Apple Crisp Sweet Rolls

These Apple Crisp Sweet Rolls are what happens when fluffy homemade cinnamon rolls meets comforting apple crisp...

Okay folks. I may just have done like the best thing ever for your weekend breakfast table. Yes, I combined one of your favorite desserts- a homemade apple crisp with soft & fluffy cinnamon rolls.  When I made these and told my husband what they were, his eyes may have rolled back into his head slightly. ;)  

And let me tell you all- they were amazing.  It was like having dessert for breakfast... and then later on that same day, breakfast for dessert. 

I used my basic fool-proof cake mix cinnamon roll recipe, but rolled up a simple apple filling into the dough and then topped it all with a traditional apple crisp topping.  The baked sweet rolls are then finished off with a super simple glaze that you can whip up in mere minutes...

To date, these Apple Crisp Sweet Rolls are hands down the best homemade sweet rolls I have ever made. The teenage son went back for seconds... and then thirds. 

Heck, even I went back for seconds for breakfast, and then had another one warmed in the microwave for dessert after dinner that same day. Go ahead and top one with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. Trust me on this... ;)

Yield: 1 dozen sweet rolls

Author: Carrie Robinson

Apple Crisp Sweet Rolls

These Apple Crisp Sweet Rolls are what happens when fluffy homemade cinnamon rolls meets comforting apple crisp.

prep time: 1 hour & 45 min cook time: 25 min total time: 2 hours & 10 min

ingredients:

For the sweet roll dough

• 3/4 cups French Vanilla or white cake mix (about half the box of mix)
• 2 1/2 cups flour
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 package of active dry yeast
• 1 1/4 cups warm water

For the filling

• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 3 tbsp unsalted butter, melted
• 2-3 medium apples- peeled, cored, & finely chopped

For the crisp topping

• 1/2 cup rolled oats
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1/4 cup flour
• Pinch of salt
• 3 tbsp butter, chilled & cubed

For the glaze

• 1 1/3 cups powdered sugar
• 2 tbsp milk
• 1/2 tsp vanilla

instructions:

How to cook Apple Crisp Sweet Rolls

1. In a small bowl, add the yeast to the warm water. Let sit until the yeast is dissolved.
2. Meanwhile in a large bowl, whisk together the cake mix, flour, and salt. Add in the yeast/water mixture & the vanilla and mix well. Cover with a clean cloth and allow to rise for 1 hour.
3. Punch down the dough and then cover and allow it to rise for another 30 minutes. Spray two 8-9 inch cake pans with cooking spray. Set aside.
4. In small a bowl, whisk together the brown sugar, cinnamon, melted butter, and diced apples for the filling. Set aside.
5. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.
6. Once the dough has risen for the second time, turn out onto a well floured surface. Knead 5-7 times, and then roll out into a rectangle to about 1/4 inch thick.
7. Spread the apple filling evenly over the rectangle of dough.
8. Starting with the bottom of the rectangle, roll the dough lengthwise into one long roll. Cut into 12 even slices. Place swirl side up, 6 to a pan in the prepared pans.
9. Cover with the cloth and set on top of the warm stove. Allow to rise on the preheating stove for another 20-30 minutes.
10. While the rolls are rising, prepare the crisp topping. In a small bowl, whisk together the oats, 1/4 cup brown sugar, 1/4 cup flour, and salt. Using a pastry cutter or your hands, work the chilled butter cubes into the oats mixture until it is pebbly.
11. Once they have risen for the third time, sprinkle both pans of the rolls evenly with the oats/butter mixture. Bake for 20-25 minutes or until the edges and the crisp topping are golden brown.
12. Allow to cool at least 10 minutes before topping with the glaze.
13. To make the glaze, whisk together the powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla in a small bowl until smooth.
14. Drizzle over the baked sweet rolls.
15. Enjoy!
16. ** If you need these for a larger crowd, you could use the entire box of cake mix & double the ingredients listed above. Using the entire box will make 2 dozen cinnamon rolls.

Created using The Recipes Generator

Whether you serve these for a weekend or holiday morning brunch, with some afternoon coffee, or topped with ice cream for an evening dessert, these Apple Crisp Sweet Rolls are sure to be a crowd pleaser. 

In fact, you just might want to go ahead and double the recipe and make two dozen of these babies. ;)  They go fast, folks.

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