These apple butter cinnamon rolls are so easy to make with store-bought dough and a gooey cinnamon-sugar apple butter filling. Top it all off with a simple cream cheese glaze. A great fall or holiday breakfast.

*This post is brought to you by Rhodes Bake-N-Serv. Thanks for supporting the brands that make Dessert Now Dinner Later possible.

Baked Apple Butter Cinnamon Rolls in pan with cream cheese glaze.

Apple Butter Cinnamon Rolls

These cinnamon rolls have fantastic gooey swirls in every layer. THE SECRET: Apple Butter!

WHAT IS APPLE BUTTER? Apple butter isn’t made with butter, but is a spread that is smooth like butter. It’s thicker than applesauce with a rich caramelized flavor and warm fragrant spices.

Use apple butter as a spread, topping, snack or in recipes. I’ve used it in these snickerdoodle-like apple butter cookies, this apple sheet cake, and now these apple butter cinnamon rolls.

Where do I get Apple Butter?

Homemade Apple Butter is easy to make on the stove top or in the slow cooker. Or you can buy Apple Butter in the store by the jams, jellies, and other spreads.

It adds extra spice and a hint of apple flavor. You won’t get over how delicious these apple butter cinnamon rolls are!

Apple Butter Cinnamon Roll on plate with a fork.

Fall Inspired Sweet Rolls

This recipe idea came from my Pumpkin Pie Cinnamon Rolls. I can’t get enough apple and pumpkin treats in the fall. The best part about these sweet rolls is that they are super simple to make.

These easy apple butter cinnamon rolls are made with Rhodes yeast bread. They’re soft and fluffy and taste like they’re made completely from scratch.

With the help of Rhodes bread, you don’t have to worry about making the yeast dough. Just thaw, roll, fill, and bake!

Scooping an apple butter cinnamon roll out of the pan with a spatula.

Ingredients

You can use 12 Rhodes Yeast Dinner Rolls OR 1 loaf of Rhodes White Bread to make these apple filled cinnamon rolls.

All you need for the filling is butter, apple butter (like apple sauce, but thicker), brown sugar, and cinnamon.

Ingredients for Apple Butter Cinnamon Rolls: Rhodes Yeast Dinner Rolls, Butter, Apple Butter, Brown Sugar, and Cinnamon.
Top view of an apple butter cinnamon roll on a plate.

How to Assemble

  • Roll the dough into a large rectangle, about 10-inches wide by 15-inches long, with a rolling pin.
  • Spread a thin layer of the softened butter over all but 2-inches of one of the long edges. Next spread the apple butter on top of the softened butter.
Collage image for how to make apple butter cinnamon rolls: Thaw Rhodes Rolls. Use a rolling pin to roll dough into a large rectangle. Spread a thin layer of softened butter over all but 2-inches. Repeat with apple butter on top of the butter layer.
  • Then sprinkle the brown sugar and cinnamon on top of the apple butter. 
  • Roll the dough into a log from the long end with the filling towards the long end that was left bare. Once you reach the bare edge, lift it up and fold it over the top of the log. Pinch the seams together.
Collage image for how to make apple butter cinnamon rolls: Sprinkle brown sugar and cinnamon over the apple butter. Roll the dough into a log from the long end with the filling towards the long end that was left bare. Pinch seams together.

How to Cut Cinnamon Rolls

  • Cut the rolls into 12 even pieces by placing a piece of (plain, unflavored) dental floss under the rolled dough. Lift the ends of the floss, criss-cross them over the top of the dough, and pull in opposite directions to cut through the dough and filling.
    • NOTE: Using floss keeps the shape of the rolls round, and helps prevent too much filling from oozing out.
  • Place the apple butter cinnamon rolls in a lightly greased 13×9-inch baking dish. Cover with greased plastic wrap and let rise in a warm place for 30 minutes or until plump. (The dough should spring back when touched.)
  • Then bake at 350˚F for 25 minutes or until golden brown on top and cooked through. The dough should reach an internal temperature of 190-200˚F.
Collage image for how to make apple butter cinnamon rolls: Cut the rolls into 12 even pieces. Place in a lightly greased pan to rise until double in size.

Make the Cream Cheese Glaze

I love a simple cream cheese glaze for most of my sweet rolls including these apple butter cinnamon rolls.

You will need cream cheese, butter, powdered sugar, vanilla and milk for the glaze.

  • Use an electric hand mixer to beat the cream cheese and butter together until smooth. Add the powdered sugar and vanilla. Mix to combine. Add milk 1 Tablespoon at a time to the desired consistency.
Ingredients for Cream Cheese Glaze: Cream Cheese, Butter, Powdered Sugar, Vanilla, and Milk.
Baked Apple Butter Cinnamon Rolls in Pan with cream cheese glaze in a bowl on the side.

Frosting and Serving

These apple butter cinnamon rolls are best eaten warm. You can place the cream cheese glaze in a bag and pipe it over the top, or spread it on top with a spatula, which is what I did.

The glaze will melt into the cracks of the warm cinnamon rolls. So good! Serve these immediately, while still warm.

Pan full of apple butter cinnamon rolls with cream cheese glaze.

How to Store Apple Butter Cinnamon Rolls

If you have any leftover apple butter cinnamon rolls, you can cover the pan with foil or move the rolls to an airtight container and store them at room temperature (68-72˚F) or in the refrigerator up to 3 days.

Nuke leftovers individually in the microwave for 10-20 seconds.

Side view of an apple butter cinnamon roll on a plate.

More Recipes Using Rhodes Rolls

If You Make This Recipe, Please Rate and Review it in the Comments Below. THANKS!

Side view of an apple butter cinnamon roll on a plate.

Apple Butter Cinnamon Rolls

Prep Time: 30 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Additional Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
Total Time: 2 hours 25 minutes
Yield: 12 servings

These apple butter cinnamon rolls are so easy to make with store-bought dough and a gooey cinnamon-sugar apple butter filling. Top it all off with a simple cream cheese glaze. A great fall or holiday breakfast.

Ingredients

  • 12 Rhodes Yeast Dinner Rolls (or 1 loaf Rhodes White Bread), thawed but still cold
  • 2 Tablespoons butter, SOFT
  • 3/4 cup apple butter (homemade or store-bought -- in aisle with jam/jelly)
  • 1/2 cup light brown sugar, packed
  • 2 Tablespoons ground cinnamon

Cream Cheese Glaze:

  • 2 ounces cream cheese
  • 2 Tablespoons butter, room temperature
  • 1/2 cup powdered sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2 Tablespoons milk

Instructions

    1. *Place frozen rolls on a silicone lined or greased baking sheet. Cover with sprayed plastic wrap. Leave at room temperature until thawed but still cold, about 1-2 hours. (Optionally place in refrigerator to thaw overnight.)
    2. Roll the dough into a large rectangle, about 10-inches wide by 15-inches long, with a rolling pin.
    3. Spread a thin layer of the softened butter over all but 2-inches of one of the long edges. Next spread the apple butter on top of the softened butter. Then sprinkle the brown sugar and cinnamon on top of the apple butter. 
    4. Roll the dough into a log from the long end with the filling towards the long end that was left bare. Once you reach the bare edge, lift it up and fold it over the top of the log. Pinch the seams together.
    5. Cut the rolls into 12 even pieces by placing a piece of (plain, unflavored) dental floss under the rolled dough. Lift the ends of the floss, criss-cross them over the top of the dough, and pull in opposite directions to cut through the dough and filling.
    6. Place the apple butter cinnamon rolls an inch or two apart in a lightly greased or parchment lined 13×9-inch baking dish. Cover with greased plastic wrap and let rise in a warm place for 30 minutes or until plump. (The dough should spring back when touched.) Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
    7. Bake at 350˚F for 25 minutes or until golden brown on top and cooked through. The dough should reach an internal temperature of 190-200˚F.
    8. FOR THE GLAZE: Use an electric hand mixer to beat the cream cheese and butter together until smooth. Add the powdered sugar and vanilla. Mix to combine. Add milk 1 Tablespoon at a time to the desired consistency. You can place the glaze in a bag and pipe it over the top, or spread it on top with a spatula. Enjoy warm.

Notes

  • Link for Homemade Apple Butter
  • If you have any leftover apple butter cinnamon rolls, you can cover the pan with foil or move the rolls to an airtight container and store them at room temperature (68-72˚F) or in the refrigerator up to 3 days.
  • Nuke leftovers individually in the microwave for 10-20 seconds.

Recommended Products

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Nutrition Information:
Yield: 12 Serving Size: 1 roll
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 231Total Fat: 6.8gSaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 15mgSodium: 66mgCarbohydrates: 40.5gFiber: 2gSugar: 18gProtein: 2.5g

This data was provided and calculated by Nutritionix, and is an estimation only.