Cinnamon Roll Apple Pie

Picture the irresistible aroma of freshly baked cinnamon rolls merging with the classic comfort of warm apple pie. That’s exactly what you’ll experience with this showstopping Cinnamon Roll Apple Pie. This innovative dessert combines two beloved treats into one extraordinary creation that will have everyone asking for seconds. The buttery cinnamon roll crust cradles tender, spiced apples for a dessert that’s both familiar and excitingly new. You’ll learn how to create this perfect fusion dessert that brings together the best of both worlds in every slice.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

This Cinnamon Roll Apple Pie is about to become your new favorite dessert for so many reasons. First, it’s a conversation starter—imagine bringing this to a holiday gathering and watching everyone’s eyes widen with delight. The contrast between the fluffy, swirled cinnamon roll crust and the tender, juicy apple filling creates an incredible textural experience in every bite.

What makes this recipe truly special is how it transforms two familiar desserts into something greater than the sum of its parts. The cinnamon-sugar flavor that permeates both the crust and filling creates a harmonious taste experience that’s impossible to resist. Plus, despite its impressive appearance, this recipe is surprisingly approachable—you can use store-bought cinnamon roll dough to make the process much easier while still achieving spectacular results.

The caramelized apple filling, infused with warm spices, nestles perfectly into the spiral cinnamon crust, creating pockets where the flavors meld together beautifully. It’s the perfect balance of gooey, crispy, soft, and sweet that makes dessert lovers weak at the knees.

Ingredients

For the Cinnamon Roll Crust:

• 2 cans (8 oz/226g each) refrigerated cinnamon roll dough with icing
• 2 tablespoons (30g) unsalted butter, melted

For the Apple Filling:

• 6 cups (about 6-7 medium/800g) apples, peeled, cored and thinly sliced (Granny Smith and Honeycrisp work best)
• ¾ cup (150g) granulated sugar
• 2 tablespoons (15g) all-purpose flour
• 1 tablespoon (8g) cornstarch
• 2 teaspoons (5g) ground cinnamon
• ¼ teaspoon (0.5g) ground nutmeg
• ¼ teaspoon (1g) salt
• 1 tablespoon (15ml) lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon (5ml) vanilla extract
• 2 tablespoons (30g) unsalted butter, cut into small pieces

The star ingredients here are the cinnamon rolls, which create that distinctive swirled crust that makes this Cinnamon Roll Apple Pie special. For the apples, using a mix of tart Granny Smith and sweet Honeycrisp creates the perfect balance of flavors, while the combination of cinnamon and nutmeg brings out the warmth that makes this apple cinnamon roll dessert so comforting.

Pro Tips

Perfect Apple Selection: For the best Cinnamon Roll Apple Pie, use a combination of apple varieties. Granny Smith apples provide tartness and hold their shape during baking, while Honeycrisp or Gala add sweetness and juiciness. This mix creates complex flavor and prevents a mushy filling. Always slice your apples to a consistent thickness (about ¼ inch) so they cook evenly.

Cinnamon Roll Management: When working with refrigerated cinnamon roll dough, keep it chilled until ready to use. If it becomes too warm, it gets sticky and difficult to handle. For the bottom crust, slightly overlap the cinnamon rolls and gently press them together. This creates a solid foundation while maintaining those gorgeous swirls. Don’t press too hard or you’ll lose the distinctive spiral pattern.

Preventing Soggy Bottom: To ensure your Cinnamon Roll Apple Pie has a perfectly baked bottom, pre-cook your apple filling for 5-7 minutes on the stovetop. This pre-cooking evaporates excess moisture and begins the thickening process. Additionally, place your pie on the lowest rack of your oven for the first 15 minutes of baking to direct heat to the bottom crust, then move it to the center rack to finish baking.

Instructions

Step 1: Prepare the Pie Plate
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Lightly grease a 9-inch deep-dish pie plate with butter or cooking spray. Take the cinnamon rolls out of the refrigerator but keep them cool while preparing other components.

Step 2: Make the Apple Filling
In a large bowl, combine the sliced apples, sugar, flour, cornstarch, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. Toss gently until the apples are evenly coated. Add the lemon juice and vanilla extract, then stir to combine. The mixture should look glossy and evenly spiced. If your apples seem particularly juicy, you might want to let them sit for 10 minutes, then drain off excess liquid.

Step 3: Form the Bottom Crust
Open one can of cinnamon rolls and separate them. Place one roll in the center of your pie plate, then arrange the remaining rolls around it, slightly overlapping. Use your fingers to press the rolls together, creating a unified bottom crust that extends up the sides of the dish. The signature cinnamon swirls should remain visible for that classic Cinnamon Roll Apple Pie look.

Step 4: Add the Filling
Spoon your apple mixture into the cinnamon roll crust, creating a slight mound in the center. Dot the top of the apples with the small pieces of butter, which will melt during baking to create richness throughout the filling.

Step 5: Create the Top Crust
Open the second can of cinnamon rolls and separate them. Depending on your preferred style, you can either:

• Arrange whole cinnamon rolls on top in a decorative pattern
• Slice each roll in half and arrange them in a spiral pattern
• Roll them out slightly and create a lattice design

Brush the top crust with melted butter to promote beautiful browning.

Step 6: Bake to Golden Perfection
Cover the pie loosely with aluminum foil and bake for 25 minutes. Then remove the foil and continue baking for another 20-25 minutes until the cinnamon roll crust is golden brown and the filling is bubbling. If the edges start to brown too quickly, shield them with strips of foil.

Step 7: Finish and Serve
Let the Cinnamon Roll Apple Pie cool for at least 30 minutes before serving. Warm the icing that came with the cinnamon rolls and drizzle it over the top of the pie. This final touch adds a beautiful finish and extra sweetness that complements the apple-cinnamon filling perfectly.

Variations

Caramel Apple Cinnamon Roll Pie: Transform your Cinnamon Roll Apple Pie into an even more decadent treat by adding a caramel element. Mix ¼ cup of caramel sauce into your apple filling before baking, then drizzle additional warm caramel sauce over the finished pie instead of (or in addition to) the cinnamon roll icing. The buttery caramel intensifies the apple flavor and adds another dimension of sweetness that works beautifully with the cinnamon elements.

Berry-Apple Fusion: Create a colorful twist by adding 1 cup of fresh or frozen berries to your apple filling. Blueberries, raspberries, or blackberries all work wonderfully, adding bursts of color and tartness that contrast with the sweet apples and cinnamon roll dough. This variation works particularly well in summer when berries are at their peak, making this apple cinnamon roll pie suitable for year-round enjoyment.

Nutty Crumb Topping: Instead of using the second can of cinnamon rolls as a top crust, create a streusel topping by combining ½ cup chopped nuts (pecans or walnuts), ½ cup brown sugar, ¼ cup flour, and ¼ cup cold butter. Crumble this mixture over the apple filling before baking for a crunchy, textural contrast to the soft apples and fluffy cinnamon roll base.

Storage and Serving

This Cinnamon Roll Apple Pie can be stored at room temperature, covered loosely with foil or plastic wrap, for up to 2 days. For longer storage, refrigerate for up to 5 days. The texture is best if you reheat individual slices in the microwave for 20-30 seconds before serving, which softens the cinnamon roll portions back to their fresh-baked texture.

For the ultimate dessert experience, serve warm slices of this cinnamon roll apple creation with a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top. The contrast between the warm, spiced pie and cold, creamy ice cream creates an irresistible combination. The ice cream also melts slightly into the nooks and crannies of the cinnamon roll crust, adding another layer of decadence.

For a brunch offering, serve smaller slices alongside coffee or tea. The Cinnamon Roll Apple Pie also pairs beautifully with a dollop of whipped cream or a drizzle of warm custard sauce for an elevated dessert presentation.

FAQs

Can I use homemade cinnamon roll dough instead of store-bought?
Absolutely! If you have a favorite cinnamon roll recipe, you can certainly use that instead. Just prepare the dough through the rolling and cutting stage, then use the rolls to create your crust as directed in the recipe.

Why is my cinnamon roll crust soggy on the bottom?
This can happen if your apple filling is too wet. Try pre-cooking your apple filling for 5-7 minutes to reduce moisture, or add an extra tablespoon of cornstarch to the filling. Also, baking the pie on the lowest rack for the first 15 minutes helps crisp the bottom.

Can I make this Cinnamon Roll Apple Pie ahead of time?
Yes, you can assemble the entire pie up to 24 hours in advance and refrigerate it unbaked. When ready to bake, allow the pie to sit at room temperature for about 30 minutes before baking as directed.

What’s the best way to reheat leftover pie?
For individual slices, microwave for 20-30 seconds. For the whole pie, cover with foil and warm in a 300°F (150°C) oven for about 15 minutes.

Can I freeze this pie?
Yes! You can freeze the baked pie for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator and reheat in a 350°F (175°C) oven until warmed through, about 20 minutes.

Conclusion

This Cinnamon Roll Apple Pie is comfort food at its finest — a clever marriage of breakfast treat and classic dessert that delivers pure joy with every bite. It’s the kind of dish that bridges generations, delighting both traditionalists who love a good apple pie and those seeking something new and exciting. Whether you’re serving it at a holiday gathering, weekend brunch, or simply as a special treat for loved ones, this ingenious dessert creates those memorable moments around the table that we all cherish. The combination of tender apples, warm cinnamon, and soft, swirled crust makes this pie not just food, but an experience worth sharing.

Print