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Frosted Apple Butter Cinnamon Rolls

These Apple Butter Cinnamon Rolls combine the rich, spiced flavor of apple butter with the sweet, gooey goodness of cinnamon rolls and a simple maple frosting. These soft rolls are easy to make with a no yeast dough and are the perfect fall breakfast! 

Cinnamon roll on a black plate with the remaining in the pan.


 

These apple butter cinnamon rolls are a unique and fruity autumnal twist to classic cinnamon rolls! Using my stovetop apple butter adds a rich, spiced apple flavor to the sweet dough for the best seasonal flavor. 

These sweet rolls are so simple to put together by using the same no yeast dough as my easy cinnamon rolls! While I love my overnight caramel apple cinnamon rolls with yeast, they take a bit of planning, whereas these rolls I can bake on a whim for a weekday breakfast or snack.

These cinnamon rolls have the best gooey texture when served warm right out of the oven and the generous layer of apple butter just adds to their divine aroma! When it comes to winning at breakfast, these rolls and my apple butter cake donuts are my favorite fall treats.

Why You’ll Love These Fall Inspired Sweet Rolls

  • Fall inspired: These cinnamon rolls are dressed up with fresh apple butter making them a favorite autumn treat!
  • No yeast dough: This recipe uses my mom’s easy no yeast biscuit dough so there is no waiting for the rolls to rise before baking!
  • Sweet and tender: Soft, gooey and with a warm cinnamon apple taste makes this the best cinnamon roll recipe for the fall and beyond! 
  • Irresistible aroma: As these homemade cinnamon rolls bake they will fill your kitchen with the most delicious smells. 

Homemade Apple Butter Cinnamon Roll Recipe Ingredients

  • Brown sugar and butter: Adds a gooey classic cinnamon roll texture! 
  • Whole fat plain yogurt: Adds a tender texture to the dough.
  • Egg: One large egg is used for binding and moisture.
  • Granulated sugar: Adds sweet taste to the sweet roll dough!
  • Baking staples: Baking powder and baking soda are two leavening agents that help the dough rise. Salt enhances the taste.
  • Cold butter: You can use salted butter or unsalted butter and adjust the added salt as needed.
  • Apple butter: This is different from applesauce. You can use homemade apple butter or store-bought apple butter.
  • Maple frosting: Powdered sugar, vanilla, maple syrup and milk. 
Ingredients for the recipe.

How To Make Apple Butter Cinnamon Rolls

To start, add butter and brown sugar directly on the bottom of the prepared square baking pan.

Brown sugar on the bottom of the pan.

Combine wet ingredients by beating together the yogurt and egg in a small bowl. 

Mixing the wet ingredients.

Next, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a large bowl. Add the chopped or grated cold butter and combine until it resembles coarse crumbs.

Whisking the dry ingredients and cutting in the butter.

Combine wet and dry ingredients by adding the yogurt mixture to the flour mixture and mixing with a fork until a soft dough forms.

Combining the wet and dry ingredients in a silver bowl.

Move dough to a lightly floured surface and pat into a large rectangle, then roll out with a floured rolling pin into a rectangle. 

Rolling the dough into a rectangle.

Spread the top of the dough with the apple butter then roll up from the long end and pinch the edges to seal. Cut into slices.

Spreading with the apple butter and rolling and cutting the dough.

Arrange the cinnamon roll slices cut side down in the prepared pan. Bake until a toothpick comes out clean or with a couple of crumbs attached. 

The unbaked cinnamon rolls in the pan.

Remove the buns from the pan and cool on a wire rack. Once cooled, prepare the maple frosting and spread onto the rolls. 

The baked buns on a wire rack.

Substitutions And Variations

  • Frosting: If you are like the Italian and think maple syrup should be saved for pancakes, try a cream cheese frosting like I use in these carrot cake muffins instead! 
  • Glaze: Instead of a frosting, try this maple glaze from my favorite cinnamon scones, add a simple vanilla glaze or try an apple cider glaze!
  • Warm spices: Ginger, nutmeg or even apple spice can be added to the dough if you like a little more cinnamon sugar spice. 
  • Sweeter filling: If you like a sweeter filling, add up to 1/4 cup brown sugar and one teaspoon of cinnamon to the apple butter fiilling.
  • Yogurt: You can use plain Greek yogurt or sour cream instead of the regular plain yogurt. 

Baking Tips

  • Expect a soft dough: A soft and slightly sticky dough is okay in this recipe! Do not add extra flour to the dough or you will have dense rolls. Extra flour when shaping the rolls or to flour your counter is okay! 
  • Don’t overwork the dough: Since this is no yeast dough it is important not to overmix the dough otherwise your rolls may turn out flat and dense. 
  • Cold butter: Using cold butter gives these cinnamon rolls with a quick no yeast dough a soft, flaky texture as the butter melts into the dough as it bakes for a rich texture.
  • Bake in a muffin plan: After cutting your rolls, place them in a standard muffin pan for cinnamon roll muffins! They will bake up with crusty edges all around and be so delicious! 
  • Bake right away: While technically you can assemble these and store them overnight in the refrigerator to bake in the morning, if you like fluffy cinnamon rolls, bake them right away. 
Cinnamon rolls on parchment paper.

Recipe FAQs

Is apple butter the same as applesauce?

No, apple butter is more concentrated and more spiced than apple sauce. It’s thick like butter and has a smooth texture. 

Can I make these sweet rolls with a yeast bread?

Sure! While I love the simplicity of these with a no-yeast dough, just follow my homemade cinnamon buns recipe for rolls with a yeast mixture and use apple butter instead of the butter in the filling. 

Can I make these Cinnamon rolls ahead of time?

Since this is a no yeast dough, it is best to bake these cinnamon rolls with apple butter right after you assemble them and the baking powder has been activated. The good news is that they store well for a few days, so if you need to make them ahead of time, bake them the night before and warm one up the next morning for breakfast! 

How To Store Leftover Apple Cinnamon Buns?

Store covered with foil or in an airtight container at room temperature or in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Warm individual rolls in the microwave until heated through.

Can I Freeze Leftover Rolls?

Yes, but it is best to do so without the frosting. Cool completely then wrap individual rolls in plastic wrap and store in a freezer safe bag. Thaw in the refrigerator and reheat to desired temp. 

More Delicious Apple Recipes

Cinnamon bun on a black plate.

When you are craving a Cinnamon Roll but don’t have the time, then these no-yeast Apple Butter Cinnamon Rolls are the perfect solution. Especially when you drizzle them with a little Maple Frosting. Enjoy!

Frosted Apple Butter Cinnamon Rolls

Rosemary Molloy
A quick and easy no yeast dough filled with a yummy Apple Butter filling and topped with a creamy Maple Glaze. 
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Course Breakfast, Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 9 Rolls
Calories 348 kcal

Ingredients
 
 

FOR THE BOTTOM OF THE PAN

  • 1 tablespoon brown sugar
  • 1 tablespoon butter (softened)

FOR THE DOUGH

  • 1 cup whole fat plain yogurt
  • 1 large egg (room temperature)
  • 2½ cups all purpose flour *(1-2 tablespoons extra if dough is very sticky)
  • 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon baking soda
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • ½ cup cold butter* (cubed or shredded)

*If using unsalted butter then add ½ teaspoon salt.

    FILLING

    • ¾ cup apple butter

    MAPLE FROSTING

    • ½ cup powdered/icing sugar
    • ½ teaspoon vanilla
    • 2 tablespoons maple syrup
    • ½ tablespoon milk (depending on how thick you like it)

    Instructions
     

    • Pre-heat oven to 375F / 190C. Line a 9 inch (23 cm) baking pan with parchment paper, then butter the paper and sprinkle the brown sugar on top. Set aside.

    FOR THE DOUGH

    • In a small bowl beat together the yogurt and egg.
    • In a large bowl whisk together the flour,k sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Add the chopped or grated cold butter and combine until it resembles coarse crumbs.
    • Add the yogurt mixture to the flour mixture (if very sticky then add 1-2 tablespoons extra of flour, the dough should be slightly sticky) and mix with a fork or spatula to form a soft dough (do not over mix).
    • Move to a lightly floured flat surface and pat into a large rectangle, then roll out with a floured rolling pin to an 11×8 inch (28x20cm) rectangle. Spread the top of the dough with the apple butter. Roll up from the long end, pinch the edges to seal the dough. Cut into 9 slices.
    • Arrange the slices cut side down on the prepared pan. Bake for approximately 20-25 minutes, until golden or a toothpick comes out clean or with a couple of crumbs attached. Remove from the pan and let cool to warm on a wire rack, then spread with the frosting if desired and serve. Enjoy!

    FOR THE FROSTING

    • In a small bowl combine powdered sugar, vanilla and maple syrup if it is too thick add ½ tablespoon of milk, mix until smooth.

    Notes

    Since this is no yeast dough it is important not to overmix the dough otherwise your rolls may turn out flat and dense.
    Apple butter is more concentrated and more spiced than apple sauce. It’s thick like butter and has a smooth texture.
    Store covered with foil or in an airtight container at room temperature or in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Warm individual rolls in the microwave until heated through.
    To freeze, it is best to freeze without the frosting, cool the cinnamon buns completely then wrap individual rolls in plastic wrap and store in a freezer safe bag. Thaw in the refrigerator and reheat to desired temp. 

    Nutrition

    Calories: 348kcal | Carbohydrates: 52g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 13g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 0.5g | Cholesterol: 55mg | Sodium: 243mg | Potassium: 215mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 23g | Vitamin A: 417IU | Vitamin C: 0.3mg | Calcium: 94mg | Iron: 2mg
    Did You Make This Recipe?Please leave a comment below or pin it to your Pinterest account!

    Updated from September 26, 2016.

    15 Comments

    1. If I wanted to make a bulk batch of these, would it be best to just make the recipe over and over again, or can I double/triple the recipe and make them in a 9 x 13 or jelly rolly pan?

    2. 5 stars
      I have made my first batch, delicious! Is this a recipe I can make ahead of time, and pop in the oven when I’m ready? If so, do you have any storage ideas?

      1. Hi Gwen, so glad you liked it. I think as long as you cover the pan with plastic and refrigerate the dough should be fine. Maybe let it sit for 30 minutes out of the fridge before baking. Hope that helps. Happy New Year.

    3. I’m definitely going to make these for my grandchildren. I really like the idea of no yeast in the dough. I’m never comfortable when a recipe calls for yeast. Thanks for another great recipe.

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