Go Back
–+ servings
An apple cinnamon roll sits on a plate
Print

Apple Pie Cinnamon Rolls

These vegan apple cinnamon rolls will have you baking like a pro in no time! Satisfy your sweet tooth with this delectable buttery treat. Made with vegan ingredients and the perfect blend of apple and cinnamon, you'll love this sweet treat!
Course Breakfast
Cuisine American
Diet Vegan, Vegetarian
Prep Time 1 hour 20 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Resting Time 10 minutes
Total Time 2 hours 10 minutes
Servings 12
Calories 325kcal
Author Marly McMillen

Ingredients

Dough

Apple Pie Cinnamon Filling

  • ¾ cup brown sugar
  • ¼ cup vegan butter, softened
  • 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
  • 1 tablespoon cornstarch
  • 1 medium apple, peeled, cored, and diced

Cream Cheese Icing

  • 1 cup powdered sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 4 tablespoons vegan butter, , softened
  • 2 tablespoons vegan cream cheese
  • 3 tablespoons soy milk (or favorite plant-based milk/creamer)
Cups - Metric

Instructions

For the Dough:

  • Mix the flax egg and set aside.
    A measuring spoon drizzles a flax egg mixture into a small glass bowl
  • Combine the milk and butter in a microwave-safe bowl and heat for 1 minute. Set it aside for several minutes. Then add the flax egg and stir. The mixture should be between 105°F/40°C and 108°F/42°C (the same temperature as your finger if you dip it into the liquid). 
  • In a large bowl, add the flour, sugar, yeast, and salt. Stir to combine. Pour this milk mixture into the flour mixture and stir together until a soft dough forms. 
  • Knead the dough in the bowl with your hands or use a dough hook on a mixer for 5 minutes. Add 3 to 4 tablespoons of flour as needed to keep the dough from sticking to the bottom of the bowl. The dough should form into a ball but still be slightly sticky. 
    Dough is in the bottom of a bowl.
  • Spray the top with vegetable cooking spray, cover with a kitchen towel, and set it aside to rest, for around 30 minutes. 

For the Filling:

  • After the dough has doubled in size, punch it down. Then pour it out onto a well-floured surface, sprinkle with a little more flour and use a rolling pin to flatten it out. Your goal is to shape the dough into an approximately 16″ x 12″ shape. You can achieve that by turning and rolling the dough in different directions until you get it just right.
    Dough has been rolled out into a long rectangle and sits next to a rolling pin.
  • Spread softened butter across the dough.
    Vegan butter has been spread over dough rolled out in a rectangle.
  • Stir together the sugar, cinnamon, and cornstarch. Sprinkle this over the butter, covering everything except for about a half-inch of the long edge furthest away from you.
    A hand sprinkles cinnamon sugar over rolled out dough with vegan butter on top.
  • Add the diced apple pieces evenly across the top.
    Dough is rolled out with cinnamon sugar over the top and chopped green apples.
  • Roll the dough as tightly as possible until you reach the end. Dampen your fingers and then run that along the end of the dough.
    Two hands roll dough into a log to make cinnamon rolls. You can see the filling on top of the dough that has not been rolled yet.
  • Then pinch the ends of the dough and then turn the roll so the seam is down.
    Two hands are pinching a log of dough to create a seam.
  • Using a serrated knife, slice the rolls about 1 ½″ thick and carefully place them into a greased pan. Leave about an inch between each roll. Cover loosely with a dampened kitchen towel, and set aside to rise in a warm, draft-free area until doubled in size, about one hour.
    Using a serrated knife to cut cinnamon rolls.

For the Rolls:

  • When the rolls have doubled in size, preheat the oven to 350ᵒF/175°C. Place pan in a center rack and bake about 24 to 26 minutes until the rolls are golden in color.

For the Icing:

  • While the rolls are baking, prepare the icing. In a medium bowl, cream together the butter and vegan cream cheese until fluffy. Add the vanilla, followed by the powdered sugar beat until creamy. Stir in one tablespoon of soy milk at a time to get a spreadable consistency.
  • When the rolls are ready, remove them from the oven and add frosting immediately. Serve warm.
  • Store cinnamon rolls in a sealed container at room temperature for up to 3 days or in the fridge for up to 7 days. These can be frozen for up to 2 months. To serve, cook in the microwave until heated through.

Notes

Apple Pie Filling

You can use your favorite apple for the filling, but I prefer using honey crisp apples because they're a perfect blend between crisp, sweet, and tart. A tart apple like granny smith will work fine here, too. If you choose to use apple pie filling, be sure to cut the apple pieces into smaller bits and minimize the amount of the gooey filling, because it makes it difficult to roll the dough.

Nutrition

Calories: 325kcal | Carbohydrates: 53g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 1g | Sodium: 204mg | Potassium: 99mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 29g | Vitamin A: 549IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 28mg | Iron: 1mg