Apple Cinnamon Roll Bake

This Apple Cinnamon Roll Bake is a cozy fall breakfast or dessert you can make in a flash! Everyone will love this casserole studded with cinnamon apples and drizzled with cream cheese frosting!

Quick and Easy Apple Cinnamon Roll Bake

Cast iron skillet filled with apple cinnamon roll bake and covered with cream cheese frosting.

I love homemade Overnight Cinnamon Rolls dearly, but I also like to keep a can of store bought cinnamon rolls on hand for those mornings when I just don’t have the time or energy to wait for dough to rise.

Sometimes I wake up on a Saturday morning, and it just feels like a cinnamon roll kind of morning. The sun is shining, but the air feels cool and crisp. The kids are playing nicely, and weโ€™re all still in our jammies. These are the mornings I happily reach for the canned cinnamon rolls.

Now trust, no one in our house is complaining about a plain cinnamon roll, but I canโ€™t help dressing them up a bit. Cinnamon rolls are great, but cinnamon rolls dotted with caramely apples and topped with frosting? Those are AMAZING.

An up close shot of a gooey bite of apple cinnamon roll casserole.

Thereโ€™s so much to love about this Apple Cinnamon Roll Bake, but here are the big 3:

  • Itโ€™s quick. You can have this recipe in the oven in 15 minutes flat!
  • Itโ€™s versatile. This recipe gives you OPTIONS. You can make it all from scratch or use all the store bought shortcuts. It’s up to you!
  • Itโ€™s so dang delicious. Homemade, semi-homemade, or store bought, this is what youโ€™ll want to wake up to all fall long.

Key Ingredients

Tube of canned cinnamon rolls in a cast iron skillet, with bowls of apple pie filling, melted butter, cinnamon, and sugar surrounding it.
  • Canned cinnamon rolls– I use a standard 12 oz. can. You can also use my homemade cinnamon roll recipe if you prefer. Make them the night before and allow them to complete their final rise before proceeding with this recipe.
  • Baked cinnamon apples OR Apple pie filling– More on this below!
  • Brown sugar and cinnamon– a little extra sprinkle for the top!
  • Butter– Hey, I never said this recipe was going to be healthy.
  • Frosting-either the frosting from the can, or a homemade one. You choose!

Homemade Pie Filling vs. Store bought

You’ve got options. When I make Baked Cinnamon Apples, I love to use the leftovers for this cinnamon roll bake. The fried apple pie filling in this Caramelized Apple Pie recipe is also a great homemade option.

However, if you don’t feel like making the apples from scratch, the recipe will also be delicious with canned pre-made apple pie filling! Itโ€™s a big time saver, so choose whichever option you have the time and energy for today.

You can also experiment with different flavors. Strawberry, peach, or blueberry pie filling would be lovely!

How to Make an Apple Cinnamon Roll Bake

Cut the cinnamon rolls into bite sized pieces, then place them in a buttered cast iron skillet.

Add the apple filling, then pour melted butter, cinnamon, and brown sugar on top. Give everything a good stir to combine.

Bake the casserole at 400 degrees for 14-17 minutes, or until the cinnamon rolls are puffed and golden brown.

Top with the icing of your choice.

The Best Frosting for Cinnamon Rolls

I am all about store bought shortcuts when I need them, but frosting is one thing I feel is VASTLY better homemade.

The icing that comes with most canned cinnamon rolls is…how do I put this nicely?…garbage.

Now, if you love it, you go for it! Slather that apple cinnamon roll bake with every last bit of white goo in the package.

However, if you, like me, prefer something a little more cream-cheesy on your cinnamon rolls, youโ€™re going to want to whip up a super quick cream cheese frosting for the top. The frosting I use for Carrot Sheet Cake is the BEST around, and Iโ€™ve adapted the recipe to make a pourable glaze that’s perfect for this casserole!

Spoon scooping cinnamon roll casserole out of a cast iron skillet.

Make Ahead Instructions

Want to do all the prep work before bed? Toss all of the ingredients together in the pan, cover, and refrigerate overnight. In the morning, uncover and bake as directed, adding 1-2 minutes to the total time.

More Apple Breakfast Recipes to Try

Warm cinnamon-spiked apple recipes may be the very best way to start the day. Here are a few more of our favorites:

White milk glass bowl with a scoop of cinnamon roll apple bake in it.
An up close shot of a gooey bite of apple cinnamon roll casserole.

Apple Cinnamon Roll Bake

Yield: 4-6
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes

Golden brown cinnamon rolls are mixed with apple pie filling and baked until golden in this easy Apple Cinnamon Roll Casserole.

Ingredients

For the casserole:

  • 1 (12 oz.) can refrigerated cinnamon rolls
  • 3 Tablespoons butter, melted
  • 2 cups apple pie filling OR leftover cinnamon baked apples
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 3 Tablespoons brown sugar

For the frosting:

  • 4 ounces cream cheese, softened
  • 2 Tablespoons butter, at room temperature
  • 3/4 cup powdered sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1-3 Tablespoons of milk or cream

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees and grease an 8-9 inch cast iron skillet, pie plate, or square pan with butter.
  2. Cut the cinnamon rolls into bite sized pieces, and add them to the pan. Stir in the apples, then drizzle with butter, cinnamon, and 2 Tablespoons of the brown sugar. Stir to combine and spread evenly over the pan.
  3. Sprinkle the final Tablespoon of brown sugar on top.
  4. Place in the oven and bake for 14-17 minutes or until cinnamon rolls are puffed and golden.
  5. Meanwhile, make the frosting: Use a hand mixer to beat together the cream cheese and butter until well combined. Add the powdered sugar and beat on low speed until combined, then on high until the mixture is light and fluffy. Stir in the vanilla. Slowly incorporate the milk, a Tablespoon at a time, until the mixture reaches the desired consistency. I prefer it be thick, but pourable. Pour over the warm casserole and serve!

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Nutrition Information:
Yield: 6 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 359Total Fat: 20gSaturated Fat: 12gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 5gCholesterol: 51mgSodium: 288mgCarbohydrates: 45gFiber: 1gSugar: 37gProtein: 2g

Please note nutritional information for my recipes is calculated by a third party service and provided as a courtesy to my readers. For the most accurate calculation, I always recommend running the numbers yourself with the specific products you use.

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