Dough
2½ cup all-purpose flour
1½ tsp baking powder
½ tsp baking soda
1 tsp sea salt
3½ tbsp granulated sugar
1½ tsp pumpkin spice blend (Trader Joe’s or similar)
1 cup buttermilk
1½ tsp vanilla extract
4 tbsp unsalted butter at room temperature
Cinnamon Apple Filling
2 finely diced Starr Ranch Growers JUICI® apples
1 stick unsalted butter at room temperature
½ cup light brown sugar
1 tbsp pumpkin pie spice blend
Sprinkle of salt
Juice from half a lemon
Cinnamon Cream Cheese Icing
⅔ cup cream cheese
½ stick unsalted butter
1 cup powdered sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
Pinch of salt
⅓ cup milk (any kind on hand works fine!)
1 tsp cinnamon
Prep Time: 30 min
Cook Time: 25 min
Servings: 8
1 Preheat oven to 375° F.
2 To make the dough, melt butter and allow to cool slightly. Sift all dry ingredients and then, with the mixer on low, slowly pour in buttermilk, vanilla, and melted butter. Knead on low-medium speed until a smooth dough forms. Lightly flour the surface and knead dough for another 4–5 minutes, sprinkling flour as needed until the dough is soft and smooth. Put aside to rest while preparing filling.
3 Combine butter, brown sugar, pumpkin pie spice blend, and salt in a bowl and stir together. Add in the small JUICI apple dices along with juice from lemon and set aside.
4 Roll dough out to a large rectangle, leaving about a ½" border along the outside. Take a small spoon or spatula and spread filling across the dough. Roll the dough and filling into a long pinwheel, pinching in the sides to hold in the contents. If any apple dices escape the log during this process, just tuck them back in or garnish extra on the top of the rolls.
5 Using a large serrated knife, cut the log into 8 equal portions and arrange in your baking pan. A 8–9" cast iron skillet works great, too. Press down slightly to flatten the rolls.
6 Bake at 375° F for about 25 minutes or until golden and gooey. Remove from oven and let cool slightly.
7 To make the icing, whisk together cream cheese and butter until smooth. Add vanilla, salt, cinnamon, and powdered sugar until fully blended. Add milk slowly, mixing in between small pours. Icing should have a thick, creamy consistency.
8 Pour over finished, warm rolls, and enjoy!
To learn more about Starr Ranch Growers, visit www.starranch.com