Description
A quick and easy 5-ingredient dessert that combines gooey cinnamon roll dough with tart apple pie filling and a creamy cream cheese glaze. Perfect for busy weeknights and requires minimal prep time.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 tube (17.3 oz / 490g) refrigerated cinnamon roll dough
- 2 cups (280g) frozen diced apples
- 4 tablespoons (60g) unsalted butter, melted
- ½ cup (100g) granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 4 oz (115g) full-fat block cream cheese, softened
- 1 cup (120g) powdered sugar
- 1–2 tablespoons whole milk
- ½ teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- Optional: ½ cup chopped walnuts or pecans
- Optional: 2 tablespoons maple syrup
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a 9×9 inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on the sides, and lightly grease the parchment.
- Open the cinnamon roll dough tube and separate the rolls. Press them firmly into the bottom of the prepared pan to cover the surface, ensuring there are no huge gaps.
- In a small bowl, toss the frozen diced apples with granulated sugar and cinnamon. Do not thaw the apples. If using nuts, toss them in now.
- Scatter the apple mixture evenly over the dough. Drizzle the melted butter over the apples and dough. Sprinkle any remaining sugar from the bowl over the top.
- Bake for 25-30 minutes until the dough is puffed, golden brown, and the edges are bubbling. If the top browns too quickly, tent with foil for the last 10 minutes.
- Let the bars cool in the pan for at least 15-20 minutes to allow them to set.
- While the bars cool, whisk the softened cream cheese until smooth. Add powdered sugar, vanilla, and 1 tablespoon of milk. Whisk until combined, adding more milk if needed for a drizzle-able consistency.
- Drizzle the glaze over the cooled bars. Cut into squares and serve warm or at room temperature.
Notes
Do not thaw the frozen apples, as this releases excess water and makes the bars soggy. Ensure the cream cheese is fully softened to prevent a lumpy glaze. Let the bars cool completely before cutting to ensure clean slices. For a maple twist, add 1 tablespoon of maple syrup to the glaze.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bar
- Calories: 380
- Sugar: 35
- Sodium: 450
- Fat: 16
- Saturated Fat: 8
- Carbohydrates: 52
- Fiber: 1
- Protein: 5
Keywords: cinnamon roll bars, apple pie bars, easy dessert, weeknight dessert, 5-ingredient recipe, fall baking, cream cheese glaze