Warm, cozy, and absolutely irresistible — these Apple Butter Cinnamon Rolls are the ultimate fall baking treat!
Soft, fluffy dough is swirled with rich apple butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon, then drizzled with heavy cream before baking to make them extra gooey and tender.
Each roll is finished with a maple cream cheese frosting that melts right into the layers for the dreamiest bite.
Perfect for a fall brunch, Thanksgiving morning, or a cozy weekend breakfast, these homemade cinnamon rolls are full of comforting spice and nostalgic sweetness.
The apple butter filling brings a burst of autumn flavor to every swirl, making this recipe your new favorite way to enjoy cinnamon rolls all season long.
Why you’ll love this recipe!
What ingredients do I need?
- Dough: Soft, Pillowy, and Buttery
- Whole Milk: Warmed milk activates the yeast and gives the dough a soft, tender texture and rich flavor.
- Active Dry Yeast: The secret to those fluffy, bakery-style rolls. It helps the dough rise and gives that signature pull-apart texture.
- Unsalted Butter: Adds richness and flavor, creating a dough that’s soft and melt-in-your-mouth.
- Eggs: Add structure, moisture, and richness — essential for a tender, golden dough.
- Granulated Sugar: Feeds the yeast and adds a subtle sweetness that balances the spiced filling.
- Salt: Enhances flavor and balances sweetness for a perfectly rounded dough.
- All-Purpose Flour: The backbone of the dough — sturdy enough to hold the filling while staying light and pillowy.
- Cinnamon Apple Butter Filling: Sweet, Spiced, and Gooey
- Light Brown Sugar: Adds a rich, molasses-like sweetness that caramelizes as the rolls bake.
- Cinnamon: The warm, cozy spice that makes these rolls smell (and taste) like fall in every bite.
- Unsalted Butter: Helps the sugar and cinnamon melt together into a smooth, buttery filling.
- Apple Butter: The star ingredient — sweet, spiced, and deeply flavorful. It adds moisture and that unmistakable autumn flavor.
- Heavy Cream: The secret to gooey cinnamon rolls! Drizzled over before baking, it creates a luscious caramel sauce that keeps the rolls extra soft.
- Maple Cream Cheese Frosting: Sweet, Tangy, and Luxurious
- Cream Cheese: Adds tang and creaminess, perfectly balancing the sweet filling.
- Unsalted Butter: Makes the frosting silky-smooth and rich.
- Vanilla Bean Paste: Adds depth and a warm, fragrant vanilla note.
- Maple Syrup: A natural sweetener that brings cozy, earthy flavor — perfect for fall.
- Cinnamon: Adds a hint of spice that ties the frosting to the flavors of the filling.
- Powdered Sugar: Creates a thick, fluffy frosting with just the right amount of sweetness.
- Salt: Enhances all the flavors and balances the sweetness.
- Heavy Cream: Softens the frosting to a spreadable, luscious consistency that melts into every swirl.
Recipe Variations
- Buttermilk Version: You can make this with a buttermilk dough as well! Simply replace the regular milk with buttermilk one to one.
- Caramel Apple Version: Drizzle salted caramel sauce over the cooked rolls.
- Pecan Crunch: Add chopped toasted pecans or walnuts to the filling for texture and flavor.
- Pumpkin Spice Rolls: Swap the apple butter for pumpkin butter and add a dash of nutmeg and cloves to the cinnamon sugar.
- Brown Butter Frosting: Replace the frosting butter with brown butter for an even richer flavor.
- Mini Rolls: Roll dough out to a smaller dimension (6″x17″) and cut into smaller rolls for bite-sized treats perfect for brunch spreads. Adjust bake time accordingly
Pro Tips
- Use room temperature ingredients: Softened butter and warm milk help the dough come together easily and rise properly.
- Don’t skip the heavy cream drizzle!! This is what gives the rolls their signature gooey texture — it’s the ultimate upgrade!
- Use quality apple butter: Homemade, like my recipe here, or store-bought both work, but a thicker, well-spiced apple butter gives the best flavor.
- Flour the surface lightly: The dough will be very soft — handle gently to keep it tender.
- Let them rest before frosting: Allow the rolls to cool 5–10 minutes before spreading on the frosting so it melts just enough into the swirls.
Leftovers and Storage
- Room Temperature: Store covered at room temperature for up to 2 days.
- Refrigerator: Keep in an airtight container up to 5 days. Reheat gently in the microwave for 15–20 seconds before serving.
- Freezer: Freeze individually wrapped rolls (without frosting) for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge and warm before frosting.
- Make Ahead: Assemble the rolls, cover tightly, and refrigerate overnight. Let them come to room temperature for 30 minutes before baking.
Other Recipes You’ll Love
Let’s engage!
Make sure to tag @thehomechefmomma on Instagram or Facebook, and leave a review or comment if you make these. I always get so excited to see your creations, variations of the recipe, and feedback! Just remember to be kind in your comments, there is still a person behind this screen! 🙂
Apple Butter Cinnamon Rolls
These Apple Butter Cinnamon Rolls are soft, fluffy, and perfectly gooey — everything you love about classic cinnamon rolls, but with a cozy fall twist. Each swirl is filled with spiced apple butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon, then baked with a drizzle of heavy cream for that irresistible, melt-in-your-mouth texture. Topped with a rich maple cream cheese frosting, these rolls are sweet, spiced, and pure autumn comfort in every bite. Perfect for a weekend brunch or holiday morning treat!
Print
Pin
Rate
Servings: 10 rolls
Ingredients
Dough—
- 1 c. Whole milk warmed
- 3 tsp active dry yeast
- 6 tbsp unsalted butter softened
- 2 eggs
- 1/2 c. Granulated sugar
- 1 tsp salt
- 4 c. All purpose flour
Cinnamon Apple Butter Filling—
- 3/4 c. light brown sugar
- 2 tbsp cinnamon
- 6 tbsp unsalted butter softened
- 1 c. Apple butter
- 2/3 c. Heavy cream
Maple Cream CheeseFrosting—
- 4 oz cream cheese softened
- 5 tbsp unsalted butter softened
- 1 tsp vanilla bean paste or extract
- 2 tbsp maple syrup
- 1/4 tsp cinnamon
- 1 1/2 c. powdered sugar
- Pinch salt
- 1-2 tbsp heavy cream
Instructions
- Carefully warm milk over low-medium heat in a small saucepan (warmed between 105F and 115F). Once warmed, remove from heat, pour into a small bowl, and add in yeast, stir and let sit about 10 minutes until bloomed.
- In a stand mixer with the dough hook attached, mix together the softened butter, eggs, granulated sugar, salt, and flour until roughly combined. Add in the milk and yeast. Knead dough on medium speed until fully combined, about 4-5 minutes. Cover and let rise for 1 1/2 hours.
- While rising, mix together light brown sugar and cinnamon for filling.
- Lightly flour a work surface and turn out the dough. Roll gently into a 12×17” rectangle. Spread with 6 tbsp of softened butter, then spread the apple butter (leaving about 1 inch at the borders free), and then sprinkle on cinnamon sugar. Roll dough up starting at the long end. (This part gets messy because of the apple butter— but it is SO worth it!)
- Cut into 10 equal pieces. (This part gets messy as well!)
- Grease a 9×13” baking pan, or large cast iron skillet. Arrange cinnamon rolls in the pan or skillet. Cover and let rise another hour, or overnight in the fridge (although I don’t recommend letting them rise overnight in a cast iron skillet).
- When ready to cook, preheat oven to 350F. Remove from fridge while preheating if you let come to room temperature.
- Right before putting it in the oven, drizzle the heavy cream all over the rolls.
- Bake for 35-40 minutes until center is cooked through.
- While cooking, beat together cream cheese and butter until smooth. Then beat in vanilla, maple syrup, and cinnamon. Add in powdered sugar and salt and beat until combined (will take a few minutes to fully combine butter mix and sugar- it will be thick),
- Add in heavy cream 1 tbsp at a time until you get the desired consistency you want for the frosting.
- Remove rolls from oven, cool 5-10 minutes, and then frost. Enjoy!
Apple Butter Cinnamon Rolls | Cinnamon Roll Recipe | Sweet Rolls | Sweet Breads | Homemade Cinnamon Rolls | Fall Baking | Baking | Cozy Baking | Comfort Baking | Breakfast Ideas | Holiday Recipes | Gooey | Maple Cream Cheese Frosting | Easy Cinnamon Rolls | Yeast Dough | Gooey Cinnamon Rolls | Soft Cinnamon Rolls | Apple Butter Recipes | Brunch Recipes | Holiday Brunch | Baking With Apple Butter | Autumn Breakfast Ideas | Indulgent Recipes | Cinnamon Rolls From Scratch
Nutritional Content Disclaimer
I choose not to include nutritional information with my recipes, as these values can be calculated from the ingredients provided. With my background as a pediatric nurse practitioner and my own family experience with disordered eating, I understand how focusing on numbers can affect our relationship with food. My philosophy is that all foods have a place—sweet, savory, nourishing, or indulgent. I aim to share recipes that support a healthy, joyful approach to eating. My hope is that this space also encourages a balanced, healthy relationship with food for you and your family too.