Slow Cooker Apple Cinnamon Rolls
Warm spices, crisp apples, and a sweet icing combine to transform store-bought cinnamon roll dough into a truly decadent breakfast perfect for winter and fall. Serve these Slow Cooker Apple Cinnamon Rolls warm for holiday brunches, cozy morning breakfasts, and everything in between.
Why You’ll Love These Apple Cinnamon Rolls
Cinnamon roll recipes are served on repeat in our homes and hold a special place in our hearts, reminding us of snow days spent at home and holidays gathered around the breakfast table with the family. Growing up, our mom always made classic cinnamon rolls from a can. Although we now prefer to make out own recipes like baklava cinnamon rolls and biscoff cinnamon rolls, we still love (and utilize) the simplicity of pre-made dough. We just spruce it up a bit as we did with these apple cinnamon rolls! They’re:
- Elevated with sweet, crisp apples.
- Prepared in the slow cooker for a crowd-pleasing breakfast.
- Fragrant enough to make your entire home smell amazing.
- Perfect for holiday breakfasts, brunch parties, and weekend treats!
Simple Ingredients You’ll Need
With just a few additions to the standard recipe, the ingredients needed for these slow cooker apple cinnamon rolls are few and simple. Here’s what you’ll need:
- Storebought Cinnamon Roll Dough – We love Grands cinnamon rolls, but any brand you have on hand will work.
- Apples – We recommend using baking apples that are just a little tart and perfectly crisp. Sweeter apples such as Gala or Fuji which are meant for snacking are likely to turn to mush as they cook. Our favorites are Honeycrisp and Granny Smith!
- Heavy Cream – This is used to form the base of the custard topping that truly transforms the cinnamon rolls into a decadent recipe.
- Eggs – These are necessary to thicken the custard mixture, helping it solidify as it cooks, clinging to the baked cinnamon rolls so that every bite is loaded with a creamy flavor.
- Cinnamon – Our favorite warm spice, cinnamon just screams fall and makes every bite taste like a freshly baked apple crisp.
- Vanilla – An essential baking ingredient, vanilla is added to the custard to enhance the rest of the ingredients.
- Condensed Milk – This is poured on top just before cooking for the most ooey gooey succulent cinnamon rolls you’ll ever make.
How to Make the Best Slow Cooker Cinnamon Rolls
Unlike traditional cinnamon roll recipes that require hours in the kitchen and complicated instructions in order to roll out the dough, this version comes together in minutes. It’s cooked in the slow cooker so you can set it and forget it!
- Cut the cinnamon rolls into quarters.
- Butter or grease the slow cooker, and arrange half of the cinnamon roll pieces in the bottom.
- Sprinkle the apple pieces on top followed by the remaining cinnamon rolls.
- Prepare the custard, whisking the ingredients together. Then, pour it over the cinnamon rolls followed by the condensed milk.
- Cover, and cook until fluffy and slightly golden-brown on top.
- Drizzle with icing on top, and serve warm.
Baking Tips
Just when you think these slow cooker apple cinnamon rolls couldn’t get any better, we’ve got a few tips to guarantee they’re failproof and perfect for you!
Cut the Recipe in Half. If you have a smaller slow cooker, you can easily cut the recipe in half in order not to overcrowd it. You want to make sure the pieces are arranged in single layers and not crowded on top of each other. Otherwise, they won’t cook. Just be sure to check on your apple cinnamon rolls for doneness after 3 hours, as the cooking time will likely vary!
Prevent Burning the Bottom of the Rolls. Due to the fact that all slow cookers are different, baking times and temperatures will vary. So, in order to prevent the bottom of your rolls from burning, we recommend placing a piece of aluminum foil or
Create Dairy-Free Apple Cinnamon Rolls. To make this recipe dairy free, just substitute the heavy cream for full-fat coconut milk, and swap out the sweetened condensed milk for coconut-sweetened condensed milk. They’ll have all the flavor with none of the dairy!
Flavor Variations
If you want to create an absolutely showstopping recipe that looks and tastes like you spend all day in the kitchen, try some of our favorite variations!
Ice Cream. Serve these apple cinnamon rolls warm alongside a cold, creamy scoop of vanilla ice cream to turn this scrumptious breakfast into an irresistible dessert!
Carmel Sauce. Nothing says fall like the classic combination of apples and caramel sauce. Drizzle it on top for an out-of-this-world combination.
Chopped Nuts. These will add a bit of crunch and flavor to the rolls, making them even more unforgettable! Pecans or walnuts make some of the best additions, but feel free to experiment with what you like best.
Should I Peel My Apples Before Baking?
Technically, you don’t have to. However, the skin can be a bit difficult to chew. Therefore, removing it allows for soft, decadent bites!
How Do I Know When My Cinnamon Rolls Are Done?
You’ll know your slow cooker cinnamon rolls are done when they’re fluffy and have a slightly dark golden brown appearance on their tops. Be sure to keep an eye on them to ensure they don’t burn!
Can I Make These Apple Cinnamon Rolls Ahead of Time?
Yes, you can absolutely make this recipe ahead of time! Store leftovers for up to 3 days at room temperature or up to 5 days in the refrigerator. Baked rolls can also be frozen for up to 2-3 months. Then, let them thaw in the fridge overnight, and warm them in the slow cooker, microwave, or oven when you’re ready to eat.
More Cinnamon Roll Recipes
Need more easy cinnamon roll recipes in your life? We’ve got you covered with these great recipes!
- Combining two of breakfast’s best dishes, this Cinnamon Roll French Toast will surely delight everyone in the household!
- If you love coffee and you love cinnamon rolls, this Caramel Macchiato Cinnamon Roll recipe is for you!
- S’mores Cinnamon Roll Monkey Bread takes the best parts of several desserts and mixes them together to make an unforgettable dish.
- Using simple ingredients, these Dulce de Leche Cinnamon Rolls are elevated with a sweet topping for unbelievable flavor.
Slow Cooker Apple Cinnamon Rolls
Ingredients
- 3 cans grand cinnamon rolls
- 2 cups peeled apples (chopped small (honey crisp or granny smith))
- 4 eggs
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1 can sweetened condensed milk
- 2 teaspoons cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- reserved icing
Instructions
- Slice the cinnamon rolls into quarters, reserving the pre-made icing.
- Butter the bottom and sides of the slow cooker or use non-stick cooking spray (*See note below). Arrange half the cinnamon rolls at the bottom.
- Add the apples, and top with remaining cinnamon roll pieces.
- In a large measuring cup, whisk the eggs, heavy cream, cinnamon, and vanilla extract. Pour the custard over the cinnamon rolls.
- Add condensed milk. Cover, and cook on high for 3-4 hours.
- Once cooked, drizzle with the icing. Serve warm with a scoop of ice cream, if desired!
Not waking up at 3 am to put this recipe on for Xmas morning at 730 lol. Any other advice?
If cooking in oven, what type of dish do you recommend cooking it in? Will a 9×13 over flow ?
Understandable! Yes, you can, however, this is a 7-qt slow cooker, so a 13×9 will be a little too small. You have 2 options. Either you reduce the recipe and use 2 cans of cinnamon rolls, or the batch will make one 13×9 and an 9×9. Bake at 350 degrees F for 30-40 minutes!
I love it!!
How many servings..and calorie count per serving please..thx
This serves 8-12! We are working on adding the nutrition facts, stay tuned!
I would like to try making this in the oven. Dutch oven or roasting pan? Thoughts on oven temp and cook time?? (My crockpot is in storage right now but really want to try this for Christmas dinner )
We recommend a baking dish! This batch makes a 13×9 and a 9×9. Bake at 350 degrees F for 35-40 minutes!
Can I make this in my Instant Pot?
The insides of mine didn’t cook and the edges burnt. Help! What did I do wrong?
Can I use 25% cream? I can’t find heavy cream.
Yes, that works!
I made this recipe today. It is fun and easy. I did add 3 cups of chopped apples instead of the two cups. I also poured 1/2 of the condensed milk over the apples and poured 1/4 of it over the top cinnamon rolls. Also, if I make this again, I will DEFINITELY USE A LINER. I’m not sure how to avoid it burning on the sides. I threw away the burnt edges.
It’s a good recipe, it just seems to be missing something and I can’t put my finger on what that is. And, I will definitely scale down the recipe. It makes A LOT. I will also try baking it in the oven. I think that should alleviate the burnt issue. I used a cup more apples and, in hindsight, I should have used even more (4 cups).
All in all, good recipe. I’m keeping it and gonna tweak it a little.
Please don’t hate! I don’t like apples. But, I like the idea of making these rolls! Can the fruit be eliminated?
Not hating at all 🙂 if you don’t like apples, feel free to keep them out!
Can you use in a instant pot
We personally have not tried, if you do, set to high for 28-30 minutes.
It’s okay. Very bread-y. Would probably be better with just two cans of rolls and way more apples (or none at all) and seasonings. Keep an eye on the edges as it cooks! The sugar in the sweetened condensed milk can burn easily up the sides.
If I cook on low would it be 6-8 hours? So overnight for Christmas morning? Or not recommend, thank you!
We have not tried it but we do not recommend setting it on low 6-8 hours.
just curious why you don’t recommend this. thanks!
Hi! I was wondering if any dairy free substitute would work?
Yes! You can do full-fat coconut milk instead of the heavy cream and sweetened condensed coconut milk instead of the traditional sweetened condensed milk!
It’s 5am Thanksgiving morning and I just put together this incredible concoction in my crock pot for breakfast. Now all that’s left to do is make a cup of coffee and sit back and wait for the family to wake up in a few hours to the intoxicating aroma of cinnamon and apples wafting through our home. Love recipes like this !
It says one can of condensed milk…. how many fl oz? My store had both 11.8 and 14.5.
Hi Kelly- it is 14.5oz!
Can I cook on low for 6-8 hours?
We have not tried but it should work!
Can you use a crock pot liner for easier clean up?
Absolutely! We actually recommend using parchment or a liner!
This looks fabulous! Will try them Thanksgiving morning with the family. What do you think about adding walnuts or pecans?
Yes, that would be fantastic!
Just in time fir Christmas morning !!!
IF I can find the “grand” cinnamon rolls!!! So far no luck in 5 stores 🥴
If you cant find the “grands” feel free to use 4 cans of the regular cinnamon rolls!
The auntie Annie’s brand from target would be a great substitute
Yes! It’s a great option!
Just in time fir Christmas morning !!!
IF I can find the “grand” cinnamon rolls!!! So far no luck in 5 stores 🥴
Can you assemble it the night before? And bake in morning?!
It is recommended that opened canned cinnamon rolls to be used immediately. We suggest making the day before and reheating the morning of.
The icing recipe is not listed. Can you email me the recipe?
The icing is the icing that comes with the package of cinnamon rolls!
Hi guys, Going to make for Christmas, I have a big family gathering. I will need extra so if I double the batch will that work maybe cook a little longer? And what if we need more icing
We don’t recommend doubling this recipe as the inside may not cook. If you leave it longer, the edges will end up burning.
Can I put this in the oven?
Yes! You can cover it with aluminum foil and bake at 350 degrees F. for 30 minutes. Remove the foil and bake for an additional 20-25 minutes or until they are golden brown and cooked.
Hi there! Any idea how to make it egg free?
Yes, You can keep the eggs out all together!