Cinnamon Roll Apple Pies
Get ready to enjoy two comforting desserts in one magical bite! These viral Cinnamon Roll Apple Pies feature a soft, sweet cinnamon roll crust and a bright, spiced apple pie filling, topped with vanilla icing. Perfect for brunch or dessert, you won’t believe this HACK!
I just love how simple this cinnamon roll apple pie recipe is! By starting with a can of cinnamon rolls, you get a perfect, no-fuss dough without any of the mixing or rising time, similar to these Cinnamon Cruffins. This clever shortcut keeps the ingredient list short and the mess to an absolute minimum. Best of all, the assembly is so straightforward and fun that it’s the perfect task to get the kids involved in the kitchen.
Easily adapt muffin-tin cinnamon roll apple pies by sprinkling chopped toasted or candied nuts over the sweet icing or adding raisins to the apple pie filling. Either way, they’re scrumptious fall-inspired treats, right up there with Old-Fashioned Cinnamon Rolls and Cinnamon Roll Pecan Cake. Let’s just say I love this recipe for fall, Friendsgiving, Thanksgiving – or any holiday brunch or dessert party!
What are cinnamon roll apple pies?
These cinnamon roll apple pies are a clever and easy dessert that transforms a can of cinnamon rolls into individual pie crusts. Pressed into a muffin tin, they are filled with an apple pie filling that has been improved by chopping the apples for a uniform texture and adding lemon zest to brighten the flavor.
After baking until golden and bubbly, the cooled mini pies are topped with the cinnamon roll icing (with added lemon and vanilla), that comes as part of the canned cinnamon rolls. The result is a cozy and irresistible hand-held fall treat that combines the warm, spiced comfort of apple pie with the soft, sweet dough of a cinnamon roll. Perfect for any occasion, brunch, and dessert!
Ingredients needed to make cinnamon roll apple pies?
- Can of cinnamon rolls: You’ll also be using the icing that comes with the canned cinnamon rolls as a sweet topping for these cinnamon roll apple pies. [I used Pillsbury Grands Cinnamon Rolls – 5 in each can.]
- Lemon zest: Lemon zest is added to brighten the flavor and cut the sweetness of the canned apple pie filling.
- Vanilla extract
- Apple pie filling: Canned apple pie filling adds convenience and reduces the recipe time, but you could make your own apple pie filling like I did for these Cinnamon Rolls with Apple Pie Filling.
How do you make these cinnamon roll apple pies?
Preheat and prepare:
- Preheat the oven to 375°F and prepare a normal size 12-cup muffin tin with butter or cooking spray (bottom and sides) and set aside.
Make the filling:
- Cut any larger chunks of the apples in the canned filling into smaller chunks (about ½ inch each). This is optional, if you don’t mind the larger chunks. It really depends on the brand of apple filling that you use.
- Add the lemon zest and mix together.
Assemble and bake:
- Flatten the 10 cinnamon rolls into disks with your fingers and press into the muffin tin, creating an edible “cup” and crust.
- Spoon the filling (mainly using apple chunks) into the cinnamon roll cups, but don’t overfill.
- Bake for 23-26 minutes or until the crust is a deep golden brown, and the filling is bubbly.
- Remove from the oven and allow to cool.
Glaze and serve:
- Add the icing that comes with the cans to a small bowl. Add more lemon zest and 1 tsp of vanilla. With a small whisk, whisk until combined.
- Once cool, drizzle the mini apple pies with the packaged cinnamon roll icing mixture.
- They are best served right out of the oven or warm!
Serving
These cinnamon roll apple pies are a versatile treat, perfect to add to your brunch spread with this cozy Pumpkin Spice Latte or freshly brewed coffee.
I also love to make this cinnamon roll apple pie recipe as a standout fall and winter dessert with a scoop of homemade vanilla ice cream or whipped cream. It’s the perfect way to round up your holiday roast beef dinner, meatloaf, pork tenderloin, or roast turkey.
Sandy’s tips and substitutions:
- Storage: These cinnamon roll apple pies are best enjoyed warm or hot out of the oven. But they will keep unfrosted and tightly wrapped for up to 3 days at room temperature or up to 5 days in the fridge. Frost right before serving.
- Freezing: You can also freeze the baked cinnamon roll pies for up to 3 months. Thaw them overnight in the fridge before enjoying them again.
- Toppings: Sprinkle chopped candied walnuts or pecans over the fresh icing for extra flavor and a crunchy contrast. A caramel glaze or a crumbled streusel are other delicious topping ideas that could replace the icing or top the icing.
- Gluten-free: Use gluten-free canned cinnamon rolls when catering to allergies.
- Icing consistency: You may need to heat the icing for a few seconds in the microwave for a thinner consistency that spreads evenly, but adding the vanilla extract seems to do the trick to get the right consistency for drizzling.
- Double the recipe: Double this cinnamon roll apple pie recipe and bake in two pans when catering to a crowd (making sure to rotate the muffin tins if they can’t both fit side-by-side on the middle rack).
- Mini cinnamon roll pies: Make mini versions of this dessert by assembling the cinnamon rolls with apple pie filling in a mini muffin tin. You will need to reduce the baking time as the mini cinnamon roll pies will bake at a faster rate.
- Don’t overfill: It’s normal for some of the apple pie filling to spill or bubble over while these dessert pies bake but be careful that you don’t overfill the cups when assembling the cinnamon roll apple pies.
- Mix-ins: Add raisins or chopped dates to the canned apple pie filling for extra natural sweetness and delicious texture. You can soak them beforehand to soften them, if you like.
- Fruit filling: You can use any flavor of pie filling if you are not a fan of apple!
- Leftover apple pie filling: Use any leftover apple pie filling to make other scrumptious fall treats, snacks, or meals. Top your toast, pancakes, or waffles with the filling, add it to cooked pork, serve it with a bowl of maple ice cream or atop milkshakes, puree it to make apple sauce or apple butter, or add it to yogurt parfaits. The options are endless!
- Uniform apple chunks: Make sure to cut some of the larger chunks of the apples in the canned filling into smaller pieces (about ½ inch each). Smaller pieces ensure that every cinnamon roll pie has a balanced ratio of soft, cooked apple to the cinnamon roll “crust.”
More cozy apple desserts you may want to try:
- Salted Caramel Apple Cake
- Apple Goodie Dessert
- Apple Cake with Custard Sauce
- Rustic Apple Galette with Whipped Cream
- Cake Pan Apple Bars with Frosting
Get the Recipe:
Cinnamon Roll Apple Pies
Ingredients
- 2 17.5 oz can Grand's 5-count refrigerated cinnamon rolls, I used Pillsbury Grands Cinnamon Rolls + the icing
- 3 tsp lemon zest
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 21 oz apple pie filling, (you will have some left over)
Equipment
- 12-cup muffin tin (large)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375℉. Prepare 1 large muffin tin with cooking spray or butter.
- Open the can of apple pie filling and cut the larger chunks of the apples into smaller chunks (about ½ inch each). Add the lemon zest and mix together. Depending on the brand, the apples may already be small. [Optional to leave the chunks large, it's up to you.]
- Flatten the 10 cinnamon rolls into disks (use your fingers and palms) and press into the muffin tin to make a cup.
- Spoon apple pie filling into cinnamon roll cups, mainly using the chunks of apples (do not overfill). You will have some of the filling left over.
- Bake for 24-26 minutes or until cinnamon roll crust is a deep golden brown, and the apples are bubbly.
prepare the cinnamon roll icing:
- While the rolls are baking, add the (2) icings from the cinnamon roll package to a small bowl, add half of the lemon zest and vanilla extract. Use a small whisk to whisk the icing.
- Remove the apple pies from the oven and allow to cool for a few minutes, then drizzle with the prepared cinnamon roll icing.
- Serve right away. The pies are best served warm or right from the oven!
Notes
Sandy’s tips and substitutions:
- Storage: These cinnamon roll apple pies are best enjoyed warm or hot out of the oven. But they will keep unfrosted and tightly wrapped for up to 3 days at room temperature or up to 5 days in the fridge. Frost right before serving.
- Freezing: You can also freeze the baked cinnamon roll pies for up to 3 months. Thaw them overnight in the fridge before enjoying them again.
- Toppings: Sprinkle chopped candied walnuts or pecans over the fresh icing for extra flavor and a crunchy contrast. A caramel glaze or a crumbled streusel are other delicious topping ideas that could replace the icing or top the icing.
- Gluten-free: Use gluten-free canned cinnamon rolls when catering to allergies.
- Mini cinnamon roll pies: Make mini versions of this dessert by assembling the cinnamon rolls with apple pie filling in a mini muffin tin. You will need to reduce the baking time as the mini cinnamon roll pies will bake at a faster rate.
- Don’t overfill: It’s normal for some of the apple pie filling to spill or bubble over while these dessert pies bake but be careful that you don’t overfill the cups when assembling the cinnamon roll apple pies.
- Mix-ins: Add raisins or chopped dates to the canned apple pie filling for extra natural sweetness and delicious texture. You can soak them beforehand to soften them, if you like.
- Leftover apple pie filling: Use any leftover apple pie filling to make other scrumptious fall treats, snacks, or meals. Top your toast, pancakes, or waffles with the filling, add it to cooked pork, serve it with a bowl of maple ice cream or atop milkshakes, puree it to make apple sauce or apple butter, or add it to yogurt parfaits. The options are endless!
- Uniform apple chunks: Make sure to cut some of the larger chunks of the apples in the canned filling into smaller pieces (about ½ inch each). Smaller pieces ensure that every cinnamon roll pie has a balanced ratio of soft, cooked apple to the cinnamon roll “crust.”
- Icing consistency: You may need to heat the icing for a few seconds in the microwave for a thinner consistency that spreads evenly, but adding the vanilla extract seems to do the trick to get the right consistency for drizzling.
- Double the recipe: Double this cinnamon roll apple pie recipe and bake in two pans when catering to a crowd (making sure to rotate the muffin tins if they can’t both fit side-by-side on the middle rack).
Hello and welcome to my home and table!
I’m Sandy—lover of food, family, cooking, THE BIG BOARD, travel, and bringing people together. Through great recipes and connection around the table, we become better, stronger, and more courageous people. Feasting on Life is real, and every time we do it, we grow a little more. Read more...
