Imagine perfectly pillowy soft dough filled with cinnamon-sugar apples and topped with a crispy sugar glaze. It combines everything you love about a classic doughnut with the softness and gooeyness of a cinnamon roll!
These Apple Fritter Cinnamon Rolls are completely vegan and super easy to make! This recipe brings together the delicious flavors of sweet apple and warm cinnamon, featuring warm, gooey centers, golden brown edges, and a generous coating of sweet, crunchy icing on top.
These rolls are HUGE. The dough is rolled and cut into just 5 pieces, making cinnamon rolls so big you need two hands to hold them and they fill an entire plate. DELICIOUS!
These rolls feature perfectly pillowy soft dough filled with soft cinnamon sugar apples, topped with a crispy sugar glaze. They combine the flavors of sweet apple and warm cinnamon, with gooey centers, golden brown edges, and a generous coating of sweet, crunchy icing on top. Plus, they are completely vegan and super easy to make.
Vegan Apple Fritter Cinnamon Rolls
These Apple Fritter Cinnamon Rolls are huge, pillowy soft, and filled with cinnamon sugar apples. Topped with a crispy sugar glaze, they combine the delicious flavors of a classic doughnut with the gooey, soft texture of a cinnamon roll.
Apple Fritter Cinnamon Rolls
Ingredients
Dough:
- 1 cup warm plant-based milk almond, soy, or oat
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- 2¼ tsp active dry yeast 1 packet
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- ½ tsp salt
- ¼ cup dairy-free butter melted
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Apple Filling:
- 3 medium apples peeled and diced
- ½ cup light brown sugar
- 2 tsp ground cinnamon
- 2 tbsp dairy-free butter
Cinnamon Roll Filling:
- ½ cup light brown sugar
- 2 tbsp ground cinnamon
- 2 tbsp dairy-free butter softened
Glaze:
- 1½ cups powdered sugar
- 2-3 tbsp plant-based milk
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Instructions
Prepare the Dough:
- In a small bowl, mix the warm plant-based milk with granulated sugar and yeast. Let it sit for 5-10 minutes until frothy.
- In a large bowl, combine the flour and salt.
- Add the yeast mixture, melted dairy-free butter, and vanilla extract to the dry ingredients. Mix until a soft dough forms.
- Turn the dough out onto a floured surface and knead for about 5-7 minutes until smooth and elastic.
- Place the dough in a greased bowl, cover with a damp cloth, and let it rise in a warm place for about 1-2 hours, or until doubled in size.
Prepare the Apple Filling:
- In a large skillet, melt the dairy-free butter over medium heat.
- Add the diced apples, light brown sugar, and ground cinnamon. Cook until the apples are soft and caramelized, about 5-7 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool.
Assemble the Cinnamon Rolls:
- Punch down the risen dough and roll it out on a floured surface into a large rectangle, about ¼-inch thick.
- Spread the softened dairy-free butter over the dough.
- In a small bowl, mix the light brown sugar and ground cinnamon for the filling. Sprinkle this mixture evenly over the buttered dough.
- Spread the cooled apple filling over the cinnamon sugar mixture.
- Roll up the dough tightly from the long edge to form a log.
- Cut the log into 5 equal pieces and place them in a greased 9×13-inch baking dish, cut side up.
- Cover the dish with a damp cloth and let the rolls rise again for about 30-45 minutes, or until puffy.
Bake the Cinnamon Rolls:
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Bake the rolls for 25-30 minutes, or until golden brown and cooked through.
- Allow the rolls to cool slightly in the pan while you prepare the glaze.
Prepare the Glaze:
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the powdered sugar, plant-based milk, and vanilla extract until smooth.
- Adjust the consistency by adding more powdered sugar (for a thicker glaze) or more milk (for a thinner glaze).
Serve:
- Drizzle the glaze over the warm rolls.
- Serve immediately and enjoy the gooey, soft, and delicious Apple Fritter Cinnamon Rolls!
Notes
- Plant-Based Milk: Ensure the milk is warm but not hot to activate the yeast properly.
- Apples: Use your favorite variety of apples for the filling; Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, or Fuji work well.
- Serving: These rolls are best enjoyed warm and fresh out of the oven.