Prepare to indulge in the perfect fusion of comfort and convenience with our Cinnamon Roll Mini Apple Pies. In this delectable recipe, we transform store-bought cinnamon rolls and canned apple pie filling into delightful bite-sized pies, delivering all the warm, spiced flavors of autumn in every heavenly bite.
As you all know, we LOVE easy recipes around here, in fact, our whole identity is based on it! And what could be easier than a two-ingredient recipe? These adorable individual pies are made using store-bought cinnamon roll dough found in the refrigerator section and canned apple pie filling and they come together in under 30 minutes! I’d call that a WIN!
Ingredients for cinnamon roll mini apple pies
- Store-bought cinnamon rolls – These will create the crust for the pies. Be sure to keep the frosting found at the bottom of the tube to drizzle over the pies.
- Canned apple pie filling – The filling for the pies!
Making the cinnamon roll mini apple pies
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
- Lightly spray 8 holes of a muffin pan with baking spray.
- Remove the cinnamon rolls from the tube and flatten each roll between your palms to create a flat disk. Press the flattened cinnamon roll into the bottom and up the sides of the prepared muffin pan.
- Fill each cinnamon roll cup with apple pie filling (about three tablespoons each).
- Bake for 14-17 minutes or until the cinnamon rolls are golden brown.
- Allow the pies to cool in the pan before transferring to a wire rack to finish cooling.
- Drizzle the pies with the frosting from the cinnamon roll can and enjoy.
Variations and substitutions
Homemade apple pie – Feel free to use homemade apple pie filling. You will need about 2 cups of apple pie filling.
Mix up the filling – Substitute the apple filling for your favorite fruit filling. Blueberry, strawberry, or peach pie filling would all be amazing in this recipe.
Streusel topping – Add another level of texture to the pies by adding a streusel topping before baking. You can use a box of store-bought apple crisp topping mix, or make your own homemade streusel.
Caramel apple pies – Add another layer of delicious flavor to the pies by drizzling them with caramel sauce before serving. Yum!
Tips for success
- Spray the pan – Be sure to spray the muffin pan before pressing in the cinnamon roll dough. If you do not spray the pan, the cinnamon sugar mixture from the cinnamon rolls will likely stick to the pan, making your adorable pies difficult to remove once baked.
- Bite-sized apple – Most canned apple pie fillings use full slices of apples, which are too large for the muffin pan. To combat this, I recommend roughly chopping the apple slices before you start assembling the pies.
- Baking time – Dark-colored pans will bake things faster than lighter ones. If you are using a dark-colored muffin pan (like the one in the photo above), I recommend checking for doneness after 10 minutes of baking.
- Bake at the appropriate temperature – Different brands will have different baking temperature and time requirements. I used Pillsbury cinnamon rolls in this recipe. If you use a different brand, set the oven temperature and baking time based on the package directions.
Storage
Store leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature for up to three days.
These mini pies can be frozen for up to three months. Allow the pies to cool completely before individually wrapping them in plastic wrap and storing them in a freezer bag. Allow the pies to thaw at room temperature before enjoying.
Cinnamon Roll Mini Apple Pies FAQs
Yes, the pies can be made up to one day in advance. You can warm the pies in a 300-degree F oven for 10 minutes to freshen them up. Wait until you plan to serve the pies before drizzling them with icing.
Cinnamon Roll Mini Apple Pies are typically best enjoyed warm or at room temperature. Serving them warm can enhance the flavors and textures, making each bite soft and comforting. Here’s how to serve them:
Warm: Serving the mini pies warm is a popular choice. The heat helps soften the cinnamon roll dough and may even melt any glaze or frosting, resulting in a delicious and indulgent treat. You can warm them in the oven for a few minutes before serving.
Room Temperature: If you don’t have the opportunity to serve them warm, letting the mini pies come to room temperature is a good alternative. At room temperature, the flavors are still delightful, and the texture remains pleasant.
Optional Toppings: You can also add a drizzle of caramel sauce or a scoop of vanilla ice cream when serving warm to make them even more decadent.
Want more easy desserts?
Check out these recipes
- Hot Chocolate Poke Cake
- Cinnamon Roll Mini Apple Pies
- Easy Acorn Cookies
- Pilgrim Hat Cookies
- Polar Bear Face Cookies
- Polar Bear Paw Cookies
Cinnamon Roll Mini Apple Pies
Ingredients
- 1 (12.4 ounce) tube of cinnamon rolls 8 count
- 1 ½ cups apple pie filling
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
- Lightly spray 8 holes of a muffin pan with baking spray.
- Remove the cinnamon rolls from the tube and flatten each roll between your palms to create a flat disk. Press the flattened cinnamon roll into the bottom and up the sides of the prepared muffin pan.
- Fill each cinnamon roll cup with apple pie filling (about three tablespoons each).
- Bake for 14-17 minutes or until the cinnamon rolls are golden brown.
- Allow the pies to cool in the pan before transferring to a wire rack to finish cooling.
- Drizzle the pies with the frosting from the cinnamon roll can and enjoy.
Notes
- Store leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature for up to three days.
- These mini pies can be frozen for up to three months. Allow the pies to cool completely before individually wrapping them in plastic wrap and storing them in a freezer bag. Allow the pies to thaw at room temperature before enjoying.
- If your apple pie filling has whole apple slices, I recommend roughly chopping it into bitesize pieces.
Nutrition
Disclaimer: Nutrition information is estimated based on automated calculations and should be considered as an approximation. These estimates are provided as a courtesy. Please use your own brand’s nutritional values to verify accuracy.
bunfuns
Friday 6th of October 2023
Wow, will definitely need to give this a try, didn't think it would be this easy!!
Sheenia Denae | Lifestyle Blogger
Friday 6th of October 2023
Looks delicious, thanks for sharing the recipe!
Stephani
Friday 29th of September 2023
These are so delicious and unbelievably simple. I can't wait to try. Thank you!
Nicole
Thursday 28th of September 2023
These sound delicious! Cannot wait to try them out. Thanks for the great recipe.
Stephanie
Thursday 28th of September 2023
This is such a clever mini apple pie recipe! So simple to make but nothing simple about the taste.