These apple cider cinnamon rolls are sure to please a crowd this fall! Their tart apple flavor with sweet cider icing make for cinnamon roll perfection!

Happy fall friends! I’m so glad I can say that and it’s actually fall. I’m not sure about the weather where you are but here it still feels very much like summer. We’ve sadly gone back into the 90’s here in north Georgia and it feels like there’s no end in sight. Lucky for us we’ve filled our home with fall foliage and pumpkins. This past week I also put some of our apples to go use and made our first apple cider cinnamon rolls of the season.

I’ve been making this delicious recipe for years now. When I first started blogging I shared the recipe but that’s been quite some time now and I wanted to share it again with better photos and some updates that I’ve found to make this recipe a little easier.

Each year we make a trip 45 minutes north to pick apples. We always come back with way more than I know what to do with so I like to search out new recipes to use the apples in. This is a recipe that I found in Taste of Home magazine years ago. Over those years I’ve altered it to make it just right for us and I think you’re going to love it too!

You can make your dough by hand, in a mixer or in a bread machine. I personally make mine in my Zojirushi bread machine. It takes only 30 minutes and when it’s done I’m able to roll the dough out on my counter and add the filling.

Apple Cider Cinnamon Rolls

These homemade cinnamon rolls are always a proud pleaser in our home. They're the perfect sweet roll for the fall season!

Servings 12 Rolls

Ingredients

3/4 cups Milk
3/4 cup Apple Cider
1/3 cup Olive Oil
1/3 cup Honey
2 tsp. Salt
1 Lg. Egg (optional)
2 Tbs. Rice Bran Extract or Lecithin (optional)
4 cups Freshly Milled Hard White Wheat Flour or Bread Flour
1 Tbs. Yeast
2 cups Tart Apples, peeled and finely chopped I typically use Granny Smith Apples
1/3 cup Butter, softened
1 1/4 cups Packed Brown Sugar
3/4 cup Walnuts, finely chopped optional
3 tsp. Cinnamon

Apple Cider Cream Cheese Frosting

2 cups Apple Cider
2 Cinnamon Sticks
1 8 oz. Pkg. Cream Cheese
1/4 cup Butter, softened
1 cup Confectioners' Sugar

Instructions

Combine the milk, cider, oil, honey, salt and egg. Add in the rice bran if desired and half the flour. Mix thoroughly. Add the yeast and enough flour to make a soft dough. Knead until smooth and elastic (about 5-6 minutes). Let it rise until double. **Note - You can use a bread machine or mixer for making your dough if your Prefer. I personally like to use my bread machine set on the dough setting.**
Preheat your Oven to 350 degrees.
Roll the dough out on a lightly floured surface into a 15 in. x 10 in. rectangle. Spread the butter over the dough within 1/2 in. of the edges. Combine the apples, brown sugar, walnuts and cinnamon; sprinkle it evenly over the butter.
Roll up the dough jelly-roll style and pinch the seam to seal. Cut into 12 equal slices. Place cut side down onto a greased 9 in. x 13 in. baking sheet or casserole dish.
Bake for about 25-30 minutes until golden brown or when tooth pick comes out clean from the bread dough. Let them rest in the pan.

Apple Cider Icing

While the rolls are baking, In a small sauce pan bring the apple cider and cinnamon stick to a boil. Cook until the liquid is reduced to 1/2 cup, about 20 minutes. Discard cinnamon sticks; cool cider.
In a large bowl or mixer, beat the cream cheese and butter until fluffy. Add confectioners' sugar and reduced cider; beat until smooth. Pour and spread over the warm rolls.

The smell of these cinnamon rolls baking is amazing. Add in the cider simmering on the stove with the cinnamon sticks and it’s fall perfection!

I like my icing to be a little thinner than most so if needed I’ll add in a tiny but more cider to get a pour-able icing. Once cut the icing will run down the rolls beautifully.

These will keep on the counter covered for a couple days. That’s if they stick around that long. In our house they’re typically gone within just a day or two. This recipe can also be baked in a throw away pan and given as gifts to friends and loved ones. They make for a beautiful presentation and taste even better! Happy fall baking friends!