Sheet Pan Apple Cinnamon Roll Bites
Sheet Pan Apple Cinnamon Roll Bites deliver warm cinnamon swirls and tender baked apples in an easy one-pan treat, perfect for busy families and crowd-pleasing parties with minimal fuss.
Equipment
- Rimmed baking sheet
- Parchment paper
- oven
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 1 can refrigerated cinnamon roll dough with icing Use one can of cinnamon roll dough including the icing packet
- 2 medium apples peeled, cored and diced small (Granny Smith or Honeycrisp recommended)
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon granulated sugar optional for extra sparkle
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- pinch fine salt
- 1 tablespoon melted butter or oil
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract optional for icing
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice to keep apples from browning
- nonstick spray or parchment paper
Optional Add-Ins
- to taste chopped pecans, raisins or a pinch of nutmeg optional
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment and lightly mist with nonstick spray.
- Dice the apples into small even cubes. Toss with lemon juice, brown sugar, granulated sugar (if using), cinnamon, and a pinch of salt. Set aside.
- Open the cinnamon roll can and reserve the icing packet. Cut each roll into four pieces.
- Toss the dough pieces with melted butter. Sprinkle on a little cinnamon sugar from the apple mixture for extra flavor.
- Spread dough pieces across the baking sheet in a single layer with small gaps. Spoon the spiced apples over and around the dough pieces so every bite has fruit.
- Bake on the middle rack for 13 to 16 minutes until dough is puffed and golden and apples are tender. Rotate the pan once for even coloring.
- Check doneness by pressing a center piece lightly; it should spring back and look set. If dough is pale, bake for an additional two minutes.
- Mix the reserved icing with a splash of vanilla extract; if too thick, loosen with a teaspoon of warm milk or water.
- Cool the baked pan for five minutes. Drizzle the icing in zigzags over the bites. Add chopped pecans if desired.
- Serve warm by sliding a spatula under clusters and transferring to a platter. Add small skewers for easy grabbing at parties.
Notes
For best texture, pat diced apples dry before baking. Try substitutions like crescent roll dough with extra cinnamon, or gluten and dairy free variations. Use convection oven if available by reducing temperature to 360°F and start checking at 11 minutes for deeply caramelized edges.