Apple Cinnamon Roll Muffins

​Is this really the end of muffin week?  Don't worry, I'm ending this muffin themed week with a bang - Apple Cinnamon Roll Muffins.

I first saw this recipe on cookingclassy.com and it looked so good that I just couldn't pass it up.  When I read through the recipe, I realized that this was a yeast dough muffin recipe.  I admit that I was a little nervous about how a cinnamon roll dough would translate into a muffin but it looked so good that I just had to try it.  So here goes...

Apple Cinnamon Roll Muffins 
1/2 cup milk (I used 1%), warmed to 110 degrees 
1 3/4 tsp active dry yeast 
1/2 cup sour cream 
1/3 cup granulated sugar 
1 tsp salt 
1 large egg 
1 tsp vanilla extract 
2 Tbsp vegetable oil 
2 Tbsp butter, melted 
3 - 3 1/4 cups all-purpose flour 

Filling
2 cups (slightly packed) peeled and grated Granny Smith apples (from about 3 medium) 
2 tsp lemon juice 
3/4 cup packed light-brown sugar 
1 Tbsp cinnamon 
1/4 tsp nutmeg 
1/4 cup butter, halfway melted 

Topping
2 Tbsp butter, melted 
2 cups powdered sugar 
3 - 5 Tbsp reserved apple juice 
1/2 tsp vanilla extract

​Add yeast to warmed milk in liquid measuring cup and whisk to dissolve. Let rest 5 - 10 minutes.

Meanwhile, add sour cream, granulated sugar, salt, egg, vanilla extract, vegetable oil and melted butter to bowl of electric stand mixer. Add milk mixture.

​Set stand mixer with whisk attachment and blend mixture to combine. Add in 1 1/2 cups flour and blend until combined, then switch to hook attachment and slowly add in remaining 1 1/2 cups flour. Knead mixture until smooth an elastic, about 5 minutes.

​Transfer to a lightly oiled bowl, cover with plastic wrap and allow to rise in a warm place until double in size (I like to place it in the oven with the light on), about 1 1/2 - 2 hours.

​During the last few minutes of rising, grate apple and place in a bowl then toss with lemon juice and set aside.

In a separate small mixing bowl, whisk together brown sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg, set aside.

​Punch dough down. Roll out onto a clean, lightly floured work surface to about an 19 x 13 inch rectangle.

​Brush top evenly with 1/4 cup butter and sprinkle with cinnamon sugar mixture and spread into an even layer.

Squeeze 6 Tbsp of the excess liquid from apples into mixing bowl by lifting and pressing grated apples against sides of bowl (or just squeeze in your hands) and reserve juice (you'll be using most of it for the glaze). Sprinkle strained apples evenly over cinnamon sugar layer.

​Beginning on the long side (the 19-inch side) snuggly roll up to the other end. 

Cut into 12 - 13 rolls and transfer each rolls to paper lined muffin cups (preferably using 2 - 12 hole muffin tins to allow muffin tops room to expand outward). Cover loosely with plastic wrap and allow to rest in a warm place 40 minutes, preheating oven to 375 during last 10 minutes of rising. 

Brush tops of rolls lightly with butter, then bake in preheated oven 14 - 17 minutes until lightly golden and centers are no longer doughy. 

Allow to cool slightly then drizzle with glaze and enjoy warm.  In a mixing bowl whisk together 3 tbsp reserved apple juice, powdered sugar and 1/2 tsp vanilla extract. Add in more apple juice as needed 1 tsp at a time until desired consistency is reached.  

Ciao!

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