Apple Cinnamon Rolls

There is nothing better! Start your morning off with a cup of coffee and an Old Fashioned Cinnamon Roll.  I have been seeing a lot of Apple Cinnamon Rolls on Pinterest, and thought I would give them a try with my Heavenly Cinnamon Roll recipe.  I made some with chopped pecans and some without.  They were a heavenly treat for sure!

You can use store bought frozen dough that would be quick and easy to make these in a pinch. I make my rolls from my Heavenly Cinnamon Roll recipe, and next time, I think I will make half of them into rolls and half of them into Apple Cinnamon Rolls for dessert. Who wouldn't think these are a fabulous dessert, when they are filled with brown sugar, cinnamon, and grated apples, and then topped with a rich brown sugar icing.  Dessert don't you think?

Apple Cinnamon Rolls

2 cups whole milk

1 tablespoon, heaping quick rise yeast

5-6 1/2 cups flour

1 teaspoon salt

3 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 cup sugar

1 cup solid vegetable shortening

1/2 cup butter, melted

1-1/2 cups sugar

2-4 tablespoons cinnamon

3 medium apples or 4 small apples, peeled, cord and , grated

1 cup pecans, finely chopped

Cinnamon Rolls:

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Pour milk in a 2 cup measuring cup and heat in the microwave on high heat for 1 minute or until warm but not hot, add yeast and stir until mixed well; set aside stirring occasionally.

In a mixing bowl with an electric mixer using the paddle attachment, mix flour, salt, baking powder, and sugar until well blended; remove paddle attachment and attach dough hook. Cut in shortening until mixture resembles coarse meal.

Stir yeast and milk mixture well and add to the flour mixture, beating with dough beater until dough forms a ball and all the dough is loosened from the sides of the bowl.

Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface, roll into an 1/4" high, and approximately a 15-inch by 24-inch rectangle. Brush with 1/2 cup melted butter all the way to the edges.

Mix cinnamon and sugar together and sprinkle mixture on top of the butter dough. Sprinkle grated apples over cinnamon sugar mixture evenly to the edge.   Sprinkle pecans evenly over the grated apples.  Starting at long side, tightly roll up, pinching seam to seal.

Cut into 24 slices; place with cut side down in a greased 15-in. x 10-in. sheet pan. Cover and let rise, about 30 minutes.

 Bake for 20-25 minutes or until lightly golden brown. Cool 10-15 minutes in pan on a wire rack. Combine the icing ingredients and lavishly drizzle over warm rolls.

Brown Sugar Frosting:
1/2 cup butter, melted
3/4 cup brown sugar
3/4 cup powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
3-5 tablespoons half and half

 In a medium bowl, mix together butter, brown sugar, powdered sugar, pumpkin pie spice, vanilla, and half and half until smooth and creamy. Lavishly drizzled over cinnamon rolls.

Note:  If you grate the apples before you make the dough, be sure and pat them dry with a paper towel.  You can also put them in a strainer.  This eliminates extra moisture when baking. 

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