectable caramel apples, how fun would it be to combine the two? The Caramel Apple Cinnamon Rolls are perfect for those lazy Sunday mornings.
These Salted Caramel Apple Cinnamon Rolls start off by making a sweet yeast dough. It does its things and gets all puffy and we like that. The brown sugar and apple filling is made with butter, brown sugar, sugar, flour, cinnamon, and tart apples. The fresh apples make these rolls feel like crisp, Fall mornings. A handcrafted salted caramel sauce is drizzled all over the top just to make it a little extra something special.
I can’t tell you how many of my readers out there write to tell me that they have issues with making bread or yeast rolls. Don’t you worry out there…I am here to help! I will break down step-by-step how to make these cinnamon apple rolls so you will be a pro in the kitchen!
Tips and Tricks for making Salted Caramel Apple Cinnamon Rolls:
- Use Fresh Yeast. This is where readers can go wrong. If you use old yeast that has been sitting on your shelf for years…it may not work and you will end up with bread that doesn’t rise. That’s what we call very sad bread…and we don’t want that! So make sure to buy fresh yeast. I keep my yeast in the refrigerator or freezer and it helps it to last longer. This recipe doesn’t proof the yeast ahead of time because we are using dried instant yeast. If you want to make sure your yeast works…follow these steps. The key is to use very warm water (about 110 degrees). Adding a touch of honey or sprinkle of sugar to the yeast helps it proof even faster. Let the yeast proof for at least 5 minutes. You will know the yeast is working when it starts to bubble and form a creamy foam on the surface. If you decide to check your yeast, I suggest using 1/4 cup of warm water for the 2 1/4 teaspoon of yeast. You will reduce the 1/4 cup of water from the 1/2 called for in the recipe.
2. Warm up the liquid ingredients in the microwave. In a microwave-safe bowl, combine sugar, butter, water, and milk. Microwave in 20-second intervals until it reaches 120 to 130 degrees Fahrenheit. You want it to be warm to the touch. Add the liquids and egg into the dry ingredients.
3. If using a mixer like a Bosch, KitchenAid, or hand mixer, allow the mixture to knead and mix together for 4 minutes. If kneading by hand, knead for at least 5 minutes. After it is all incorporated, allow the dough to rest for 10 minutes. That is an important step in making this dough to allow the gluten strands to relax. Hey, we all need a break sometimes!
4. Cook the apples in butter. This is an integral step as it allows some of the liquid from the apples to evaporate. Let the apples cool in the refrigerator or freezer to allow them to set-up.
5. Make the filling by mixing together butter, brown sugar, sugar, flour, and cinnamon. Roll out the dough into a 16 x 9-inch rectangle. This filling will be spread all over the dough. Sprinkle with the cooled diced apples and roll it up.
6. Place the rolls on a baking pan, spaced out about 1/2 inch apart. Cover and let rise for at least 30 minutes or until double in size. This will depend on how warm your kitchen is. The rising process will go faster in a warmer kitchen. Bake for about 15 minutes.
7. Make the caramel by using sugar, water, heavy cream, butter, and salt. It is much easier to make homemade caramel with a thermometer. If you don’t want to make homemade caramel, pick up a high-quality caramel sauce at the grocery store.
If you love bread and rolls, check out these other popular recipes:
Hayley’s Famous Cinnamon Rolls
Caramel Pecan Rolls
Homemade Bakery French Bread
One Hour Whole Wheat Bread
This recipe is adapted from my blogging friend, Jessica Gavin’s cookbook called “Easy Culinary Science.” I bought it because I knew it would be good and was so happy to find this recipe in her cookbook! Congrats Jessica!
Pin this now to find it later
Pin It
Caramel Apple Cinnamon Rolls
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 3/4 cups Flour
- 2 1/4 teaspoon Instant or Rapid-Rise Yeast
- 1 teaspoon Salt
- 1/4 cup Sugar
- 2 Tablespoons Butter
- 1/2 cup Water
- 1/4 cup Whole Milk
- 1 large Egg
- 1/2 cup Pecans (optional)
Filling:
- 1/2 cup Butter (divided)
- 2 cups Apples, peeled and diced (such as Granny Smith)
- 1/2 cup Dark or Golden Brown Sugar
- 1/2 cup Sugar
- 3 Tablespoons Flour
- 1 to 2 teaspoons Cinnamon
Salted Caramel Sauce:
- 1 cup Sugar
- 1/4 cup Water
- 3/4 cup Heavy Cream
- 4 Tablespoons Butter
- 3/4 teaspoon Salt
Instructions
- In a microwave-safe bowl, combine the sugar, butter, water, and milk. Microwave in 20-second intervals until the mixture reaches 120-130 degrees Fahrenheit (very warm to the touch). Be careful it is warm!
- In a large bowl, stir together flour, yeast, and salt. Gradually stir the liquid mixture and egg into the flour mixture. Using the dough hook attachment, if using a Bosch or KitchenAid, mix on the lowest setting for about 4 minutes. If you are making these by hand, knead on a light-floured surface for at least 5 minutes. Cover the dough with plastic wrap and allow it to rest for 10 minutes.
- Heat a skillet over medium-high heat. Add 1 Tablespoon of Butter. Add apples and cook for about 5 minutes. Remove from skillet and place in a bowl and cool in the refrigerator for about 15-20 minutes.
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
Filling:
- In a small bowl, stir together brown sugar, sugar, flour, and cinnamon. Add remaining 7 Tablespoons of softened butter and mix together.
- Roll out the dough on a lightly floured surface. Roll into a 16 x 9-inch rectangle. Evenly spread the filling over the dough. Sprinkle the diced apples all over the filling. Tightly roll the dough into a 16-inch long log. Cut into 12 pieces.
- Place the rolls on a lightly greased 9 x 13 baking pan, spaced out about 1/2 inch apart, 3 rolls per row. Loosely cover the rolls with plastic wrap or a kitchen towel and allow to rise in a warm area until doubled in size, about 30 minutes.
- Bake the rolls for 14 to 16 minutes, or until a light golden color.
Caramel Sauce:
- In a saucepan, heat the sugar and water over medium-low heat. Allow the sugar to dissolve without stirring. Increase the heat and bring to a boil, allowing the sugar to caramelize without stirring to a warm amber color, about 5-7 minutes, between 320-350 degrees.
- Remove the sugar from the heat. Slowly and carefully whisk in the heavy cream. The mixture will bubble so be extra careful. Whisk in the butter and salt. Allow the caramel to cool at room temperature.
- Drizzle the rolls with caramel sauce and top with chopped pecans, if so desired.
Notes
- 'This recipe is adapted from recipe in Jessica Gavin's Easy Culinary Science Cookbook. It is linked above.
- If you don't want to make homemade salted caramel, you can buy a high-quality caramel from the grocery store.
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
This recipe was incredible!!!
Amazing recipe!!!
I could eat these everyday!! This recipe is so fun and unique. Definitely throwing this recipe in the breakfast rotation!
Do leftovers need to be refrigerated?
Would it be possible to let these delicious babies do the second rise overnight in the fridge? I’m thinking these would be amazing on thanksgiving morning but I’d like to prep them ahead of time.
I REALLY messed this up. I used non instant yeast that I’m pretty sure I killed instead of proofing when I put it into the warm milk-sugar-butter mix. I was confused if there needed to be two rises so I just let it sit while I finagled cutting the apples up, which I forgot to peel. I melted the butter for the filling completely and it was a little runny when I rolled the dough up. Then I forgot to add the apples before I rolled the filling into the dough. After I fixed that, my whole counter was covered in melted butter. Dough definitely didn’t double in the 45 mins I waited (poor little yeasts). I baked the rolls at 350 by accident (instead of 375) and it took ~22 mins. Then I was so worried about burning the sugar for the topping that I watched it for 12 minutes straight, but didn’t wait long enough because the final sauce turned out a pale white. Probably still would have been tasty, but the cream I used was a bit off and the hint of sourness really bothered me. All of this is to say: DESPITE this comedy of errors the rolls that resulted were still edible and dare I say delicious!
This is the best thing I’ve read all week. I laughed so much my daughter came to see if I was ok. It’s mostly funny to me because it’s something I would do too. Thanks for sharing.
Forgot to rate
All I can say is WOW! These are amazing. Can’t wait to heat a leftover with a scoop of Blue Bell
I have made these twice in the past three days and it is a fantastic recipe! I had to add just a little extra flour and baked them a little longer but it could just be my oven. My caramel sauce soaked through the rolls and they were like a sticky bun. Absolutely delicious!
Today I make this apple cinnamon rolls again. What are yummy apple cinnamon rolls! I love all apple pie and this recipe is a different taste. Its sauce is really magical. Just only need to pay attention when making this sauce and I have a bit of hand fatigue when stirring the sauce. This time I have to make double.