The Ultimate Cinnamon Rolls with Apple Pie Filling + Video

Cinnamon Rolls with Apple Pie Filling are perfectly spiced and taste just like your favorite slice of pie — but oh-so-gooey!! Make apple pie cinnamon rolls for a delicious weekend or holiday breakfast. I can’t get enough of this easy recipe! 

Everyone in my house is pretty much obsessed with these easy apple pie cinnamon rolls. They’re golden brown goodness and make the best sweet treat to start the day.

The sweet apple is the perfect flavoring and what makes this dish a huge hit. 

It’s the perfect spin on a traditional cinnamon roll recipe, and the apple pie flavoring is really just an added bonus. If you’re a fan of pillowy cinnamon rolls, you’re not going to want to let your taste buds miss this.

They’re excellent on Christmas morning, and that irresistible aroma does the perfect job of getting everyone out of bed in the morning hours. 

Get a prepared baking dish, and start following the recipe card below to make these apple cinnamon rolls.

You can enjoy these sticky buns in the morning as a delicious breakfast or at night as a warm dessert. Adding a scoop of vanilla ice cream sounds like a dream to put on top of the buttered cinnamon rolls!

Let me know your thoughts once you make this apple pie cinnamon rolls recipe.

I’m giving you a head start to head to the kitchen now to get started – because now I’m craving them, too! This is one of those apple recipes that turn classic cinnamon rolls into perfection. 

Cinnamon Rolls with Apple Pie Filling

The secret to these homemade apple pie cinnamon rolls is the double topping that makes them ooey-gooey delicious!

Start by spreading a layer of cream cheese frosting over the rolls. 

You can use your favorite store-bought brand (for a quick shortcut) or make the frosting recipe from my copycat Cinnabon recipe.

Then, add a drizzle of my No Fail Caramel Sauce over the top. It’s made with just 4 ingredients and is done in only 6 minutes!

To see us make cinnamon rolls with apple pie filling from start to finish, watch the video in this post!

If you can’t wait for homemade dough to rise, try my Slow Cooker Cinnamon Roll Pull Apart Bread instead. 

Air fryer cinnamon rolls are ready in minutes! 

And my Lazy Day Bacon Cinnamon Rolls combine the best parts of monkey bread and homemade cinnamon rolls in a perfectly snackable treat. 

You can also try my delicious cinnamon swirl bread that is easier to make than you think!

Ingredient Notes and Substitutions

• Dough – A simple homemade recipe with pantry ingredients. 
  
  There is a double rise — the first when the dough is formed, then again after assembling the cinnamon rolls with apple pie filling. 
  
  But trust me, it’s well worth the labor of love when you take your first bite!
  
• Pie Filling – Use just the fruit from a can of apple pie filling, and cut the slices into smaller, bite-sized pieces. 
  
  You can also make your own spiced apples on the stovetop, then use those in these homemade cinnamon rolls instead of apple pie filling from a can. 
  
• Sugar and Spices – Dark brown sugar adds a deep, warm flavor and more moisture than granulated sugar would. 
  
  Obviously, there’s cinnamon. If you’re not a fan of nutmeg, you can swap in ground allspice or cloves. Apple pie spice would be good as well.

Tips for Making Apple Pie Filling Cinnamon Rolls

• Best places for dough to rise:

If it’s a warm day out, your kitchen counter will probably do just fine. 

Place the bowl on top of the refrigerator to keep it out of the way and gain extra heat generated by the appliance itself.

Otherwise, turn on your oven to 200°F for a few minutes to warm it up. Then, turn it off, place the bowl inside, and close the door. 

You can also recreate this environment in your microwave if it’s easier. 

Boil a cup of water in the microwave, then quickly remove it, place the bowl inside, and shut the door.

Don’t add filling to the edges!

There should be a small border around the edge of the dough before you start rolling for two reasons.

First, it ensures that the filling doesn’t squeeze out once you start to roll the dough. 

But also, the end piece will stick to the opposite side effectively sealing the log so the dough doesn’t unravel when sliced.

• Leave space between each roll.

You may be tempted to nestle them in tightly, but homemade rolls need plenty of room to rise and expand while baking.

There’s just enough space for 9 apple pie filling cinnamon rolls in a 9-inch square pan, but you can easily use a 9×13-inch pan for extra room.

Make Ahead Instructions

You can prep this cinnamon rolls apple pie filling recipe the night before, then bake them in the morning. 

Or, freeze the rolls for up to 6 weeks so you always have some on hand!

• Refrigerate overnight: Make them up to the point of slicing and placing in the pan, then cover tightly with plastic and refrigerate. 
  
  Remove the pan the next morning and let it sit on the counter for about 30 minutes to remove the chill before baking. 
  
• Freeze for later: Once they are rolled and sliced, place them on a sheet pan spaced apart and freeze for 1 hour. 
  
  Then, transfer to a sealable storage bag and place back in the freezer. 
  
  Thaw in the refrigerator overnight, then let them do their second rise on the counter and bake.

Kitchen Tools You’ll Need

• Stand mixer – You’ll need both the whisk attachment and dough hook for this recipe.
• Mixing Bowls – I like a variety of mixing bowls and prep bowls and this set has them all.
• Rolling Pin – Any style will do, or you can use an empty wine bottle in a pinch!
• Offset Spatula – Spreading the butter and filling over the dough is much easier with this, and you can use it to add the frosting at the end as well.
• 9” Square Baking Tray – This fits this apple pie cinnamon roll bake perfectly, but feel free to use what you have available.

Cinnamon Rolls Apple Pie Filling FAQ

Storing and Freezing Apple Pie Cinnamon Rolls

These will stay fresh for a day or two at room temperature, but you can store them in the fridge for up to a week if needed.

Be sure to keep cinnamon rolls with apple pie filling covered or wrapped with plastic so they don’t dry out.

To freeze, allow them to cool before wrapping individually in plastic wrap and placing them in a storage bag. 

Thaw in the refrigerator before warming in the microwave or oven.

It’s best to freeze the apple pie filling cinnamon rolls without the frosting and caramel on them. 

Add it after they’ve been warmed, which will also help it melt into the crevices.

Enjoy!
With love, from our simple kitchen to yours. 

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Originally published October 2020, updated and republished October 2024

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