Apple Cinnamon Rolls



Apple Cinnamon Rolls

 These cinnamon rolls are flaky, fluffy, moist and so delicious!!!!  The apple is worked into the dough, and adds a depth of flavour that you wouldn't normally find in a pastry, and just a subtle hint of apple flavour. These are quick and easy to make, but taste like you've slaved in the kitchen.
My daughter absolutely loves cinnamon rolls and asks for them almost every morning (no, she doesn't get them).  She is also my toughest critic, her compliments always mean so much to me because she is so honest.  She was half way through her second cinnamon roll this morning when she said "Ohhh I'm full, but I don't ever want to stop eating this!"  She made me swear I would leave her cinnamon roll for her and not let anyone else eat it, so that she could finish it later.  She has also requested that this be the recipe I use from now on, as did my husband.  Success!!!!

Apple Cinnamon Rolls

Pastry

2 cups flour

3 tbsp sugar

4 tsp baking powder

1 tsp salt

1/4 cup cold butter, cubed

1 large granny smith apple, peeled and coarsely grated
1/2 cup milk
1/2 tsp vanilla

Combine flour, sugar, baking powder and salt. Mix well.  Cut in butter until mixture resembles small crumbs.  Add grated apple, vanilla and milk. Mix with a fork just until dough starts to form.  The key to nice pastry is not to over mix, or over knead the dough.
Turn dough out onto floured surface. Knead about 10 times, until dough holds together nicely.
Add more flour to the surface. Roll out into a rectangle about 15"x11". Prepare filling.

Filling

1/3 cup butter, softened

1 cup brown sugar, packed

1 tbsp cinnamon

Mix all ingredients until well combined

Spread filling evenly on rolled out dough.

Roll up dough from long side. Cut into 12 equal pieces.  Place in lightly grease muffin tins. Bake @400° for 15-17 min.  Turn out onto cookie sheet immediately. Allow to cool slightly and serve. 

This recipe is quick enough to make in the morning before guests arrive for coffee. Dust a little flour on your nose and they'll think you've been baking for hours :)