Apple Pie Cinnamon Rolls

Oh. MY. There are no words for how delicious these cinnamon rolls are. These are BETTER than Cinnabon- super moist and so flavorful! When I see Cinnabon copycat recipes on the internet I think about how similar these are but mine are a little different. I use scalded milk. Why? Well, my grandmother used scalded milk and that’s the only way I have ever made them. I remember making a version of these when I was a kid and I used the HOT scalded milk…needless to say my cinnamon rolls did not rise and it was a major disaster. I also use a little more salt in the dough to enhance the flavor and cut the sweetness a little. Then of course is the apple filling. Once again, Oh. MY. These are the cinnamon rolls you dream about- gooey in the center, with a cream cheese frosting. Now add the tart apples and this is a serious cinnamon roll.

Ingredients

For the dough:
1 package yeast (2¼ teaspoons)
½ cup lukewarm water
½ cup sugar
½ cup scalded milk (Heat milk until bubbles appear around the edge of the pan. Cool until lukewarm)
⅓ cup melted unsalted butter
1 egg, room temperature
2 teaspoons salt
4 cups bread flour (or all-purpose flour)
Filling:
6 tablespoons melted unsalted butter, divided
5 granny smith apples, peeled, cored, and diced
½ cup sugar
1 cup brown sugar
2 tablespoons ground cinnamon
Glaze:
¼ cup cream cheese, softened
4 tablespoons unsalted butter
1½ cups powdered sugar
½ teaspoon vanilla extract
¼ teaspoon salt

Instructions

In a small bowl, add yeast and 2 teaspoons of the sugar to the lukewarm water and let it sit until it dissolves, about 10 minutes.
In the mixing bowl of a stand mixer using the dough hook attachment, (or a large mixing bowl with an electric mixer) add scalded milk, melted butter, egg, remaining sugar, and salt and mix on low speed until combined.
Add half of the flour and mix until smooth.
Add yeast mixture and continue to mix on low.
Slowly add the remaining flour (if using an electric mixer you will have to stop when it's getting hard to mix and use a wooden spoon to incorporate the rest of the flour as best you can- the motor of the electric mixer will burn out- then turn dough to a floured surface and knead for 5 minutes, folding the dough over onto itself and pushing down repeatedly). For a stand mixer, increase the speed to medium and knead for 5 minutes.
Remove dough, place in a greased bowl, cover, and set aside on countertop or warm place. Let it rise until it is double in size, about 2 hours.
While dough is rising, make the filling. Heat 4 tablespoons of the butter and sugar in a large skillet, then add the apples. Sauté until apples are slightly caramelized. Remove from heat and set aside.
When dough has risen, remove cover and, using your fist, punch the dough down and remove from the bowl.
Roll out on a well-floured surface into a 16x24 inch rectangle and spread the remaining 2 tablespoons butter almost out to the edges, but not quite.
Mix the brown sugar with the cinnamon and sprinkle evenly across the butter.
Spread the apple mixture over the brown sugar as evenly as you can.
Roll into a log, starting from one end to the other, lengthwise, so the log is 24 inches.
Using a sharp knife, gently cut 2 inch slices with a sawing motion (try not to push too hard to pinch the dough), this will give you 12 cinnamon rolls.
Line a 9x13 baking pan with parchment paper and butter the parchment. The cinnamon roll slices close together, but not touching, in the pan.
Cover with plastic wrap and let rise until the dough is doubled, 1½-2 hours.
While the rolls are rising, preheat the oven to 375°F. Bake for about 20-22 minutes, being careful not to over-bake them.
While the cinnamon rolls are baking, mix cream cheese, butter, powdered sugar, vanilla, and salt together with an electric or stand mixer on medium speed and set aside. When cinnamon rolls come out of the oven, spread the glaze over the top and serve.