Easy Mini Cinnamon Roll Apple Pie Cups Recipe

Holy moly, these Cinnamon Apple Pie Cups are amazing. I say this fully knowing that I make them all the time, and I still can’t get over how good they are. They’re basically an addiction in my house!

If you love the heavenly flavors of a traditional fall apple pie but don’t have hours to make pastry dough from scratch, this recipe is your new best friend. By using canned cinnamon rolls as the crust and canned (or homemade apple pie filling for the center, you get bite-sized mini apple pies in a fraction of the time.

Whether you serve these as a quick after-school snack, a fun Thanksgiving dessert, or a sweet weekend breakfast, this 2-ingredient recipe is one you will come back to again and again.

What ingredients do you need for this recipe?

1 Can Cinnamon Rolls: I recommend buying the standard-sized 8-count can (like Pillsbury), not the oversized “Grands.” The standard size fits perfectly into a regular muffin pan! Keep the icing that comes in the tube for drizzling later.

15 oz Can Apple Pie Filling: You won’t use the whole can, so you’ll have some leftover to serve over ice cream!

Cupcake Liners & Muffin Pan: To prevent the sticky cinnamon sugar from gluing itself to your pan.

A Shot Glass: This is my secret tool for pressing the dough into the perfect cup shape!

How Do You Make it?

Step 1: Prep your pan and filling. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a muffin tin with cupcake liners. Pro-Tip: Take your canned apple pie filling and chop the large apple slices into smaller, bite-sized cubes. This makes them much easier to fit inside your mini cups!

Step 2: Shape the cups. Take one raw cinnamon roll and flatten it out in your hands as much as you can. Press it down into a cupcake liner, pushing the dough up the sides to form a little bowl.

Step 3: The first bake. Bake the empty cinnamon roll dough cups for 8 minutes.

Step 4: Fix the shape. Remove them from the oven. The dough will have puffed up quite a bit! While they are still warm, take the bottom of a shot glass (or a small spoon) and gently press down the center of the dough to reinforce that “cup” shape.

Step 5: Fill and finish baking. Spoon your diced apple pie filling into the center of each cup. Pop them back into the oven for an additional 3 to 5 minutes until the apples are bubbly and warm.

Step 6: Glaze and serve! Take them out of the oven and let them cool for just a minute. While they are still warm, drizzle the icing that came with the cinnamon rolls right over the top. Serve warm and enjoy!

How To Serve:

A La Mode: Serve warm with a small scoop of vanilla bean ice cream on top.

Caramel Apple: Drizzle warm caramel sauce over the apple filling right before serving.

Cheesecake Apple Cups: Skip the provided icing and top each cup with a dollop of homemade cream cheese frosting.

Extra Crunch: Sprinkle a little cinnamon-sugar or chopped walnuts over the apples before their final bake in the oven.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Tips and Tricks For These Cinnamon Apple Pie Cups

For a uniform cup shape, use a shot glass or a small bowl to press the cinnamon roll dough into the muffin cups.

Don’t overfill the cups. Leaving some space allows the dough to puff up and become golden brown.

Be sure to grease your muffin pan well with nonstick cooking spray to ensure easy removal of the pie cups.

You might actually be able to help us solve a simple debate about this apple pie treats that we have going on in our house. Are they a breakfast food or a dessert or is there a way to classify them as both? I tend to think of them as a delicious breakfast recipe but the kids are adamant that they’re more like a dessert. (Honestly, I’ll eat them any time of the day but it’s just fun to see what others classify this tasty treat as!) 

Can you use real apples for this simple apple recipe?

You totally can. If you want to slice up real apples and use them instead of canned apple pie filling, go for it. I’m sure it would have an amazing taste and flavor and be a hit! 

Variations

1. Caramel Apple Pie Cups: Drizzle some caramel sauce over the apple filling before baking for a caramel apple twist.
2. Cream Cheese Apple Pie Cups: Top each pie cup with a dollop of cream cheese frosting for a cheesecake-like flavor.
3. Cinnamon Sugar Apple Pie Cups: Sprinkle some cinnamon sugar over the top of each cup before baking for an extra sweet and spicy crunch.

Where to Serve

These Cinnamon Apple Pie Cups are a perfect treat for a variety of occasions, including brunch, afternoon tea, and of course, as a sweet treat after any meal. They’re also fantastic for children’s parties and family gatherings. The whole family will love these bite-sized pies!

I simply use the apple pie filling because it cuts down on a lot of time and effort and really does taste amazing, too. Either way is totally a win-win. 

Storage

Store the cooled pie cups in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days. You can also refrigerate them for up to a week. To reheat, pop them in a warm oven for a few minutes.

Topping Options

1. Ice Cream: A scoop of vanilla ice cream on top of a warm pie cup is heavenly.
2. Icing: Drizzle icing from the canned cinnamon rolls (like Pillsbury Cinnamon Rolls) over the top of the cooled pie cups.
3. Whipped Cream: A dollop of whipped cream adds a cool, creamy contrast to the warm, spiced apples.

What other toppings can you add to these cinnamon apple pie cups? 

If you’re looking for something else to add as a topping rather than the glaze from the cinnamon rolls, you can try so many other toppings. Whipped cream, cinnamon and sugar, and even a small scoop of ice cream are always a good choice! Change it up each time to change up the taste easily, too! 

Why This Recipe Works

Our Cinnamon Apple Pie Cups are a huge hit because they take the beloved flavors of apple pie and transform them into an easy, fun dessert. The cinnamon roll dough makes a fantastic, easy-to-work-with crust that pairs perfectly with the sweet, spiced apple filling. This simple recipe is also an easy way to involve kids in the kitchen. Plus, the fact that it’s made with just a few simple ingredients you may already have at home is a win. So why not give this amazing dessert a try? You’ll love the results!

If you’re looking for a super simple dessert (or breakfast!) that is ready in less than 15 minutes of time, get ready to fall in love with the ease of these Cinnamon Apple Pie Cups!

What are some more fun apple recipes to try?

If you are looking for more amazing dessert recipes, be sure to check out this comprehensive list! 50+ Fun and Easy Dessert Recipes For Kids