Apple Cinnamon Rolls: Soft and Fluffy with Cream Cheese Frosting

These incredibly soft Apple Cinnamon Rolls can be prepped the night before and then baked in just 25 minutes. They're soft and fluffy on the inside, with a sweet apple filling that adds just the right amount of warmth. The tender yeast dough, topped with a rich cream cheese frosting, melts in your mouth, making these rolls a cozy treat that's perfect for any occasion.

Apple Cinnamon RollsPhoto byEasy Southern Desserts

Ooey Gooey Cinnamon Yeast Rolls With Apple Filling

Cinnamon rolls take me back to my mom's kitchen, where we had cinnamon rolls for any special occasion, but always for Thanksgiving and Christmas mornings.

This recipe uses a yeast dough combined with eggs, sturdy enough to hold the apple-pecan mixture yet still incredibly soft and tender. As they bake, the rolls puff up beautifully.

The apples are first lightly cooked in a skillet to soften before adding to the rolled out dough. A handful of chopped pecans adds a nutty crunch, though you could easily swap them out for walnuts.

The apple mixture when combined with melted butter and brown sugar infuses the dough with flavor and keeps it from drying out, ensuring every bite is moist and flavorful.

Adding cream cheese to breakfast treats is one of life's little pleasures, especially on top of cinnamon roll bread or inside an almond coffee cake where it cuts the sweetness and adds richness. While these cinnamon rolls are fantastic with a little butter on top, a cream cheese frosting adds a sweet tangy contrast to the apple filling.

Apple Cinnamon Rolls with Cream Cheese FrostingPhoto byEasy Southern Desserts

An alternative to this basic cream cheese frosting that also works great with the apple filling, is a caramel cream cheese frosting or a cinnamon frosting. The caramel takes a little longer to make but the cinnamon frosting is super quick.

One of the best things about cinnamon yeast rolls is that you can make them ahead of time and bake them the next day so you don't have to get up at the crack of dawn to have fabulous yeast rolls.

And if you're lucky enough to have leftovers, they freeze perfectly—even with the frosting on top. These rolls are like a little taste of Southern comfort that brings back memories of home.

What You'll Need for these Easy to Make Apple Cinnamon Rolls

Dough

• 5 cups flour
• 3 teaspoons yeast there are 2 ¼ teaspoons in a packet of yeast
• ⅓ cup butter room temperature
• 1 ¼ cup whole milk
• ⅓ cup sugar
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 3 eggs

Filling

• ½ cup butter plus 1 tablespoon room temperature, divided
• 2 large apples peeled and diced
• ½ cup raisins
• ¼ cup brown sugar
• ¾ cup sugar
• 1 tablespoon cinnamon
• ½ cup pecans chopped

Frosting

• 4 tablespoons butter room temperature
• 4 ounces cream cheese room temperature
• ¼ cup powdered sugar
• ½ teaspoon vanilla
• Pinch of salt
• 1-2 tablespoons milk

Get the full recipe for apple cinnamon rolls.

More Sweet Treats for Breakfast

• Baked Apple Fritters with Double Glaze
• Apricot Cream Cheese Danish
• Cinnamon swirl bread