Caramel Apple Cinnamon Rolls

Fall baking continues with this cozy twist on classic cinnamon rolls. The apples provide extra moisture and tang while the caramel sauce offers a sweeter, richer version of the traditional glaze.

This recipe is from one of my favorite YouTube foodies, Rosanna Pansino. I've been watching Rosanna's cooking and baking channel "Nerdy Nummies" for years now. I'm one of those viewers who watches all the videos, but hardly ever makes anything. However, when I saw these cinnamon rolls I had to try them out.

Naked cinnamon rolls before adding the glaze

I had made cinnamon rolls earlier in quarantine from Buzzfeed Tasty's 101 recipe*. Those cinnamon rolls while absolutely delicious, also took several hours to make. I liked that Rosanna's recipe was relatively quick while still allowing for the dough to properly rise.

*side note: I would HIGHLY recommend Tasty 101 or superb recipes for basic dishes. The Tasty 101 people perform really thorough tests to find the best possible version. I've used the Tasty 101 recipes for chocolate chip cookies, brownies, and sugar cookies, all with excellent results.

My adaptation

I didn't change much to this recipe. The main thing was that the original recipe made a dozen cinnamon rolls which seemed a dangerous amount for only three people, so I ended up halving it. This left me with six plump rolls, a much more reasonable amount for my household. I used Granny Smith apples as Rosanna recommends in the video, but could see almost any kind tasting good in this recipe. Lastly, I also substituted my Earth Balance dairy-free butter and my lactose-free milk in an effort to make it more friendly for my stomach. Of course, I counteracted this by using real heavy whipping cream for the caramel glaze (it was what I had on hand), but I still like to think that my version is still slightly more accommodating to lactose-intolerant folk than the original!

Pouring on the glaze is the best part so of course I had to include a video of it

My Review

A relatively quick, simple, and extra-sweet fall version of a cinnamon roll - 4.5/5

For anyone intimidated by the idea of making cinnamon rolls from scratch, this is definitely the recipe for you. I was pleased by how fast they were to make while still achieving a good rise and fluffy texture. The caramel glaze is a fun diversion from traditional frosting (and I love traditional frosting). The recipe is pretty much foolproof, fun to make, and the perfect fall afternoon snack.

The only reason I gave it 4.5 instead of 5 is because I wish the inside was slightly more robust. I just recently ate a Cinnabon which, while wildly unhealthy, was deliciously chocked full of filling. I think this could have used a tad more filling and maybe a bit more apple to make it more moist. But overall, would definitely make again!