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Pillsbury Apple Cinnamon Roll Bake is an easy brunch recipe that’s like a monkey bread and a bubble-up bake all in one! It’s got cinnamon buns and apples in a buttery sauce – and it’s semi-homemade so it’s SO easy (and absolutely delicious!)
Have you ever made a recipe knowing that you immediately needed to get rid of it? I’m famous for those recipes and most of them get sent off or frozen ASAP. But not this one. This one I ate straight from the pan. With a fork. Over two days. BY MYSELF.
This is a keeper recipe. If you make one sweet brunch or breakfast recipe this year, let it be this one. It’s easy, has just a handful of ingredients, and tastes like an apple fritter. It’s ready in no time at all. It’s like a combination of monkey bread and an apple fritter and a cinnamon roll and a bubble-up bake all in one.
How to make Apple Cinnamon Rolls
- Pillsbury Grands! cinnamon rolls (or the generic equivalent) are the base of the casserole. You could also use a can of regular Pillsbury cinnamon rolls.
- I love using Granny Smith apples for baking – they’re sturdy enough to hold up to cooking. But you could also use another firm apple like Gala or Fuji.
- It’s important to cook your apples a bit before assembling the breakfast casserole – otherwise they’ll be too crunchy. I do this in a microwave-safe bowl with a bit of water. It just takes a few minutes.
- This recipe is like making monkey bread, where you cut the rolls and toss them with cinnamon sugar, and then pour a butter brown sugar sauce over the top.
Click to see the recipe card below for full ingredients & instructions and below the recipe card for process shots.
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Variations
- Add chopped pecans or walnuts – sprinkle over the top with the apples.
- Skip cooking the apples and use apple pie filling.
- We also love making blueberry cinnamon roll bake!
Storage & Make Ahead
- Make the casserole ahead of time by chopping the cinnamon rolls, cooking the apples, and assembling in pan. Wait to add the melted butter mixture until just before baking.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator. You can also freeze leftovers or freeze the casserole fully baked.
Dorothy’s Expert Tips
- You can also use regular canned cinnamon rolls (5 to a can) but you’ll want to use about 1.5 cans.
- Don’t want to use the microwave? Sauté apples in a skillet with 1 tablespoon butter until they are just a bit softened, about 3-5 minutes.
- Microwave the icing that came with the cinnamon rolls and drizzle it all over the top.
Apple Cinnamon Rolls Bake Recipe
Recipe Video
Ingredients
- 2 medium apples peeled, cored, and diced small (about 1 ½ cups apples)
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 tablespoon (5ml) water
- 1 can Pillsbury Grands! Cinnamon Rolls 5 rolls
- 5 tablespoons unsalted butter melted
- ⅓ cup (67g) packed brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon (5 ml) heavy whipping cream or milk optional
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Spray a 9″ pie plate or pan with nonstick cooking spray.
- Place small diced apples, brown sugar, ground cinnamon, and 1 tablespoon of water in a small bowl. Stir. Cover loosely with plastic wrap and cook on high power for 2-3 minutes, or until apples are just slightly translucent. Drain well.
- While the apples are cooking, cut each cinnamon roll into 6 pieces. They’ll fall apart a little, that’s okay. Sprinkle the pieces evenly in the prepared pan. Once the apples are done, drain them well and sprinkle them over the cinnamon roll pieces.
- Stir the melted butter and brown sugar together, then pour over the top of the apples and cinnamon rolls. Bake for 28-33 minutes or until cooked through in the center.
- Just before serving, place the icing that came with the cinnamon rolls in a small bowl. Heat for about 10 seconds so it’s pourable. Stir in heavy whipping cream (or milk) to make it more of a glaze, then pour over the top of the casserole. Serve warm or room temperature.
- Store tightly covered in refrigerator for up to 2 days.
Recipe Notes
- If you use a regular can of cinnamon rolls (5 rolls; not Grands) you will want to use about 1.5 cans.
- Add chopped nuts with the apples if desired.
Recipe Nutrition
How to make Cinnamon Buns with Apple
- Cook Apples: Dice them small and cook in the microwave with brown sugar and cinnamon.
- I cut each roll into 6 pieces (and they promptly fell apart, so that’s okay).
- Place them in a baking dish and top them with easy cinnamon apples.
- I drizzled a monkey bread glaze (brown sugar + butter) all over the top and baked them.
- THEN I thinned out the icing that came with the cinnamon rolls and drizzled it allllll over the top.
This was easy to prepare and smelled delicious. I gave it a 4 because it is too sweet. Next time, I think I’ll omit the brown sugar in the topping and definitely not use the icing.
Keep the yummy recipes coming! Thanks
Glad you like the recipe, Mary! Thank you!
I made this and it is delicious. I only added 3T butter and didn’t use the whipping cream or milk. I’m going to try it with pluots next.
Glad you like the recipe! Thanks, Abra.
Can this be Frozen?
Leftovers yes – I guess you could assemble and freeze the whole thing too before baking, but I have not tried that.
Very good and I’ll definitely make it again. Truth be told, I was a little lazy and just spread the icing on the top as is and didn’t mix the milk with it, but was still good.
I don’t think I’ll cook the apples as much next time so they have a little crunch.
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