Apple Cheesecake Stuffed Cinnamon Rolls

Cinnamon rolls are a favorite Saturday morning treat around our house.  We usually buy them from a local bakery, but since I have more time for recipe creation I thought up a version combining them with one of my favorite desserts EVER, apple cheesecake.  I don’t know why I had never thought of doing this before, but holy cow these rolls are pure awesomeness!  From the first bite I was completely hooked, and you will be too because I am going to share my recipe with you!

This recipe makes 4 big rolls or 8 mini rolls and total prep time from start to finish is 35-40 minutes (this includes cooking the apples).

You will need:

• 1 can Pillsbury Crescent Recipe Creations seamless dough
• 1 Box cream cheese, softened
• Apple filling (this is a super easy recipe)
  
• 2 tablespoons vanilla extract
• 2 tablespoons brown sugar
• 1/2 tablespoon cinnamon
• Caramel sauce

The first thing you need to do is make your filling.  In a medium sized bowl combine your cream cheese, brown sugar, vanilla and cinnamon.  Mix it up until it is nice and creamy and then stir in your apple filling.  I like my ratio to be half cream cheese mixture and half apple filling, but adding more or less of each is fine.

Once your filling is ready set it aside and portion out your dough.  I am a lazy baker so I use Pillsbury’s seamless dough roll because it saves time instead of making it from scratch.  Roll it out and cut into 6×8 inch portions (you will get four if you use the Pillsbury dough).  *Make sure you aren’t rolling it too thin, this is a stuffed dessert so you don’t want it to burst open in the oven!*  Add a heaping spoonful of filling mixture to the center.

Slightly spread the filling out long ways and roll up your dough.

Now you can make your shape.  There are tons of different ways to do this and it is really up to whatever works for you.  You could do the traditional cinnamon roll shape, twist it into a pretzel or make a knot like I did.  For the knot all you do is stretch out the ends a little bit, cross one over the other and pull the bottom one up through the hole.  I know my explanation is terrible, but just think of it like when you tie a shoe.  After you make the knot tuck whatever is hanging out into the hole and you will have a nice rounded pastry!  Brush on a small amount of melted butter so the outside doesn’t split, sprinkle cinnamon on top and bake at 350 degrees for 15-20 minutes (time depends on how thick your rolls are).

Take your rolls out of the oven, let them cool for a few minutes then top with brown sugar and a drizzle of caramel.  The caramel ties everything together really well!  You could also add chocolate sauce and powdered sugar for a more decadent treat.

Check out that amazing filling – it is the star of the show and oh-so-yummy!  I’m sure by now your drool factor has reached a maximum, so go ahead and dig in!!

Want to pin this?  Use the “Pin It” button below.

PLEASE do not republish/copy and paste/post this recipe without express permission.