Autumn always brings with it a feeling I can’t quite describe — a mix of nostalgia, excitement, and comfort all at once. Every year, my husband and our three daughters make our annual trip to the orchard to pick apples. It’s a tradition we look forward to as the fall starts to roll in, and over time it has become one of those simple yet meaningful days we truly treasure. Our girls are not little anymore and so this tradition is one we’re holding onto for as long as possible.
Of course, each year we inevitably come home with far more apples than we could possibly eat. But that’s part of the fun. An abundance of apples means an abundance of baking. What starts as a day at the orchard quickly turns into hours spent together in the kitchen, peeling, slicing, stirring, and sampling. We make all the familiar favorites — apple crumble, classic apple pie, and other cozy staples that fill the house with that unmistakable fall aroma. This year, I decided to add a new baked apple treat into the mix: soft, gooey apple cinnamon buns.
Among passionate bakers, there’s always discussion about which apples reign supreme for baking. Some swear by firmer varieties like Granny Smith because they hold their shape beautifully in the oven. While that’s certainly true, I tend to choose the apples I genuinely love to eat. For me, that means Ambrosia. They’re naturally sweet, crisp, and flavorful, and in a recipe like this, they shine just as wonderfully. Ultimately, the best apple to bake with is the one you enjoy most — because if you love the flavor, you’ll love the final result.
Apple Cinnamon Buns
Ingredients
Dough Ingredients:
- 1 cup soy milk
- 1 1/2 tsp instant yeast
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 3 cups all purpose flour
- 2 tsp baking powder
- 2 tbsp vegan butter softened
- 1 tbsp maple syrup
- 1 tsp vanilla
Apple Cinnamon Centre Ingredients:
- 1/4 cup vegan butter melted
- 3/4 cup light brown sugar
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 tbsp cinnamon for the sugar mixture
- 1 tsp cinnamon for the stewed apples
- 1 large apple peeled and chopped into small pieces
- 1 tbsp maple syrup
- 1-2 tbsp water
Pumpkin-Spiced Icing Ingredients:
- 1/3 cup vegan butter softened
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 2 tsp plant milk
- 1/2 tsp pumpkin pie spice
- 1 tsp vanilla
Instructions
Dough Instructions:
- Place the soy milk in a small pan over low heat for approximately 5 minutes. Aim to warm the soy milk without making it hot.
- Combine the warmed soy milk instant yeast, and sugar in a small bowl. Stir and let it rest for 10 minutes.
- Combine the flour baking powder, and salt in a large bowl. Mix thoroughly.
- Add the soy mixture melted butter, maple syrup, and vanilla to the flour.
- Stir with a spatula until a shaggy dough forms. At this stage it’s best to use your hands. I suggest applying a bit of olive oil to your hands before kneading. Knead the dough for 3-5 minutes.
- Place the dough back in the bowl and cover it with a damp cloth. Let it rest at room temperature for 1 to 1 1/2 hours. The dough should have risen to twice its original size.
Apple Cinnamon Centre Instructions:
- As the dough rises, prepare the stewed apples. Place the chopped apples in a frying pan over medium heat.
- Add 1 tablespoon of water along with 1 tablespoon of maple syrup and 1 tsp of cinnamon. Stir the mixture, then cover it with a lid. Occasionally remove the lid to stir until the apples become tender, which takes about 8 minutes. Take the pan off the heat and set it aside.
- To prepare the cinnamon center, combine the light brown sugar, 1 tablespoon of cinnamon, and a pinch of salt in a small bowl and mix. Set aside.
Icing Instructions:
- To prepare the icing, mix the butter, powdered sugar, pumpkin pie spice, soy milk, and vanilla in a large bowl.
- Use an electric mixer on medium speed to blend until the icing is smooth.
Putting it all together:
- After the dough has risen, transfer it to a surface lightly dusted with flour. Use a rolling pin to flatten the dough into a large rectangle. Make sure the dough is approximately 1/4 inch thick.
- Apply the melted butter to the dough’s surface using a pastry brush.
- Next, evenly distribute the cinnamon sugar mixture by sprinkling it over the surface.
- Place the apples over the cinnamon sugar mixture and distribute them evenly.
- Carefully shape the dough into a log. Use a very sharp knife or a piece of string to slice the log into 1/2 inch sections.
- Carefully set the rolls face down in a large baking dish, ensuring there is no space between each bun.
- Place a damp cloth over it for an additional hour.
- Once the hour has passed, bake the Apple Cinnamon Buns at 180°C (350°F) for 25 minutes.
- Let the buns cool fully before applying the icing. Enjoy!
