Apple Cinnamon Rolls with Caramel Frosting

ICaramel and Apples…Two of my favorite flavors!  The possibilities are endless when it comes to these two ingredients.  When assigned these ingredients for this months challenge, my brain was seriously in heaven coming up with ideas of what to do.  I envisioned numerous mouth watering recipes.  I called my mom (The chef I aspire to be) and ran by a few of my ideas by her.  Her mind started racking with ideas and together we came up with these delicious Apple Cinnamon Rolls with Caramel Frosting.  Be prepared for a delicious gourmet cinnamon roll!  And to put it lightly, this frosting is DELICIOUS!

 APPLE CINNAMON ROLLS WITH CARAMEL FROSTING
Bread Dough recipe from: Pioneer Woman
Everything else from me

DOUGH:
2 cups milk
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1/2 cup sugar
1 packet (2-1/4 tsp) active dry yeast
4-1/2 cups flour (divided)
1/2 heaping tsp baking powder
1/2 scant tsp baking soda
1/2 Tbsp. salt
1 cup finely chopped gala and green apple combination

FILLING

4 apples: 2 gala 2 green
1/8 cup lemon juice
1/4 cup orange juice
1-1/2 cups sugar
4 Tbsp butter-cut into tiny pieces
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp cloves
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup pecans, chopped
3/4 cups flour, more if your mixture appears to be to runny

Mix milk, oil and sugar in a sauce pan.  Scald to 150 degrees.  Let cool until mixture is lukewarm (about 30-45 minutes).  Sprinkle in the yeast and let sit.  After the yeast sits and activates, add in 4 cups flour.  Stir the mixture together.  Next stir in finely chopped apples. Cover and let sit for one hour.

While dough is rising, make the filling.  Peel and dice up all the apples.  Apple dices should be very small, not too chunky.  I like mine about a pinky nail in size.  Put in a large bowl.

Add lemon juice, orange juice, sugar and stir together.  Add cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, salt and flour and stir together.  Next, add the butter pieces gradually and evenly dispersed or they will all clump together. The mixture should taste sweet.  If it is not sweet enough, add more sugar until it gets to the flavor you desire.  Also the consistency is important.  You don’t want it too runny or too thick.  Add flour to get it to that consistency if needed.  You want it similar to the consistency of thick waffle batter, but with chucks of apple.

After dough has risen and sat covered for an hour, Add in remaining 1/2 cup flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt to the dough.  Stir or knead mixture together.  Divide the dough in half.  Sprinkle surface with flour and roll dough out to form a thin rectangle.

Spread some softened butter over dough to cover.  Next, spread some of the filling over to cover the surface of rolled out dough.  You can sprinkly a little more cinnamon and sugar over the filling at this point if you want a little more “cinnamon” flavor. Sprinkle some of the chopped pecans across filling about (1/3 cup).

Roll the dough toward you.  Pinch the seam to seal it.  Spread 1 tablespoon of melted butter in a seven inch round foil cake or pie pan.  Then begin cutting the rolls approximately 3/4 to 1 inch thick and laying them in the buttered pans. (The rolls may seem to be “sloppy” looking because of a wetter filing inside.  That is okay, they should still bake up nicely for you!)

Repeat this process with the other half of the dough.  let the rolls rise for 20 to 30 minutes, then bake at 375 degrees or until light golden brown, about 15 to 20 minutes or until they appear to be done.

FROSTING:

4 Tbsp butter
6 Tbsp Heavy cream
1 cup packed brown sugar
2 cups powdered sugar
1 tsp vanilla

In a sauce pan over medium heat, melt butter.
Add in heavy cream and brown sugar and stir mixture until it begins to boil.
Remove from heat and add in 1 cup powdered sugar.
Cool slightly and add in vanilla and remaining 1 cup of powdered sugar.
Add in more milk if needed to thin frosting or more powdered sugar to get it thicker (I like mine thicker)Pour into a large plastic bag, cutting off on of the ends.  Drizzle over apple cinnamon rolls.
Top with chopped pecans and prepare to dive into a mouthful of goodness!

Enjoy!

If you make this recipe, snap a photo and hashtag it #chefintraining and/or #chefintrainingblog. I would love to see how these recipes take shape in your kitchens.

Filed under: bread, caramel, cinnamon, dessert, frosting

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Comments

  1. Anne @ Domesblissity

    That frosting looks devine! Must try. (Popping over from Improv Challenge.)

    Anne @ Domesblissity

  2. Lindy@Itsy Bitsy Paper

    Man, these look yummy!

    www.itsybitsypaperblog.com

  3. Patty

    These look delicious! Mine are the Caramel Apple Scones http://patitudes.blogspot.com/2011/10/caramel-apple-scones-improv-cooking.html

  4. BigBearswife

    mmmm that looks heavenly. Great looking apple cinnamon rolls

  5. The Pastry Chef

    Those look so good! I must try that someday....soon :)

  6. laurie

    I love this idea..yum!

  7. Lady Behind The Curtain

    What a GREAT recipe!!! Thanks so much for participating in THE IMPROV COOKING CHALLENGE! I can't wait to see what you make next month using Pumpkin and Cream Cheese.
    ---Sheryl---

  8. MrsFoxsSweets

    Could these be any more tempting? YUM! I am #30 in the Improv, having a great time hopping around!

  9. Pup Fan

    My husband LOVES cinnamon rolls. I will have to share this one with him.

  10. Kristen

    I would absolutely pick up my plate and lick it off. That is a wonderful looking roll!

  11. megseverydayindulgence

    These look absolutely to die for! My husband would love them! It's been fun checking out everybody's caramel apple treats! I'm #22 on the list.

  12. Jennifer @ Delightfully Noted

    Holy smokes that looks amazing!

  13. Screaming Sardine

    Wow, these look yummy-licious! Thanks for sharing the recipe. Can't wait to try it.

    Cheers,
    Tracy Screaming Sardine

  14. kyleen

    Mhmm I love cinnamon rolls. Yours look great! I participated in the Improv Cooking Challenge too and I made a Peanut Butter Caramel Apple Dip.

  15. Vicki V @ blestnest.blogspot.com

    Oh.My.Goodness. I have eaten apple cinnamon rolls a LONG time ago, but the caramel icing on yours puts it over the top! Great recipe!

  16. Ambreen

    These rolls look wonderful! I'm drooling :)

  17. sugarspiceiced

    I need these NOW! Seriously they look amazing! I am definitely making them ASAP!!

  18. Erin

    Oh my heck! I'm speechless!

  19. Tessa

    The caramel icing dripping off the roll looks awesome. Yum!

  20. Rebekah Lewis

    Yum, yum!
    Your pictures are beautiful!

  21. BRITTANY

    YUM!! That looks sooooo yummy! This was a fun a little challenge. I hope you'll check out my cake recipe: http://bebealamodedesigns.blogspot.com/2011/10/spiced-apple-bundt-cake-with-easy.html

    I can't wait to see what you come up with for next month :)

  22. hediye

    Delicious, cinnamon rolls is always favorite of my. this dish look great! I participated in the Improv Cooking Challenge too and I made a Peanut Butter Caramel Apple Dip.

  23. Desi

    OMG that cinnamon roll looks to-die-for! With that caramel frosting and chopped pecans on top. YUM! Seriously... that photo!On a side note, when I scrolled down to the bottom of your blog to write a comment, I see huge photos overlapping and covering some of the blog hop, if you care :)http://steaknpotatoeskindagurl.blogspot.com/2011/10/caramel-apple-marshmallow-dip-improv.html

  24. Anne

    Oh my goodness, those sound AMAZING! They would make a great Thanksgiving breakfast!

  25. Desiree @ The 36th Avenue

    ...Featuring you tomorrow my love!
    Thank you for sharing your awesomeness!

  26. Anonymous

    Oh my, these seriously have to be the best twist on cinniman rolls I have ever seen. I cant wait to try these. Could you just open up a bakery please?

  27. Anonymous

    ok, so i was looking at these thinking they would be good, but wasn't going to try because i am a huge fan of pioneer woman rolls- the best in the world-.... and then..... i read you used her dough recipe, i am sold!!! will have to make them! found you on pintrest:)!