Step 1: Prepare the Apples

• Wash, Peel, Core, and Slice the Apples: Begin by thoroughly washing your chosen apples under cool water. Using a paring knife or an apple peeler/corer/slicer, peel the skin off each apple. Remove the core from each apple – an apple corer makes this task quick and efficient, or you can carefully cut around the core with a knife. Slice the peeled and cored apples into even slices, about ¼ to ½ inch thick. Uniform slices will ensure even cooking and a consistent texture throughout the pie filling. Aim for approximately 6-8 cups of sliced apples.

  • Tip for preventing browning: As you slice the apples, you can place them in a bowl of water with a squeeze of lemon juice to prevent them from browning while you prepare the rest of the filling ingredients. Drain them well before adding them to the mixing bowl.

Step 2: Make the Apple Pie Filling

• Combine Filling Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, combine the sliced apples, granulated sugar, brown sugar, flour or cornstarch, lemon juice, ground cinnamon, ground nutmeg, ground cloves (if using), and salt.

  • Gentle Mixing is Key: Use a large spoon or your hands to gently toss all the ingredients together until the apples are evenly coated with the sugar and spice mixture. Be careful not to bruise or break the apple slices during mixing. The goal is to distribute the flavors evenly and ensure the thickening agent is well dispersed.

• Add Butter: Scatter the small pieces of unsalted butter evenly over the top of the apple mixture. These butter pieces will melt during baking, adding richness and flavor to the filling.

Step 3: Prepare the Cinnamon Roll Crust

• Separate Cinnamon Rolls: Open both cans of refrigerated cinnamon rolls. Carefully separate each cinnamon roll from the package. Set aside the icing packets that come with the cinnamon rolls – you will use these later to drizzle over the baked pie.
• Cut and Arrange Bottom Crust: Take about 1 ½ cans of cinnamon rolls (approximately 12-14 rolls). Using a pizza cutter or a sharp knife, slice each cinnamon roll into thinner slices, about ¼ to ½ inch thick. You don’t need to unroll them completely; just slice through the spiral.

  • Creating the Pie Crust Base: Press the sliced cinnamon rolls into the bottom and up the sides of your 9-inch pie plate. Overlapping the slices slightly will create a cohesive crust. Press them firmly together and against the sides of the pie plate to form a solid base and rim for the pie. You can use your fingers or the back of a spoon to press and shape the crust evenly. Ensure there are no gaps in the crust.

• Tip for Easier Crust Handling: If the cinnamon roll dough is too sticky to work with easily, lightly dust your hands or the pie plate with flour. You can also chill the cinnamon rolls in the refrigerator for a few minutes to make them firmer and easier to handle.

Step 4: Assemble the Pie

• Fill the Pie Crust: Pour the prepared apple pie filling evenly into the cinnamon roll crust. Distribute the filling so it’s level and reaches almost to the top of the crust.
• Create the Top Crust (Cinnamon Roll Swirls): Take the remaining cinnamon rolls (about ½ can, or 4-6 rolls depending on how decorative you want to be). You can either slice these rolls as you did for the bottom crust and arrange them in a lattice pattern or simply place the whole cinnamon rolls in a decorative swirl pattern on top of the apple filling.

  • Decorative Top Crust Options: For a more rustic look, you can slice the remaining cinnamon rolls and randomly arrange them over the filling, leaving some apple filling peeking through. For a more elegant presentation, you can create a swirl pattern with the whole or sliced cinnamon rolls, starting from the center and working outwards. You can also create a lattice top by slicing the remaining rolls into strips and weaving them over the filling.

• Optional – Brush with Melted Butter or Egg Wash: For a golden brown and slightly crispier crust, you can brush the top of the cinnamon roll crust with melted unsalted butter or a lightly beaten egg wash (1 egg yolk mixed with 1 tablespoon of water or milk). This step is optional but enhances the visual appeal and texture of the crust.

Step 5: Bake the Cinnamon Roll Apple Pie

• Preheat Oven to 375°F (190°C): Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Make sure the oven rack is positioned in the center of the oven for even baking.
• Bake the Pie: Place the assembled pie on a baking sheet (to catch any potential drips and keep your oven clean). Bake in the preheated oven for 45-60 minutes, or until the crust is golden brown and the apple filling is bubbly and tender.

  • Checking for Doneness: To check if the pie is done, insert a fork or knife into the center of the apple filling. It should go in easily, and the apple slices should be tender. The juices from the filling should be bubbly, especially around the edges. The cinnamon roll crust should be nicely golden brown and cooked through.

• Preventing Over-Browning: If the crust starts to brown too quickly before the filling is cooked through, you can loosely tent the pie with aluminum foil for the remaining baking time. This will protect the crust from burning while allowing the filling to continue cooking.

Step 6: Cool and Glaze

• Cool Slightly: Once baked, remove the pie from the oven and let it cool in the pie plate on a wire rack for at least 20-30 minutes before slicing and serving. This cooling time allows the filling to set slightly and prevents it from being too runny when you cut into the pie.
• Prepare the Icing: While the pie is cooling, prepare the icing that came with the cinnamon rolls. If the icing packets are solid, you can gently warm them by placing them in a bowl of warm water for a few minutes or microwaving them for a few seconds (be careful not to overheat). Snip the corner of the icing packet.
• Drizzle with Icing: Drizzle the warm icing generously over the top of the slightly cooled Cinnamon Roll Apple Pie. You can create decorative swirls or simply drizzle it evenly over the surface.
• Serve Warm: Serve the Cinnamon Roll Apple Pie warm for the best experience. The warm pie, combined with the sweet cinnamon roll crust and drizzled icing, is absolutely irresistible.