Apple Pie Cinnamon Rolls

I am a lover of all things fall. The temperature, the smells, the colors, the foods. I love, love, love it!! Usually about this far into summer i am absolutely longing for my fall time. I like to trick myself by keeping the house cold and wearing a cardigan, adding cinnamon to my coffee so my whole house smells great, and making my favorite fall treats. I bought a giant bag of apples and have been thinking of ways to use them and came up with this.

Cinnamon rolls are an ABSOLUTE must in my house for breakfast on a nice cool, fall weekend. Baking is a new love for me. I have always loved to cook but baking takes so much patience. Now that I have been doing it for a few years, I am trying out new things. Sprucing up some of my favorites. Sometimes it totally fails, and others like with these, it is a 100% WIN!!

I hope you love these as much as me and my kiddos. I am ready for the temperature to change so I can be enjoying one early in the morning on my deck with a cup of coffee.

Now, I know pastry can seem daunting but these are on the easier side, i promise. Made with instant yeast, it speeds things up.

These can be made ahead of time and put in the fridge after their rest period until you are ready to bake them off.

Ingredients

Rolls

1. 2 3/4 cups all purpose flour

2. 1/4 cup granulated sugar

3. 1 tsp salt

4. 1 package instant yeast

5. 1/2 cup milk

6. 1/4 cup water

7. 3 Tbs butter

8. 1 large egg

Filling

1. 3 apples, cored peeled and diced.

2. 1/2 cup sugar

3. 5 tbs brown sugar

4. 1 1/2 tbs cinnamon

5. 1/4 tsp salt

6. 1/4 tsp nutmeg

Icing

1. 1 block cream cheese, softened

2. 1 cup confectioners sugar

3. 1 tbs vanilla

4. 1/4 cup milk, more if needed

Directions

In a sauce pan add 1/2 stick butter, apples, 3 tbs brown sugar, nutmeg, and 1/2 tbs cinnamon. Cook on medium for about 10 minutes. *optional, i added 1 tbs corn starch and 2 tbs water, mixed, to mine to make the juice thicker.

Place in a bowl and put aside so they can cool.

Whisk flour, sugar, salt, and yeast in a large bowl and set aside.

Combine milk, water, and butter in heat proof bowl and microwave until butter is melted and the mixture is warm to the touch, about 1 - 1 1/2 minutes. Put into dry ingredients, and add egg. Mix until dough is formed. Stand mixer with a dough hook if you have it.

Knead dough for 3 minutes on a lightly floured surface and then place ina lightly greased bowl and cover for 10 minutes.

After 10 minutes roll dough into a 14x8 rectangle. Spread a stick of softened butter over, add more butter if needed. Combine 2 tbs brown sugar, 1/2 cup sugar, and 1 tbs of cinnamon together and sprinkle over butter. Place apples over the cinnamon and butter mixture. they will not cover everything, that is okay. Just randomly place the apples.

Roll into a long and then cut into rolls, 1 1/2 inches wide. Place rolls into greased pie pans and cover with a towel. Place in a warm draft free area for 90 minutes.

Bake at 375 for 20 minutes. You may need to add 5 more minutes depending on your oven.

Mix icing ingredients and place on rolls immediately and serve.

Keep in an airtight container. Microwave 30-45 seconds to reheat. Keep for a week in the refrigerator.