Caramel Apple Cinnamon Rolls

Caramel Apple Cinnamon Rolls, easy homemade cinnamon rolls stuffed with grated fresh apples, cinnamon, and sugar and topped with a caramel icing.  Fall just got a lot sweeter!  

There is nothing better! Starting your morning off with a cup of coffee and homemade cinnamon rolls will, sure enough, get your fall morning off to a fabulous day!

I have been seeing a lot of Apple Cinnamon Rolls on Pinterest and thought I would give them a try with my Homemade Cinnamon Roll recipe.  I made some without pecans and some with pecans since some in the family are not fond of pecans, but I can surely say, everyone loves the caramel icing.

Usually making homemade cinnamon rolls is a process that can be labor intensive, but with this recipe, you can forgo all the labor intense fuss.  The dough only rises one time, and that is just before they go in the oven.

If you want, though, you can also use store-bought frozen dough that would be quick and easy to make these in a pinch.

The homemade dough is soft and easy to handle.  The apples are grated to make rolling the dough easier.  Be sure and grate the apples just before sprinkling it on the dough, so it doesn't have time to turn brown.  Sprinkling the sugar and cinnamon over it will also help.  

We enjoy these cinnamon rolls as much for dessert as we do for breakfast.  Who says you can have dessert for breakfast?  These may become your favorite dessert for breakfast too.  Enjoy!

Apple Cinnamon Rolls

Ingredients: Cinnamon Rolls

• 2 cups whole milk
• 1 tablespoon, heaping quick rise yeast
• 5 1/2 cups flour
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 3 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1 cup solid vegetable shortening
• 1/2 cup butter, melted
• 1-1/2 cups sugar
• 2-4 tablespoons cinnamon
• 3 medium apples or 4 small apples, peeled, cord and, grated
• 1 cup pecans, finely chopped

Ingredients: Caramel Frosting

• 1/2 cup butter, melted
• 3/4 cup brown sugar
• 3/4 cup powdered sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 3-5 tablespoons half and half

Directions: Cinnamon Rolls

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Pour milk in a 2 cup measuring cup and heat in the microwave on high heat for 1 minute or until warm but not hot, add yeast and stir until mixed well; set aside stirring occasionally.

In a mixing bowl with an electric mixer using the paddle attachment, mix flour, salt, baking powder, and sugar until well blended; remove paddle attachment and attach dough hook. Cut in shortening until mixture resembles coarse meal.

Stir yeast and milk mixture well and add to the flour mixture, beating with dough beater until dough forms a ball and all the dough is loosened from the sides of the bowl.

Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface, roll into a 1/4" high, and approximately a 15-inch by 24-inch rectangle. Brush with 1/2 cup melted butter all the way to the edges.

Mix cinnamon and sugar together; set aside. Sprinkle grated apples over butter layer then sprinkle with cinnamon sugar mixture.   Sprinkle pecans evenly over the cinnamon sugar.  Starting at long side, tightly roll up, pinching seam to seal.

Cut into 24 slices; place with cut side down in a greased 15-in. x 10-in. sheet pan. Cover and let rise, about 30 minutes.

Bake for 20-25 minutes or until lightly golden brown, making sure the center of the cinnamon rolls is done. Cool 10-15 minutes in pan on a wire rack. Combine the icing ingredients and lavishly drizzle over warm rolls.

Directions: Caramel Frosting
In a medium bowl, mix together butter, brown sugar, powdered sugar, pumpkin pie spice, vanilla, and the half and half until smooth and creamy. Lavishly drizzle over cinnamon rolls.

Note:  If you grate the apples before you make the dough, be sure and pat them dry with a paper towel.  You can also put them in a strainer.  This eliminates extra moisture when baking.

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