Apple Cinnamon Twist Bread and Buns

4 hours 0 mins Prep Time

40 mins Cook Time

Written By

Nadia Boachie

This is one of my favourite yeasted recipes and it is a perfect addition to your fall baking list! These recipes can be made in two ways: a twisted apple cinnamon loaf or apple cinnamon buns! It is soft, full of delicious apple filling and topped with a sweet glaze. I have included a cream cheese glaze for the buns or a regular glaze for the loaf version in this recipe. The secret ingredient here is mashed potatoes, which make the dough pillowy, fluffy and soft.

Ingredients

Dough

3 1/4 cups (390 grams) all-purpose flour
3/4 cup unseasoned mashed potatoes
3 tablespoons granulated sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons instant yeast
1 1/4 teaspoons salt
3 tablespoons (43 grams) unsalted butter, softened
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 large egg
2/3 cup (134 mL) whole milk, lukewarm

Filling

1 1/2 cups apple, grated
1 1/2 tablespoons lemon juice
3/4 cup dark brown sugar
3 heaping tablespoons (25 grams) cornstarch
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons cinnamon

Glaze for Loaf

1 cup confectioners' sugar
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1/8 teaspoon salt
1 to 2 tablespoons water or 2 to 4 tablespoons heavy cream

Cream Cheese Icing for Buns

4 ounces cream cheese, room temperature
4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, softened
1 cup confectioners' sugar
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract or vanilla bean paste
Pinch of salt
1/4 cup whole milk (or more if necessary)

Directions

Dough

5 Steps

Step 1

Whisk together all of the dry ingredients and mashed potatoes, then add the butter, vanilla, egg and milk, mixing until a shaggy dough forms.
Step 2

Knead the dough by hand or using a stand mixer attached with a dough hook, until it's smooth and soft. The dough will be very soft and sticky. If it is impossible to handle, add a bit more flour (one tablespoon at a time) but not too much.
Step 3

Place the dough in a greased bowl, turning to coat and cover the bowl with kitchen cloth or aluminum foil.
Step 4

Let the dough rise until it's almost doubled in size, about 1 1/2 to 2 hours. The amount of time may vary depending on how warm your kitchen is. Warmer temperatures will make the dough rise faster.
Step 5

While the dough is rising, make the filling.

Filling

1 Steps

Step 1

Place grated apple with the lemon juice in a saucepan. Whisk together the sugar, cornstarch, salt and cinnamon, add to the pan, stirring to combine. Cook over low heat, stirring frequently, until the apple starts to release its juice. Increase the heat to medium and bring to a simmer. Simmer, stirring, until the mixture thickens, 1 to 2 minutes. You should be able to draw a line in the filling without the line filling back up immediately. Remove from the heat, and set aside to cool to room temperature.

Apple Cinnamon Twist Bread

3 Steps

Step 1

Gently deflate the risen dough and turn it out onto a lightly floured work surface. Divide the dough in half. Roll the first half into a 10" x 12" rectangle. Spread half the filling over the rolled-out dough, leaving a 1/2"-inch margin clear of filling along all sides.
Step 2

Starting with a long side, roll the dough into a log, sealing the edge. Use a bench scraper or sharp knife to cut the log in half lengthwise. Place the half-logs, filled side up, side by side on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Keeping the filling side up, twist or "braid" the two logs together. Pinch the ends together and place in a greased loaf tin. Cover the loaf and set aside to rise for 1 to 2 hours; they should be puffy but not doubled in size.
Step 3

Bake the loaf in a preheated 350°F oven for 30 to 40 minutes, until lightly browned. Check the loaves after 20 minutes and tent with aluminum foil if they're browning too quickly. When the loaf is fully baked, a digital thermometer inserted into the loaf (be sure to position the thermometer in the bread, not the filling) should register about 190°F. Remove the bread from the oven and allow it to cool for about 1 hour before glazing and serving.

Apple Cinnamon Rolls

3 Steps

Step 1

With the second half of the dough, roll into a log, cut into 1"-inch slices. Place the slices cut side up in a well-greased or parchment-lined skillet or pan. Allow the rolls to rise until they're puffy.
Step 2

Bake at 350°F for 20-30 minutes. If you space out cinnamon rolls more on pan, they will have crustier sides. In a cast iron skillet, they will bake very closely and have very soft sides. Glaze the rolls while they are still hot.
Step 3

When baking cinnamon rolls or loaf, check for browning and doneness at 20 minutes, tenting with aluminum foil, if necessary.

Glaze and Cream Cheese Frosting

2 Steps

Step 1

Mix together confectioners' sugar, vanilla extract, salt and water or heavy cream for the glaze. Drizzle over the loaves once they're cool.
Step 2

To make cream cheese frosting, combine cream cheese, softened unsalted butter, confectioners' sugar, vanilla extract or vanilla bean paste, pinch of salt and milk, and mix until smooth and silky. Spread over apple cinnamon buns while still hot and serve.