Apple Cider Cinnamon Rolls

These apple cider cinnamon rolls are soft, fluffy and delicious! You'll love the quick and easy dough made without a stand mixer. Top this homemade cinnamon roll recipe with an apple cider glaze and you'll have the BEST fall breakfast or dessert!

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With fall officially here, I'm going to try and accept and embrace it. These apple cider cinnamon rolls are a great place to start. Truth be told I've been baking Christmas cookies for the last several weeks!

Many of you know I love a healthy breakfast, but sometimes an indulgent breakfast is fun too. Especially a recipe that can also double as dessert. These homemade cinnamon rolls are soft, tender and fully and filled with the warm flavors of apple cider.

For a couple healthier fall inspired breakfast recipes you can try my snickerdoodle banana bread or apple cider banana bread.

why you will love these apple cider cinnamon rolls

• Super soft dough ~ the bread flour, apple cider and butter all create a super soft roll.
• Fall cinnamon roll flavor ~ the apple cider brings all the warm and cozy fall spices to these homemade rolls.
• A simple apple cider glaze ~ a little vanilla, cinnamon, confectioners' sugar and reduced apple cider come together for an easy icing.

🍎ingredient notes

Please scroll to the printable recipe card at the end of this post for the full list of ingredients and baking directions.

• Apple cider ~ for a little hint of apple flavor in the easy dough.
• Brown sugar ~ brings a little sweetness and helps to activate the yeast. If you would rather use white sugar, that works too. Also used in the cinnamon roll filling. I use dark brown, but light brown also works.
• Active dry yeast
• Bread flour ~ adds moistness and softness to the finished rolls, if you have it I highly recommend using it. {King Arthur Bread Flour is what I use} I've also tested this recipe with all-purpose flour and it works fine. See notes in the recipe card for the correct amount.
• Eggs ~ one large egg + one egg yolk.
• Kosher salt ~ if you only have table salt start with half the amount.
• Unsalted butter ~ butter gets melted for the yeast dough. You also need softened butter for the quick cinnamon roll filling. It works best if the butter for the filling is really soft.
• Ground cinnamon {not shown} ~ for the filling and apple cider glaze.
• Confectioners' sugar {not shown} ~ for the glaze.
• Vanilla {not shown} ~ for the glaze.

how to make cinnamon rolls without a stand mixer

Start by warming the apple cider. {I use my ThemoWorks Thermapen to check the temperature}

Then add the brown sugar, yeast and warm apple cider to a medium size bowl and give it a little stir.

Add the bread flour, egg and egg yolk, melted butter and kosher salt and mix with a spatula or wooden spoon until a soft and shaggy dough forms.

Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured counter and knead for about 10 minutes until the dough is smooth and elastic. The dough is very sticky to start and you may be tempted to add extra flour. Be patient; if you add too much flour the rolls will be dense instead of soft and fluffy. I often use a plastic bench scraper to help lift the dough off the counter if it wants to stick.

You can also use a stand mixer to mix the dough; see my funfetti cinnamon roll recipe for instructions for that method.

Grease the bowl you mixed the dough in {no need to wash it} and place the dough in the bowl, cover and let rise about 1 hour {I place it in the slightly warm toaster oven}, or until double in size. While the dough is rising, prepare the filling.

Once the dough has doubled, remove it from the bowl and roll it into a rectangle on a lightly floured surface. I like the narrow side to be about 14 inches and the long side about 22-24 inches.

Spread very soft room temperature butter over the apple cider cinnamon roll dough and then sprinkle the brown sugar and cinnamon filling evenly over the top.

Now use a pastry wheel {or sharp knife} and cut the dough into 12 long strips. Then I individually roll each strip into each roll; I like how this creates even more swirls in the rolls. Alternately, you can roll and cut them like classic cinnamon rolls.

Prepare a pie pan, 9x13 baking pan or 9 inch round by buttering it generously and put the cut rolls in it. Place the dough back in your warm spot and allow it to rise a second time, about 30 to 45 minutes until the rolls have risen and about doubled in size {if your kitchen is warm, it may not take this much time}. When the apple cider cinnamon rolls are close to the end of the second rise, preheat the oven to 350°F.

Bake for about 20-25 minutes, until the edges are lightly brown. If you want to check by temperature, the sweet rolls internal temperature should be 190°F.

🌝can I start apple cider cinnamon rolls the night before?

Yes! You can prepare the rolls up until the second rise, then loosely cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight. Pull the rolls out of the refrigerator when you start the coffee and preheat the oven, then bake. 

tips and tricks for soft, fluffy rolls

• Use a thermometer to check the temperature of your warm apple cider. If the apple cider is too hot, it can kill the yeast. If it's too cold, it won't activate the yeast.
• Don't add too much flour when kneading the dough! The dough is very sticky to start and you may be tempted to add extra flour. Be patient; if you add too much flour the rolls will be dense instead of soft and fluffy. I typically need less than 2 tablespoons of additional flour.
• Create a warm environment for the cinnamon rolls to rise if your kitchen is cold like mine. I usually create a warm environment in our Breville Smart Oven. A regular oven also works. Preheat the oven to the lowest temperature setting {ideally less than 200°F, you really don't want it warmer than about 90°F in there}. Leave the oven on for 2-3 minutes, then turn off the oven, but leave the door closed. When the dough is ready to rise, place it in the barely warm oven.
• Use very soft room temperature butter for the filling. Your finger should be able to press all the way through the butter without any resistance. This allows you to easily spread the butter over the dough without risking tearing the dough.

how to store cinnamon rolls

Store in an airtight container or tightly wrapped at room temperature for 2-3 days or in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

The rolls can also be frozen. Freeze in an airtight container or wrapped tightly and in a zip top bag for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator and rewarm following the instructions below.

how to rewarm homemade cinnamon rolls

Gently rewarm the apple cider cinnamon rolls by wrapping them with foil and warm them in a 300°F oven for 10-15 minutes. I usually glaze them initially when the rolls are warm. I rewarm with the glaze on and it works just fine!

If you know you will be freezing or storing the cinnamon rolls before serving, I would wait to glaze them.

Remember to snap a picture and tag me on Instagram if you make these Apple Cider Cinnamon Rolls. It warms my heart to see you bring these recipes to life! Thank you for being here and happy baking!

more fall inspired baking recipes

• Apple Cider Sugar Cookies
• Snickerdoodle Banana Bread
• Cinnamon Sugar Cookies
• Bourbon Apple Crisp
• Pumpkin Caramel Spice Bars

If you make this recipe {or any recipe!} from two sugar bugs please come back and leave a review and a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ star rating.  I read every comment, and I LOVE hearing from you!