Apple Cinnamon Rolls with Croissant Dough and Cream Cheese Frosting

Delve into the comforting embrace of Apple Cinnamon Rolls, a delightful twist on the classic cinnamon roll, featuring the flaky, buttery layers of croissant dough. Each roll is generously filled with spiced apple goodness, combining the tart sweetness of apples with the warmth of cinnamon, all enveloped in a luxurious, lightly sweetened cream cheese frosting. Whether served as a decadent breakfast, a cozy afternoon treat, or a dessert that wows, these apple cinnamon rolls are sure to capture hearts and satisfy cravings with their perfect blend of flavors and textures.

Why You’ll Love This: These rolls elevate the beloved combination of apples and cinnamon by incorporating them into the light, airy layers of croissant dough, offering a more sophisticated and satisfying bite than the traditional cinnamon roll. The spiced apple filling provides a juicy contrast to the flaky pastry, while the vanilla or cinnamon-infused cream cheese frosting adds a creamy finish that perfectly complements the spiced filling. This recipe is a testament to the magic that happens when classic comfort food meets artisanal baking techniques.

Perfect Occasion: Ideal for special weekend breakfasts, holiday brunches, or as an elegant addition to a tea party menu. These apple cinnamon rolls are also a wonderful treat for celebrating the fall season, bringing a piece of autumn’s bounty to your table. Serve them warm from the oven to enchant your family and guests with the irresistible aroma and taste of freshly baked pastry and spiced apples.

Decoration Tips: For an extra touch of elegance, drizzle the cream cheese frosting over the warm rolls and sprinkle with a little extra cinnamon or some finely grated apple peel for color and texture. A dusting of powdered sugar can also add to their visual appeal. Serve on a beautiful platter, garnished with a few whole cinnamon sticks and fresh apple slices for a rustic, yet refined presentation.

Ingredients:

For the Croissant Dough:

• Use your favorite croissant dough recipe, prepared through the final rise and ready to roll.

For the Apple Filling:

• 600g apples, peeled, cored, and chopped
• 100g granulated sugar
• 1 tbsp ground cinnamon
• 50g unsalted butter

For the Cream Cheese Frosting:

• 200g cream cheese, room temperature
• 40g powdered sugar
• Seeds from 1/2 vanilla pod or a dash of ground cinnamon, according to preference
• 1 tsp milk to adjust consistency

Instructions:

1. Preheat your oven as directed by your croissant dough recipe.
2. For the apple filling, melt butter in a pan, add the chopped apples, sugar, and cinnamon, and cook until the apples are soft and caramelized. Set aside to cool.
3. Roll out the croissant dough into a large rectangle. Spread the cooled apple filling evenly over the dough.
4. Carefully roll the dough into a log, starting from the long edge. Cut the log into slices.
5. Place the slices in a greased baking dish, allowing some space for them to expand. Bake according to the croissant dough instructions, or until golden brown and cooked through.
6. While the rolls bake, prepare the cream cheese frosting by whisking together the cream cheese, powdered sugar, vanilla or cinnamon, and milk until smooth.
7. Once the rolls are slightly cooled, drizzle them with the cream cheese frosting.

Enjoy these heavenly Apple Cinnamon Rolls with Croissant Dough and Cream Cheese Frosting, a delectable treat that brings together the best of bakery classics with the heartwarming flavors of apple and cinnamon.