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Apple Cinnamon Breakfast Braid

Apple Cinnamon Breakfast Braid is a sweet and simple breakfast pastry loaded with pie spiced apple slices and made out of refrigerated cinnamon rolls!

Apple Cinnamon Breakfast Braid

Hi, Tuesday. I see you and I raise you a breakfast braid recipe.

Half of last week I was working from Fort Lauderdale, FL, where the weather was insanely perfect and I didn’t even mind that the humidity multiplied the size of my hair five times. When I returned to southwestern NC to be greeted by torrential downpours and weirdly warm temperatures.

I know you guys don’t care about my weather because in the grand scheme of blizzards and ice storms and general terrible winter things (we don’t have those here), but I am writing this to say, “Cheers, Florida – I finally get you.” And I’d like to come back.

Ironically, I actually made this Apple Cinnamon Breakfast Braid on our snow day here. Then I wrote about all my snow-in-the-south milk sandwich woes.

Do you know about the milk sandwiches? Or just the obsessive food hoarding that happens in the south when they are calling for weather? I usually opt out of buying all the milk and break and head to the liquor store so I can be assured that Bourbon Spiked Hot Chocolate is a thing that can happen. Anywho.

How to Make a Breakfast Braid

What you need to know about this Apple Cinnamon Breakfast Braid is JUST HOW EASY it is to make. You only need a few things, primarily refrigerated cinnamon rolls and apples – oh and some spices. But seriously, get ready to make people think you are a rockstar when really you just sliced and apple and popped a can of refrigerated treats.

Spiced apples piled onto cinnamon roll dough ready to be braided for a gorgeous pastry.

Ingredients Needed

The list of spices here is long but if you don’t have all this ish handy you can just swap out all the spices for 2 teaspoons of prepared apple pie spice. You’ll need:

  • refrigerated cinnamon rolls
  • 1 medium apple, thinly sliced (a firm, tart apple like Granny Smith is best!)
  • lemon juice or orange juice
  • brown sugar
  • cinnamon
  • cloves
  • ginger
  • nutmeg
  • cardamom

I you are using all the spices, don’t skip the cardamom! I fell in love with cardamom when I made this Apple Chai Cake with Maple Cream Cheese Drizzle. It adds something special. I mean, if you don’t have it, don’t panic. Your braid will still be awesome. But if you do have it handy? Go crazy. And by crazy I mean use 1/8 of a teaspoon.

A baked apple cinnamon breakfast braid drenched in cinnamon roll icing.

The Method

Preheat the oven to 400°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

Don’t skip the parchment paper. You’re going to drizzle the cinnamon roll frosting over everything after it has baked, so protecting your baking sheet from the inevitable mess will matter. Then turn the baking sheet so that the short side is closest to you.

Open the cinnamon rolls and set aside the frosting package. Unroll the cinnamon rolls and then lay them across the baking sheet; the will hang over the edges and there should be just a small gap in between each piece. You want them close enough that they will grow together once they expand and bake.

Toss the apples with the lemon or orange juice and then add your brown sugar and all the spices. Toss to coat, and then put the apple mixture down the center of the cinnamon roll pieces you have laid out. NEXT! Start braiding.

Pull each strip towards the other side in a criss cross fashion, alternating each side. Tuck the end pieces back towards the center. Then Bake! 20 minutes should do the trick. the top should be nice and golden brown. Drizzle with the resereved icing, slice, and serve warm.

Overhead view of a baked and frosted breakfast braid

Other Apple Breakfast Recipes to Try

  • I am OBSESSED with this Apple Walnut Danish. It’s super simple, homemade, and makes the prettiest little wreaths of braided apple goodness. I know apple stuff is best in the fall, but this is one of my favorite baking recipes all year long.
  • These Apple Biscuits with Honey Butter Glaze  will have everyone convinced you are a professional baker. Fluffy and lightly spiced – they are honestly great with dinner, too
  • Apple Cinnamon Stovetop Oatmeal is one of the most popular recipes on the Sugar Dish Me blog. If you need a warm cozy bowl of oats this recipe is the ticket.
  • Apple Strudel Cake! I’d 100% eat this for breakfast. This one is also made with refrigerated biscuits so it’s a REALLY great little shortcut.
  • These Apple Fritters. HOLY HELL do I love apple fritters. This is on my MUST MAKE list!
Apple Cinnamon Breakfast Braid
Yield: 8 servings

Apple Cinnamon Breakfast Braid

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 35 minutes

Jazz up your favorite can of refrigerated cinnamon rolls with this Apple Cinnamon Breakfast Braid! Spiced apples are wrapped in cinnamon roll dough and baked into a pretty breakfast treat.

Ingredients

  • 1 (12.4 ounce) can Refrigerated Cinnamon Rolls, With icing
  • 1 medium Apple, Peeled, cored, and thinly sliced
  • 1 tablespoon Fresh Lemon Juice, Or orange juice
  • 2 tablespoons Brown Sugar
  • 1 teaspoon Ground Cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon Ground Ginger
  • 1/4 teaspoon Ground Nutmeg
  • 1/8 teaspoon Ground Cloves
  • 1/8 teaspoon Ground Cardamom

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven according to your cinnamon roll package instructions (standard is 400°F). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
  2. Open the cinnamon rolls and set aside the frosting package. Unroll the dough. Turn the prepared baking sheet so that it’s vertical in front of you and lay the strips out horizontally across it, with just a small gap between each
  3. Toss the apples with the lemon (or orange) juice. Then add the brown sugar and spices. Toss to evenly coat.
  4. Spread the apple mixture down the center of the cinnamon roll dough strips. Then start to pull the strips towards the other side, alternating in a criss cross fashion.
  5. Bake for 20 minutes.
  6. Drizzle your baked breakfast braid with the icing, slice, and serve. 

Notes

  • You can use 2 teaspoons prepared apple pie spice in place of the individual spices.
  • Nutrition Information:

    Yield:

    8

    Serving Size:

    1

    Amount Per Serving: Calories: 95Total Fat: 2gSaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 97mgCarbohydrates: 19gFiber: 1gSugar: 13gProtein: 1g

    2pots2cook

    Thursday 9th of February 2017

    So glad to find you ! Great photos and great dishes ! Thank you and I will be back !

    Heather Tullos

    Saturday 11th of February 2017

    Thanks so much!!!

    Agen Sabung Ayam

    Sunday 29th of January 2017

    I love food, people, traveling and thank you for sharing valuable information here.

    Debbie C

    Thursday 26th of January 2017

    Loooove the "milk sandwich" thing....we've been using that term a lot-so funny, and totally true! Love these braids too! can see them with a slather of sweetened cream cheese in there as well. Thanks for a great recipe!

    Heather Tullos

    Sunday 29th of January 2017

    Oooohhh cream cheese in the middle would be AWESOME. Thanks, Debbie!

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