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You know those moments when you just can’t choose between two amazing desserts? That was me last month—I wanted the flaky, warm spices of a classic apple pie but the gooey, sweet richness of a fresh cinnamon roll. So, what’s a home cook to do? We fuse them, of course! That’s how this incredible cinnamon roll apple pie was born. I love taking familiar favorites and twisting them just a bit to create something new but still totally comforting. Trust me, this recipe is the easiest upgrade to your usual comfort food rotation, and it smells heavenly while it bakes.
If you’re looking for something impressive without spending all day in the kitchen, you absolutely must try this. It’s a fantastic, reliable bake that even my busy marketing brain can handle on a weeknight. You can see how much I love quick, soulful desserts over at my moist cinnamon swirl apple bread too, but this pie takes the prize for sheer decadence.
I actually saw a few ideas floating around, like the one from Molly’s Home Guide that inspired me further, and I just knew I had to perfect my own version using store-bought dough. You won’t regret this one!
- Why This Cinnamon Roll Apple Pie is Your New Favorite Comfort Food Dessert Recipes
- Gathering Ingredients for Your Cinnamon Roll Apple Pie
- How to Prepare Your Gooey Cinnamon Swirl Dessert: Cinnamon Roll Apple Pie Instructions
- Tips for Success Making Your Cinnamon Roll Apple Pie
- Storage and Reheating Instructions for Leftover Cinnamon Roll Apple Pie
- Serving Suggestions for This Unique Holiday Baking Ideas Cinnamon Roll Apple Pie
- Frequently Asked Questions About the Cinnamon Roll Apple Pie Hybrid Desserts
- Estimating Nutrition for Your Cinnamon Roll Apple Pie
Why This Cinnamon Roll Apple Pie is Your New Favorite Comfort Food Dessert Recipes
When I was busy with marketing, I needed desserts that delivered big flavor without a huge time commitment, and this recipe is exactly that! It hits all the right notes for amazing comfort food dessert recipes. The best part? We use refrigerated cinnamon roll dough, which is a massive shortcut that tastes absolutely gourmet once it bakes up around those warm apples. You get that incredible, gooey apple cinnamon bake without fussing with yeast or rolling out traditional pastry dough.
I’ve baked this for friends who were totally overwhelmed, and it always wins them over. You can find more ways I love merging sweet treats over at Kitchen with Sara, but this hybrid truly reigns supreme in my house.
Quick Prep for an Easy Apple Pie Upgrade
Seriously, twenty minutes. That’s all it takes to get this in the oven. If you’ve ever felt intimidated by a double-crust pie, this is your ticket to making something impressive fast. It’s exactly the kind of easy apple pie upgrade I love sharing because it fools everyone into thinking you spent all day slaving away! No skill required, just good ingredients.
The Ultimate Cinnamon Roll Dessert Fusion Experience
What you end up with is pure magic. The bottom dough layer gets soft and cakey from the apple juices, and the top layer turns into swirls of cinnamon-sugar goodness, all sticky from that included icing melting over the hot fruit. It’s the absolute definition of a perfect cinnamon roll dessert fusion. Every bite is soft, warm, and wonderfully spiced!
Gathering Ingredients for Your Cinnamon Roll Apple Pie
Okay, getting the right stuff together is super fast because we aren’t making everything from scratch, which is the beauty of this! You’ll need one full package of those refrigerated cinnamon rolls—and don’t throw away that icing packet; we need that for later! For the apples, grab about four medium ones, and please, peel, core, and slice them right before you start mixing. They need to be coated in the sugars, spices, and a splash of lemon juice to keep them bright.
Also, make sure you have that tablespoon of butter ready, and you must cut it into several small pieces before the pie goes into the oven. Those little butter dots melt right into the dough, adding a richness we can’t skip!
How to Prepare Your Gooey Cinnamon Swirl Dessert: Cinnamon Roll Apple Pie Instructions
Alright, let’s get baking! We’re moving fast here, so make sure your oven is preheated to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Grab that 9-inch pie dish and give it a light grease so nothing sticks later—I learned that lesson the hard way when I was starting out! This process is straightforward, but paying attention now means you get that perfect gooey dessert later.
Preparing the Apple Filling for the Cinnamon Roll Apple Pie
This is where all the classic pie flavor comes from. In a big mixing bowl, you’ll toss those sliced apples with both the granulated and brown sugars, the flour, that gorgeous cinnamon, the nutmeg, and the lemon juice. Now, here’s an expert tip: don’t skip the lemon juice! It just stops those beautiful apples from turning brown while you’re getting the dough ready. Toss it all gently so every slice is nicely coated in that sweet spice mix. If you want more inspiration for spiced fruit bakes, check out some ideas from Cakes Cottage!
Assembling the Base and Topping for the Cinnamon Roll Apple Pie
Time for the fun part! Open up that package of rolls. Take about half of the dough pieces and arrange them in the bottom of your pie dish. Just press them down a little bit so they sit as a base layer. Next, spoon all those spiced apples evenly right over that dough base. Now, take your tablespoon of butter, cut into little dots, and dot them right over the apples—that’s going to keep things extra rich!
For the top layer, take the remaining cinnamon roll dough and arrange those pieces over the apples. I like to arrange mine so they are just touching or slightly overlapping. This is what creates that amazing pull-apart effect when it comes out, making it the perfect cinnamon roll apple pie!
Baking and Glazing the Cinnamon Roll Apple Pie
Pop that beauty in the oven for about 35 to 45 minutes. You’re looking for a golden-brown crust and bubbling fruit underneath. If you notice the edges of the rolls getting too dark too fast (which they might, since they have sugar), just take a piece of foil and loosely tent it over the edges—easy fix! Once it comes out, you must spread the included icing right over that hot dough layer immediately. Let it rest for at least 20 minutes so it sets up just a bit before slicing into that warm, gooey center. You can find my recipe for easy baked apples cinnamon oat crumble if you ever want a crisp alternative, but this pie is divine!
Tips for Success Making Your Cinnamon Roll Apple Pie
Listen, I want your bake to be perfect! It’s all about choosing the right apples here. I always reach for Granny Smith or Honeycrisp because they are firm and won’t turn into total mush while baking. That gives you that lovely structure against the soft dough. You want that best, gooey cinnamon swirl dessert experience, not applesauce!
If you’re feeling extra ambitious and want a little more pastry flavor on the bottom—maybe you have leftover pie dough—feel free to swap out the bottom layer of cinnamon rolls for a standard pie crust. I have my favorite flaky crust recipe over here if you want to try it! But honestly, using the rolls all around keeps it super easy and super decadent.
Remember that little note about the icing? If you want it even gooier, thin out that included icing packet with maybe a teaspoon of extra milk until it drizzles perfectly. It just makes that warm spiced apple treat even better, I promise!
Storage and Reheating Instructions for Leftover Cinnamon Roll Apple Pie
This pie is so good, you might actually have leftovers—which, really, is a win! Fortunately, this cinnamon roll apple pie stores beautifully, even with that soft, gooey dough. If you have some left over the day you bake it, covering it loosely with foil and leaving it on the counter is totally fine for the first night. Just make sure it’s protected from the air!
But for longer storage, put it right into the fridge. Place it in an airtight container or cover it tightly with plastic wrap and foil. It will keep well for about three or four days. I know, I know, that sweet smell will make you want to sneak a piece at midnight!
When it’s time to reheat, don’t even think about the microwave unless you want slightly soggy dough! We need that top layer of cinnamon roll goodness to crisp up again. Set your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Place a slice (or the whole thing!) on a baking sheet and warm it up for about 10 to 15 minutes. You want it heated all the way through so the apples are piping hot and the dough is soft again. That’s the secret to bringing back that perfect texture without burning those sweet edges!
Serving Suggestions for This Unique Holiday Baking Ideas Cinnamon Roll Apple Pie
This dessert is so rich and satisfying; honestly, it often feels like the entire holiday celebration is centered around it! Since this cinnamon roll apple pie is already a total flavor bomb, you don’t have to do much to dress it up, which is why it makes such a fantastic addition to your list of unique holiday baking ideas.
The absolute best way to serve this? Warm, warm, warm! Reheat those slices until the apples are steaming and the icing is just starting to barely melt again. Then, you have to top it with a big scoop of good quality vanilla bean ice cream. The contrast between the hot, spiced apple swirl and the cold, creamy melt is just heavenly. It’s pure decadence, and everyone will instantly understand why you chose this over a standard pie.
If you’re serving this for breakfast or brunch—and you totally should, no judgment here!—it pairs wonderfully with a hot cup of coffee. Speaking of coffee pairing, if you ever make my sour cream coffee cake, this pie would be perfect right alongside it for a holiday spread. For something lighter on the side, maybe just serve it with a simple glass of cold milk. It’s that kind of comforting dessert that just goes great with everything!
Frequently Asked Questions About the Cinnamon Roll Apple Pie Hybrid Desserts
It’s okay if this unique combination leaves you with a few lingering questions! I get them all the time when people see this recipe for the first time. I always want to make sure you feel totally confident when you head to the kitchen, so let’s clear up some common worries about this perfect marriage between pie and rolls.
Can I use homemade cinnamon rolls instead of the refrigerated kind for this cinnamon roll apple pie?
That’s a great question about adapting things! You certainly *can* use homemade cinnamon roll dough, but I have to give you fair warning: the timing and texture are going to change quite a bit. This recipe is really engineered around the chemistry of that store-bought refrigerated dough, especially how it softens and puffs up around the fruit. If you use homemade, you might need to adjust your baking time significantly, and the final result might be a bit denser than the gooey bake we are aiming for. For the very best, simplest result, stick to the recipe as written!
What apples work best for this gooey cinnamon swirl dessert?
When we are baking something this soft and gooey, we really need apples that can stand up to the heat without just collapsing entirely. For this reason, I highly recommend sticking to firm, tart apples like Granny Smith, which is my go-to. Honeycrisp works well too. They hold their shape beautifully against the soft dough, ensuring you get those distinct apple slices instead of just apple sauce mixed into your beautiful gooey cinnamon swirl dessert. It keeps the structure intact!
Is this cinnamon roll apple pie suitable for brunch?
Absolutely, a thousand times yes! While it feels indulgent, think about it—it’s cinnamon rolls *and* spiced apples. It’s perfect for a special weekend brunch or even a holiday morning treat. It totally qualifies as a warm spiced apple treat that feels extra festive without being too heavy for later in the day. It’s a fantastic twist on a classic breakfast item and fits wonderfully with other apple pie hybrid desserts you might want to serve.
If you’re looking for other amazing recipes in the dessert category, don’t forget to browse my full collection of recipes right here on the site at Carla’s Cooking Desserts!
Estimating Nutrition for Your Cinnamon Roll Apple Pie
I always feel a little nervous sharing this part, because the nutrition can really vary depending on the exact brand of refrigerated cinnamon rolls you grab—some tubes are sweeter than others! But for guidance, I used the averages from the ingredients listed here. Remember, this is a rich dessert, an absolute treat, so it’s not an everyday kind of thing!
Based on my testing, here is a general idea of what you can expect for one generous slice:
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: Approximately 450
- Sugar: Around 45g (We know, it’s sweet! But that’s the fun part!)
- Fat: About 22g
- Saturated Fat: About 8g
- Carbohydrates: Roughly 60g
- Protein: About 5g
Again, these numbers are solid estimates based on average store brands. If you make major swaps, like using a low-sugar apple filling or skipping the included icing, those totals will definitely change. But if we make this as written, we get a wonderfully decadent, warm spiced apple treat!
PrintCinnamon Roll Apple Pie: The Ultimate Comfort Dessert Fusion
Combine the gooey sweetness of cinnamon rolls with the warm spice of classic apple pie in this easy, crowd-pleasing dessert. This recipe uses store-bought cinnamon rolls for a simple, impressive upgrade to your baking.
- Prep Time: 20 min
- Cook Time: 45 min
- Total Time: 65 min
- Yield: 8 servings 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
- 1 (13.2 ounce) package refrigerated cinnamon rolls (with icing)
- 4 medium apples (like Granny Smith or Honeycrisp), peeled, cored, and sliced
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1/4 cup packed brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon butter, cut into small pieces
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Lightly grease a 9-inch pie dish.
- In a large bowl, combine the sliced apples, granulated sugar, brown sugar, flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, and lemon juice. Toss gently until the apples are fully coated.
- Arrange half of the cinnamon roll dough pieces in the bottom of the prepared pie dish, pressing them slightly to form a base layer.
- Spoon the spiced apple filling evenly over the dough layer. Dot the top of the apples with the small pieces of butter.
- Take the remaining cinnamon roll dough pieces and arrange them over the apple filling. You can place them close together or slightly overlap them to create a pull-apart effect.
- Bake for 35 to 45 minutes, or until the crust is golden brown and the apple filling is bubbly. If the edges start to brown too quickly, cover them loosely with foil.
- Remove the pie from the oven. Immediately spread the icing that came with the cinnamon rolls evenly over the hot top layer.
- Let the Cinnamon Roll Apple Pie cool for at least 20 minutes before slicing and serving warm.
Notes
- For an extra gooey texture, use a few tablespoons of apple pie filling icing instead of the included icing, or mix the included icing with a teaspoon of milk to thin it slightly.
- If you prefer a homemade crust flavor, you can substitute the bottom layer of cinnamon rolls with a standard pie crust, keeping the top layer as the cinnamon rolls.
- This dessert is excellent served warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 45
- Sodium: 350
- Fat: 22
- Saturated Fat: 8
- Unsaturated Fat: 10
- Trans Fat: 0.5
- Carbohydrates: 60
- Fiber: 3
- Protein: 5
- Cholesterol: 25