It all started with a trip to the Christmas tree farm, November 25 2012. I was feeling sentimental that year. I was missing my grandmother, feeling as though her/our holiday traditions were slipping away. So I decided to start my own holiday traditions, one of which included making a double batch of boozy Christmas cake, and the other involved hiking through rows of pine trees, looking for the perfect Charlie brown replica to fit in our apartment, paying the man dressed as Santa to carry it back to our car while we drink apple cider from styrofoam cups. Only, the story went more like: Heather was jacked up on hormones and raging, got so mad at Brent because he was just not that into 'making traditions' and not committed enough to finding the perfect tree. I spent the next hour crying it out in the car. I mean, in the end, it worked out, we got a tree, and we drank cider. We can now sit back and laugh about how crazy I was that Nov 25th afternoon. Speaking of traditions, I've now started a new autumn tradition where I like to begin the season with a trip to an apple farm. I find it helps me get mentally prepared for autumn/fall/decorative gourd season, and besides, it's a very Seattle thing to do. 

The best part of fall is the beginning months. When the weather has turned only slightly crisp, and you still have many opportunities to enjoy the outdoors, drink beer by the fire, enjoy an occasional afternoon patio, and are not yet ready to throw-up at the site of anything pumpkin/spice/cinnamon related.

Last weekend I went apple picking thinking that the air was going to be nice and crisp, the leaves would be falling off the trees, we'd all frolick in the leaves wearing our Hunter rain boots, and it would be magical. I wore what I thought was a seasonal (apple picking) outfit, a plaid flannel shirt, cords, and these cute short boots. And then the sun shone so brightly, and the weather was mid-summer hot. The leaves have barely started to fall off the trees, 2 hours north of Seattle. I should have been wearing shorts, a sun hat, and sunscreen, but instead, I spent the afternoon dripping in sweat. 

Last weekend, we decided to stop at two apple farms, trying to maximize our apple picking options. The first farm had hundreds of jacked-up Honey Crisp apples. They weren't the type of honey crisp you would see in the store. Giant honey crisps on steroids. We didn't pick any because we were holding out for these exotic sounding heirloom varieties that we heard the second farm offered.

We showed up to the second farm later in the afternoon and they had rows and rows of rotting apples. I guess we were two weeks too late this year? I did manage to find a tree that was covered with these tiny beautiful little Liberty apples, and I was so excited because the have they most delicate skin, fragrant flavor, and juicy flesh. I picked a bag, stems intact because it reminds me of how hardcore I was to traipse through the spider laden trees to get a bag of apples that I could have bought in the store 5 minutes from my house for half the price.

I've already made two apple crisps this season and a pie, so I was pretty keen on turning these apples into something other than pie/crisp/crumble. Cinnamon rolls. You really can't go wrong with making cinnamon rolls. I made these rolls for a get-together with friends. People seemed to love them. Brent was sad that he couldn't eat 5, for dinner. I mean, sometimes I wish I had his metabolism.  I've made this cinnamon roll recipe many times before. I shared it on my blog a few years back. This time I changed it up a bit and added cooked apples and it was a game changer. Cooking the apples beforehand gave them a nice soft texture similar to the apples in pie. They melted into the dough and became pockets of pure deliciousness. I am actually kinda sad that I didn't get to eat 5. They were pretty dang good.

photo credit:

Genevieve Houdet-Cote

APPLE CINNAMON ROLLS

makes 15 rolls

DOUGH INGREDIENTS

• 1 package (2 1/4 tsp) of dry active yeast

• 1/2 tsp of granulated sugar

• 1/4 cup of warm water 110-115 ºF

• 1 large egg, beaten

• 3/4 cup of unsalted butter, melted

• 1 tbsp of vanilla

• 3/4 cup of water

• 2 cups of all-purpose flour

• 1 cup of bread flour

• 2 tbsp of granulated sugar

• 1 tsp of salt

APPLE INGREDIENTS

• 2 1/2 cups of apples, peeled and sliced (roughly 2 large apples)

• 1 lemon, squeezed

• 1/4 cup of granulated sugar

FILLING INGREDIENTS

• 1 cup brown sugar

• 1/2 cup granulated sugar

• 1 tbsp ground cinnamon

• 3 tbsp all-purpose flour

• 1/2 cup cold unsalted butter, cubed

FROSTING INGREDIENTS

• 8 oz cream cheese, room temp

• 1 cup powdered sugar

• 2 tsp lemon juice

• 1 tsp vanilla

• 2 tbsp (2% or whole) milk

DIRECTIONS

1. In the bowl of a stand mixer, add the yeast with 1/2 tsp sugar and 1/4 cup of warm water. Let it proof for 5 minutes

2. Add the beaten egg, melted butter, vanilla, and water to the bowl of the stand mixer. Attach the dough hook and mix on slow speed.

3. In a separate large bowl, combine the all-purpose flour, bread flour, 2 tbsp sugar, and 1 tsp of salt.

4. Turn the stand mixer to the lowest speed and slowly add the flour mixture. Knead until the ingredients are combined. Increase the speed to medium and continue to mix until the dough sticks to the sides of the bowl, approximately 3 minutes.

5. Remove the dough from the bowl and set it onto a well-floured surface. Cover your hands in flour and gently shape the dough into a ball. Place the dough into a large well-oiled bowl. Cover the bowl with a damp cloth and place it in a warm draft-free area for 2 hours to rise.

6. After two hours, punch down the dough and let it rise for 20 minutes. Finally, punch down the dough and then let it rise for 20 additional minutes.

7. Preheat the oven to 400ºF. Arrange the shelves so that one is on the bottom and one is in the middle. Fill a baking dish halfway with water and place it on the bottom shelf.

8. Place the diced apples into a large frying pan with the juice from one lemon and 1/4 cup of sugar. Simmer on low heat until the apples become soft and all of the liquid has absorbed. Set them to the side to cool.

9. In a large bowl, combine the brown sugar, granulated sugar, cinnamon, and flour. Cut in the butter with a pastry blender until the mixture is crumbly. This effect can also be achieved with a food processor. 

10. Place the dough onto a well-floured surface. With a generous amount of flour to prevent sticking, roll out the dough into a large rectangle, 24 x 12 inches. Sprinkle the cinnamon-sugar mixture onto the dough, leaving a half-inch gap along the top horizontal edge of the dough. Brush the gap with water.

11.  Spread the apples over the cinnamon mixtures. Roll the dough into a tube shape. With a very sharp knife, cut the dough into 15 slices. Place the pieces flat sides down, into an 8 x 13" baking dish, or something similar. Cover with a damp cloth and let them rest for 10 minutes. 

12. Bake the cinnamon rolls on the middle shelf for 35 minutes. They should develop a nice light brown color, and the cinnamon sugar should start to bubble out of the tops. They should be soft to touch. Remove from the oven and let cool. 

13. While the buns are cooling, place the cream cheese, powdered sugar, lemon juice, vanilla, and milk into the bowl of a stand mixer. With the paddle attachment, whip until light and fluffy. With a spatula or bread knife, spread the cream cheese frosting onto the cinnamon buns.

14. The cinnamon buns can be stored in the fridge covered for a couple of days.