Description
Homemade apple cinnamon rolls blend sweet-tart Granny Smith apples with classic cinnamon swirl dough. Warm rolls fresh from the oven offer pure comfort and comfort for bakers seeking a delightful weekend breakfast treat.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 egg
- 1 packet (7 g / 0.25 oz) instant yeast
- 3 ½ cups (440 g) all-purpose flour
- ¾ cup (180 mL) warm milk
- ¼ cup (60 mL) unsalted butter, melted
- 2 medium apples (Granny Smith or Honeycrisp), peeled & diced
- ½ cup (100 g) brown sugar
- 2 tbsps unsalted butter, melted
- 2 tsps cinnamon
- 1 tbsp cornstarch
- ¼ cup (50 g) granulated sugar
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 cup (120 g) powdered sugar
- 2 tbsps milk
- ½ tsp vanilla extract
Instructions
- Yeast Activation: Blend warm milk, sugar, and yeast in a mixing bowl, letting the mixture bloom and develop a frothy texture for 5 minutes.
- Dough Formation: Merge melted butter, egg, salt, and initial flour, creating a unified mixture that gradually transforms into a cohesive dough through vigorous mixing and kneading.
- Dough Conditioning: Develop the dough’s elasticity by thoroughly working in remaining flour, achieving a silky-smooth texture either through hand manipulation or stand mixer technique.
- First Rise: Nestle the dough in a lightly oiled bowl, cover completely, and allow it to luxuriate in a warm environment, expanding substantially for approximately one hour until doubled in volume.
- Filling Preparation: Craft a vibrant apple cinnamon blend by finely chopping crisp apples and infusing them with aromatic ground cinnamon, creating a rich, fragrant mixture.
- Dough Shaping: Gently deflate the risen dough, then gracefully roll it into an expansive rectangular canvas on a lightly dusted surface.
- Filling Distribution: Lavishly spread the apple cinnamon mixture across the dough, ensuring an even coating while maintaining a delicate border around the edges.
- Rolling and Cutting: Execute a precise roll, transforming the dough into a compact log, then skillfully slice into individual rounds with smooth, deliberate movements.
- Final Proofing and Baking: Arrange the rolls in a prepared baking dish, allowing them a final opportunity to rise and become delightfully puffy before introducing them to the oven’s transformative heat.
Notes
- Activate Yeast Carefully: Ensure milk temperature is between 100-110°F to prevent killing the yeast, which requires a warm but not hot environment for proper activation.
- Handle Dough Gently: Knead the dough minimally to maintain softness, avoiding overworking which can make rolls tough and dense.
- Manage Apple Moisture: Pat diced apples dry with paper towels to prevent excess liquid from making the rolls soggy during baking.
- Control Rising Conditions: Place dough in a draft-free, warm spot like a turned-off oven with a pan of hot water to create optimal rising conditions for perfect texture.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Breakfast, Snacks, Desserts
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 13
- Calories: 284
- Sugar: 21 g
- Sodium: 132 mg
- Fat: 8 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 47 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 24 mg