Apple Pie Cinnamon Rolls

Ingredients

• • BREAD
• • ¾ cup (180ml) milk of choice, warmed
• • ½ cup (110g) granulated sugar
• • 2 ½ tsp (9g) active dry yeast (can substitute with instant yeast)
• • ½ cup (120g) sour cream, room temperature
• • ½ cup (113g) salted butter, very softened
• • 2 eggs, room temperature
• • 1 tsp (4g) vanilla bean paste or extract
• • 4 ½ cups (540g) bread flour
• • 1 tsp (6g) salt
• • APPLE PIE FILLING
• • 3 Honeycrisp apples, peeled and diced into ¼-inch cubes
• • 2 tbsp butter
• • ⅓ cup brown sugar
• • 2 tbsp granulated sugar
• • 2 tsp cinnamon
• • ¼ tsp nutmeg
• • Pinch of salt
• • 2 tsp vanilla
• • 1 tbsp lemon juice
• • 1 tbsp cornstarch
• • 2 tbsp water
• • BROWN SUGAR STREUSEL
• • ½ cup flour
• • ¼ cup brown sugar
• • ½ tsp cinnamon
• • Pinch salt
• • 5 tbsp cold butter
• • MAPLE CREAM CHEESE FROSTING
• • 8 oz cream cheese, softened
• • 4 tbsp butter, softened
• • 2½ cups powdered sugar
• • 2 tbsp maple syrup
• • 1 tsp vanilla bean paste
• • 1–2 tbsp heavy cream
• • Pinch salt

Instructions

1. Step 1. Make the Dough: Activate the yeast for the dough - Pour warm milk into a microwave safe bowl and microwave for ~45 seconds. Add 1 tbsp of the granulated sugar and sprinkle the yeast on top. Stir and let sit for 5-7 minutes, until the mixture is frothy and activated. If using instant yeast, you can go straight into mixing the dough together. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour and salt. Set aside. Once activated, pour the yeast mixture into the bowl of a stand mixer (or a large bowl if mixing/kneading the dough by hand). Add the rest of the sugar (1/2 cup minus the 1 tbsp that was used to activate the yeast), sour cream, butter, eggs, vanilla, and the flour mixture. With the dough hook attachment (or with a wooden spoon if mixing by hand), mix on low speed for 1 minute, until just combined. Allow to rest for 5 minutes so the flour can soak the liquids up. Mix on medium speed for 5-7 minutes, until the dough is elastic, smooth, and is pulling away from the sides of the bowl. If the dough seems a too sticky, add 1 tbsp more flour at a time, until it starts to pull away from the sides of the bowl. You want the dough to be slightly sticky so be careful to not add too much flour. If you are mixing and kneading by hand, pour the dough onto a floured surface and knead for 5-7 minutes by hand. Transfer the dough to a lightly greased bowl. Cover and allow to rise for 30-45 minutes. NOTE: This dough won't double in size in that timeframe, and that’s ok!
2. Step 2. Make the Apple Pie Filling: Melt butter in a saucepan. Add Apples, Brown sugar, Granulated sugar, Cinnamon, Nutmeg, Salt and cook 6–8 minutes. Add Vanilla and lemon juice, sitrring until incorporated. Mix cornstarch with water in a separate bowl. Stir into apples, cook until thick like pie filling. Cool completely. This step is important! Warm filling can melt the butter in the dough and make rolling difficult.
3. Step 3. Make the Streusel Topping: Mix flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt. Cut in butter until crumbly. Set aside in refrigerater.
4. Step 4. Roll the Dough: Once the dough has risen for 30-45 minutes, take out of the bowl and roll into a rectangle about 18 x 12 inches. Top with the cooled apple filling, leaving about a 1-inch border on one long side. Sprinkle with brown sugar and cinnamon
5. Step 5. Roll & Cut: Roll tightly from the long side. Use a sharp serrated knife to cut into 12 equal rolls. Place in a greased 9x13-inch baking dish. Cover and let rise another 30 minutes.
6. Step 6. Bake: Preheat oven to 350°F. Sprinkle the streusel over the tops of the rolls. Bake 24–28 minutes, until olden brown and centers reach about 190°F if checked with an instant-read thermometer If the tops brown too quickly, loosely tent with foil during the last 8–10 minutes.
7. Step 7. Make the Frosting: While the rolls are baking, beat together cream cheese and butter until smooth in a medium bowl or stand mixer. Add powdered sugar, maple syrup, vanilla, salt. Beat until fluffy. Add heavy cream. You can add another tablespoons until it’s spreadable. Set aside
8. Step 8. Finish: Once the rolls are done baking, spread the frosting over the warm rolls. Optional toppings: a spoonful of reserved apple pie filling on each roll; a sprinkle of extra streusel (bake a little separately if you want it extra crisp); a light dusting of cinnamon; a drizzle of salted caramel