{This post may contain affiliate links. You can read our Disclosure Policy HERE.}

I came upon the Best Apple Butter Cinnamon Rolls by accident. You see, I was making a batch of apple butter in the crock pot. Apple butter is a slow-roasted apple sauce with cinnamon and spices. It makes the house smell amazing! Well on this day, this particular crock pot was running hotter than other ones I have. By the time I noticed it, my apple butter was turning a dark brown it was too late to salvage the batch. It tasted good but a little burnt and I didn’t think that canning it would be the best option. I sadly put the batch of apple butter in a bowl and was wracking my brain on how I could still use the slightly burnt apple butter.

Then it hit me. What if I added this to something that was already scrumptious and sweet such as Homemade Cinnamon Rolls? The combination of cinnamon rolls and apples would be perfect for a fall day. Yum. I knew this match would be a hit. It also allowed me to use up a large amount of the slightly burnt apple butter. No wasting.

After making these Apple Butter Cinnamon Rolls our family was in love. They were delicious and a perfect recipe for apple lovers on a crisp fall. I knew I had to share this.

This will become one of your favorite fall recipes to make every year!

If you want to use store-bought ingredients for this recipe please feel free to do so. This recipe is a labor of love if you make it entirely from scratch. Because our family preserves apple butter to store for the year, this was not as hard for us to make. You do you. There is nothing wrong with cinnamon roll dough from a can and store-purchased apple butter if that’s what you need to make these delicious things. Just please, stick with a cream cheese frosting. Happy baking.

Apple Butter in the Crock Pot

As mentioned above, I make my apple butter in a crock pot. I like to put all the ingredients together and then forget it (that is unless your crock pot runs hot and burns your food- ugh). But typically, a slow cooker works great for this. You will find several variations of apple butter and should adjust the ingredients to your taste buds.

Basic Apple Butter Recipe

Ingredients

4 pounds apples (12-16 medium)
2 Cups Water
4 Cups Sugar (Could substitute with brown sugar, honey, stevia, or maple syrup)
2 teaspoons of cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
1/4 teaspoon cloves
1/4 teaspoon salt

Wash, core, and peel the apples. Cut apples into quarters.

Combine apples, water, sugar, and spices in the slow cooker. Stir to evenly coat the apples with the spices. Cook on high for 4-5 hours. Stir occasionally. Your apple butter is done when the apples are soft and fork-tender.

Puree the apple butter until smooth with an immersion blender. Your sauce is now complete and can be stored in the refrigerator or freezer.

For Canning:
Sterilize 6 half-pint jars or 3 pint jars. Make sure your jars are hot if you are putting hot apple butter into them. We like to fill our jars with the hottest tap water we can get and set the jars on the counter until we are ready to fill them.

Ladle hot butter into the jars, leaving 1/4 inch headspace. Remove air bubbles. Clean the jar rim and put on the lid and ring, fingertip tight. Process in a water bath canner for 10 minutes. For complete canning instructions, please refer to a canning cookbook, such as the Ball Blue Book Guide to Preserving.

Copy Cat Cinnabon Dough Recipe

Feel free to use your favorite cinnamon roll recipe for this. But if you don’t have one, here is mine.

The above recipe is a family favorite that I received from my Aunt Cindy. It makes 2-9 x13 pans of cinnamon rolls. This recipe makes enough to feed a crowd. I promise you they will not last long. So good!

Make the dough according to the recipe above. Use a stand mixer with dough hooks as suggested. Mix dough ingredients for 8 minutes or until elastic and smooth. Place dough in a greased bowl, turning to grease the top. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled in size, about 35 minutes. Punch dough and let rest for 5 minutes. Divide dough into 2 equal pieces.

Assemble the Apple Butter Cinnamon Rolls

Roll out each piece of dough onto a floured surface and shape it into a 15 x 24 ” rectangle. Use a ruler to make sure your sizing is right. It really helps. Spread 1/2 of the apple butter over the dough. You’ll want to have a nice layer of apple butter. Sprinkle extra cinnamon or brown sugar on it if you like extra sweetness.

Roll up the dough and pinch the edges together to seal. You should have a 24″ long roll. Cut the roll into 2″ pieces. Put the 12 pieces into a greased 9 x 13″ pan.

Repeat with the other half of the dough.

You should have 2 pans of rolls with 12 rolls in each pan. Cover pans with plastic wrap and put in a warm place for about 45 minutes to raise. The rolls should be touching.

Bake rolls in a 350-degree oven for 25-30 minutes or until golden brown. Brush tops with melted butter right out of the oven. Cool.

Make up the frosting and spread thickly on top of cooled cinnamon rolls. Enjoy!

I hope you love the Best Apple Butter Cinnamon Rolls as much as our family. The combination of cinnamon rolls and apples is perfect for a crisp fall day or any time of the year if you love the taste of apples. Please comment and share this recipe if you loved it.

Thank you for stopping over and checking out our homestead.
~Lindsay Madsen from Life on Misty Acres