Cinnamon Roll Apple Pie Cups are a quick and easy way to bake mini, perfectly portioned apple pie bites without the time and effort to make an entire pie.
This simple recipe is the best way to enjoy apple pie in a pinch because it uses 5 simple ingredients (including refrigerated cinnamon rolls and apple pie filling) to create the same cozy fall flavors in under 30 minutes.
Apple Pie Bites Made With Cinnamon Rolls
Apple Pie Cups are a fun, fuss-free way to enjoy the combination of cinnamon roll and apple pie flavors in one tasty bite-sized treat.
They bake in a fraction of the time it would take to make a full-sized homemade pie from scratch. This simple shortcut recipe uses a can of cinnamon rolls to make a soft and fluffy crust, and bakes each cup in a muffin tin topped with cinnamon-spiced, apple pie filling, walnuts, and caramel sauce.
The dough bakes up soft and fluffy, but moist from the velvety filling, and when drizzled with icing it’s the best bite-size dessert or personal sweet snack that tastes like the traditional treat.
For more tasty twists on the traditional apple pie, try my Apple Pie Bites, Apple Pie Cinnamon Rolls, Caramel Apple Pie Cookies, and so many more.
Why We Love This Apple Pie Cups Recipe
- Quick and easy shortcut recipe.
- Uses pre-made dough (no rolling pins required), apple pie filling, plus 3 simple ingredients.
- Soft and tender personal “pie” that satisfies any pastry craving.
- Sweet apple pie filling packed inside a fluffy, cinnamon roll crust.
- Perfect for parties, potlucks, or holiday celebrations or serve as a delicious breakfast, brunch, or dessert.
Ingredients
- Refrigerated cinnamon rolls with icing: You can use any brand for this but go with an original flavor and not orange rolls as those flavors don’t go as well together.
- Apple pie filling: You can also use a homemade apple pie filling if you have one you prefer.
- Walnuts
- Caramel sauce
- Cinnamon
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Substitutions and Additions
- Change The Crunch: Instead of walnuts, you can substitute your favorite nut, such as pecans or almonds or leave the nuts out all together.
- Swap The Spice: For a stronger spice flavor substitute nutmeg or allspice for the cinnamon. You will want to use about only ¼ teaspoon of either spice.
- Filling Flavor: A cherry, blueberry or strawberry pie filling also works well, though I usually omit the cinnamon, and pair well with walnuts, pecans or almonds. You can also make your own pie filling to use in these cups if you prefer.
Recommended Tools
- Muffin tin
- Cooking spray
- Mixing bowl
- Mixing tools
- Measuring tools
How to Make Cinnamon Roll Apple Pie Cups
Apple Pie Cups are so quick and easy to make because this simple recipe uses shortcuts. Filled with the same cozy fall flavors of a traditional apple pie, these personal pastries can be made in minutes!
- Create The Cups: Flatten the cinnamon rolls with your fingers or the bottom of a glass and push the dough into the tins to form a “cup” for the filling.
- Make The Filling Mixture: Cut the apples in the filling into bite-size pieces and combine them with the walnuts, caramel sauce, and cinnamon. Spoon the filling into each cinnamon roll cup, slightly heaping full.
- Bake: Bake at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 13-17 minutes or until the edges are golden brown and the filling begins to bubble.
- Cool: Allow the cups to cool for 5-10 minutes before removing to a cooling rack. Drizzle with icing, caramel sauce, and chopped walnuts, optional.
- Serve: Serve and enjoy!
Tips
- For easy cleanup, place a cookie sheet under the wire cooling rack to catch the excess frosting that will drip off of the edges.
- Be sure to spray non-stick cooking spray on the bottom and sides of the pan as the cinnamon rolls will be sticky.
- When flattening the cinnamon rolls, be sure to make a large enough indent for the filling to stay in the “cup.”
Storage Tips
- To Store: Apple Pie Cups can be loosely covered and stored at room temperature for up to 2 days. If refrigerated they will last an additional 1-2 days.
- To Freeze: To freeze your Apple Pie Cups, wrap them and place them in an airtight freezer-safe container or bag for 2-3 months.
Frequently Asked Questions
These Apple Pie Cups should be loosely covered and stored at room temperature for up to 2 days. If refrigerated they will last an additional 1-2 days.
Be aware that the drizzle may mix with the filling and seem to “disappear” as it does so.
You can also freeze these Apple Pie Cups, wrap them well first, for 2-3 months in an airtight freezer safe container or bag.
Again, the drizzles may seem to “disappear” but the flavor won’t!
Any extra apple pie filling can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks or frozen for up to 12 months!
Regular size cinnamon roll works best for standard size muffin tins. If you use grand-sized cinnamon roll dough, you’ll need to cut off any outer ring to fit into your muffin tin. You can reuse the leftover strips to make some extra cups. It’s a bit of extra piecing together but will still work and taste delicious.
I don’t recommend using mini muffin tins for this recipe since you can’t fit much filling into each cup given the thickness of the dough.
I hate having a delicious ingredient such as apple pie filling go to waste when a recipe only calls for a half of a can.
Some of my favorite ways to make the most out of all of your pie filling include:
Use it as ice cream topping! I love to mix in the walnuts, caramel and cinnamon to the whole can (I double all the measurements) and then use it as an ice cream topping.
You can either use it at room temperature or heat it up for an “apple pie a la mode” feel.
You can eat it on toast! This may sound strange but apple pie filling works great for things like toast or croissants. Or try using it as a dip for pretzels, crackers or cookies.
Yes, you can easily make a double batch of Apple Pie Cups! Simply use two cans of cinnamon rolls and double walnuts, caramel and cinnamon to add to the whole can of pie filling. You can refrigerate or freeze the extra cups once they are baked for a yummy treat later!
Other Easy Bite-Sized Recipes
- Cinnamon Roll Bites
- Birthday Cake Oreo Balls
- Cookie Dough Bites
- Peanut Butter Pretzel Bites
- Strawberry Shortcake Truffles
- Caramel Apple Dessert Cups
Cinnamon Roll Apple Pie Cups
Ingredients
- 12.4 ounce container refrigerated cinnamon rolls with icing
- 20 ounce (½ can) apple pie filling
- ¼ cup walnuts chopped
- 2 Tablespoons caramel sauce
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
- Additional caramel sauce, optional garnish
- Additional chopped walnuts, optional garnish
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit and grease 8 cups in a muffin tin with cooking spray.
- Open the cinnamon rolls and squish them flat with your fingers or the bottom of a glass.
- Push the cinnamon rolls into the tins to form a “cup” for the filling.
- In a medium sized bowl, place the apple pie mix and use a fork or knife to cut the apples into bite size pieces.
- Mix together the cut apple pie filling, walnuts, caramel sauce and cinnamon until well blended.
- Place 1 large spoonful of the filling into each cinnamon roll cup, filling them slightly heaping full.
- Bake the apple pie cups in the oven for 13-17 minutes or until the edges of the cup are golden brown and the filling is beginning to bubble.
- Remove from the oven and allow the cups to cool for 5-10 minutes before removing to a cooling rack.
- Drizzle with the icing from the cinnamon roll tube, caramel sauce, and chopped walnuts, optional.
Jenn’s Notes
- To Store: Apple Pie Cups can be loosely covered and stored at room temperature for up to 2 days. If refrigerated they will last an additional 1-2 days.
- To Freeze: To freeze your Apple Pie Cups, wrap them and place them in an airtight freezer safe container or bag for 2-3 months.
- For easy cleanup, place a cookie sheet under the wire cooling rack to catch the excess frosting that will drip off of the edges.
- Be sure to spray non-stick cooking spray on the bottom and sides of the pan as the cinnamon rolls will be sticky.
- When flattening the cinnamon rolls, be sure to make a large enough indent for the filling to stay in the “cup.”
What’s the best way to reheat these?