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Cinnamon Roll Apple Bake is an easy brunch recipe that’s like a monkey bread and a bubble-up bake all in one! It’s got cinnamon buns and apples in a buttery sauce – this is the perfect breakfast for fall!

Easy Apple Fritter Cinnamon Roll Bake - canned cinnamon rolls mixed with cinnamon apples baked like monkey bread! It's like an apple fritter cinnamon roll!



What is a Cinnamon Roll Apple Bake?

Have you ever made a recipe knowing that you immediately needed to get rid of it? I’m famous for those recipes and most of them get sent off or frozen ASAP. But not this one. This one I ate straight from the pan. With a fork. Over two days. BY MYSELF.

This is a keeper recipe. If you make one sweet brunch or breakfast recipe this year, let it be this one. It’s easy, has just a handful of ingredients, and tastes like an apple fritter. It’s ready in no time at all. It’s like a combination of monkey bread and an apple fritter and a cinnamon roll and a bubble-up bake all in one.

Easy Apple Fritter Cinnamon Roll Bake - canned cinnamon rolls mixed with cinnamon apples baked like monkey bread! It's like an apple fritter cinnamon roll!

Ingredients Needed

  • Cinnamon Rolls: Pillsbury Grands! cinnamon rolls (or the generic equivalent)
  • Apples:  I used 2 apples – use your favorite kind.
  • Brown Sugar: For both the apples and the monkey bread like topping.
  • Cinnamon: To flavor the apples.
  • Butter: To make that gooey sweet topping.

Variations

How to make Cinnamon Buns with Apple

  1. Cook Apples: Dice them small and cook in the microwave with brown sugar and cinnamon.
  2. I cut each roll into 6 pieces (and they promptly fell apart, so that’s okay).
  3. Place them in a baking dish and top them with easy cinnamon apples.
  4. I drizzled a monkey bread glaze (brown sugar + butter) all over the top and baked them.
  5. THEN I thinned out the icing that came with the cinnamon rolls and drizzled it allllll over the top.
Apple Fritter Cinnamon Roll Bake

Expert Tips

  • You can also use regular canned cinnamon rolls (5 to a can) but you’ll want to use about 1 1/2 cans.
  • Don’t want to use the microwave? Sauté apples in a skillet with 1 tablespoon butter until they are just a bit softened, about 3-5 minutes.

Storage & Make Ahead

Make the casserole ahead of time by chopping the cinnamon rolls, cooking the apples, and assembling in pan. Wait to add the melted butter mixture until just before baking.

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator. You can also freeze leftovers or freeze the casserole fully baked.

Overhead shot of apple fritter cinnamon roll bake in glass dish

Apple Cinnamon Rolls Bake Recipe

4.25 from 220 votes
Apple Fritter Cinnamon Roll Bake is an easy apple brunch recipe that’s like a monkey bread and a bubble-up bake all in one! Cinnamon rolls and apples for breakfast!

Recipe Video

Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Yield 8 servings
Serving Size 1 serving

Ingredients
 

  • 2 medium apples peeled, cored, and diced small (about 1 1/2 cups apples)
  • 1 tablespoon brown sugar
  • ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1 tablespoon (5ml) water
  • 1 can Pillsbury Grands! Cinnamon Rolls 5 rolls
  • 5 tablespoons unsalted butter melted
  • cup (67g) packed brown sugar
  • 1 tablespoon (5 ml) heavy whipping cream or milk optional
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Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350°F. Spray a 9″ pie plate or pan with nonstick cooking spray.
  • Place small diced apples, brown sugar, ground cinnamon, and 1 tablespoon of water in a small bowl. Stir. Cover loosely with plastic wrap and cook on high power for 2-3 minutes, or until apples are just slightly translucent. Drain well.
  • While the apples are cooking, cut each cinnamon roll into 6 pieces. They’ll fall apart a little, that’s okay. Sprinkle the pieces evenly in the prepared pan. Once the apples are done, drain them well and sprinkle them over the cinnamon roll pieces.
  • Stir the melted butter and brown sugar together, then pour over the top of the apples and cinnamon rolls. Bake for 28-33 minutes or until cooked through in the center.
  • Just before serving, place the icing that came with the cinnamon rolls in a small bowl. Heat for about 10 seconds so it’s pourable. Stir in heavy whipping cream (or milk) to make it more of a glaze, then pour over the top of the casserole. Serve warm or room temperature.
  • Store tightly covered in refrigerator for up to 2 days.

Recipe Notes

  • If you use a regular can of cinnamon rolls (5 rolls; not Grands) you will want to use about 1.5 cans.
  • Add chopped nuts with the apples if desired.

Recipe Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 134kcal | Carbohydrates: 17g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 21mg | Sodium: 6mg | Potassium: 67mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 15g | Vitamin A: 271IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 16mg | Iron: 1mg
Nutritional information not guaranteed to be accurate
Course Breakfast
Cuisine American


Dorothy Kern

Welcome to Crazy for Crust, where I share recipes that are sometimes crazy, often with a crust, and always served with a slice of life.

4.25 from 220 votes (193 ratings without comment)

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93 Comments

  1. This baked up beautiful. I used just 1/4 cup brown sugar and added maple pecans on top. It was a great way to use up my apples and pecans!

  2. What a great way to elevate cinnamon rolls. This recipe has been requested every couple of weeks by my husband. Delicious and easy. Thank you for sharing.

  3. It is delicious. Second time I made this recipe I used canned apple pie filling. Then I sprinkled chopped pecans. After backing I used the icing from the rolls on top. Great dessert!