Hi Bold Bakers! WHY YOU’LL LOVE THIS RECIPE: These easy Apple Pie Crescent Rolls from Scratch have upgraded crescents for this autumn. Already have an account?
Juicy & Spiced: Filled with a perfectly-spiced apple filling that makes each bite as heartwarming as a slice of your favorite pie. Buttery & Tender: Features buttery, pillowy, delectably tender crescents. Versatile Treat: Ideal for a sweet morning treat, quintessential fall dessert, or with a cup of tea for an anytime snack.
Apple desserts always bring back cozy childhood memories for me, and The Perfect Classic Apple Pie Recipe and My Mum’s Irish Apple Cake are some of the most popular Bigger Bolder Baking Recipes. I knew I wanted to create a treat that delivers all of that oven-baked sweet apple deliciousness in a scrumptious individually-sized package, and these apple crescents have flawlessly executed that goal!
Bold Bakers Loved This!
“I made these Apple Pie Crescent Rolls for a family gathering, and they were a huge hit! The flaky, buttery crescents paired perfectly with the warm, spiced apple filling. Everyone kept asking for the recipe! Will definitely make them again!” — Emily R. “Absolutely loved these Apple Pie Crescent Rolls! I followed the recipe exactly, and they turned out perfectly fluffy and tender. The vanilla glaze on top was the icing on the cake (or crescent)! Perfect for a cozy autumn brunch!” — Michael T. “These rolls are a game changer! I whipped them up in no time, and the smell of cinnamon and apples filled my kitchen. Each bite was like a warm hug. I can’t wait to make them again for my book club!” — Sarah L. IMPORTANT NOTE: This recipe was improved and updated on 10/3/2024, to include a NEW STEP-BY-STEP tutorial video, explanations and substitutes of key ingredients, make-ahead and storage instructions, difference between crescent rolls and croissants, and more Pro Chef Tips.
Table of Contents
What are Comforting Apple Pie Crescent Rolls from Scratch?
Apple Pie Crescent Rolls are buttery crescents wrapped around cinnamon-spiked apples and topped with a sweet vanilla glaze. The base of the recipe is our Buttery Crescent Rolls Made from Scratch, an easy, wholesome homemade version of the famous store-bought crescents that “pop” out of a can.
Tools You Need for Apple Pie Crescent Rolls
Baking sheet and parchment paper Mixing bowl Measuring cups and measuring spoons Rolling pin Pastry brush
Key Ingredients for Apple Pie Crescent Rolls
For the Filling
Granny Smith apples Granny Smiths are definitely my preference, as they are tangy, tart yet mildly sweet, and are crisp and won’t go mushy. Bramley apples are the go-to cooking apples in Ireland or the UK—they’re very sour to eat, but they work beautifully in baking recipes, such as My Mum’s Authentic Apple Crumble. If you don’t have Granny Smiths, use any good baking apple like Braeburn, Cortland, or Pink Lady. Blueberries will also work well. Brown sugar Brown sugar adds sweetness and a lovely hint of caramel to the apple filling. It cooks with the apple juices to make a syrupy filling. Make your own using my recipe How to Make Brown Sugar. Lemon juice Lemon is a flavor enhancer that brings out the essence of the apple. Cinnamon Sweet and warmly spicy cinnamon gives these apple crescent rolls a cozy, comforting flavor.
For the rolls
One recipe of Buttery Crescent Rolls from Scratch Apricot jam Apricot jam adds sweetness and its slight tartness gives another note to the flavor profile. The jam helps to hold the filling together and also keeps the filling moist. Make your own jam using my Homemade Jam Recipe.
For the vanilla glaze
Powdered sugar Powdered sugar, also known as confectioner’s sugar or icing sugar, creates a sweet, smooth, thick, brilliant white glaze that drizzles and sets well. Use my How to Make Powdered Sugarrecipe to make your own. Butter Melted butter adds richness and thickness to the glaze and it also enhances its flavor. Butter also adds to the glaze’s glossiness and helps the glaze adhere to the crescent rolls. For the dough, butter enriches the flavor and more importantly, water in chilled butter evaporates during baking, creating air pockets to make the bread rise light and fluffy. Questions about what butter to use? See my information on Using Salted or Unsalted Butter for Baking! Vanilla extract Vanilla is a versatile ingredient that enhances flavor, balances sweetness, and adds a delightful aroma to both the crescent rolls and apples. Milk Milk thins the glaze to the perfect consistency and enriches the flavor.
How to Make Comforting Apple Pie Crescent Rolls
To Make the crescent roll dough
Gemma’s Pro Chef Tips
Make sure to cut the apples very small instead of apple slices to make assembly easier. Once the dough is made, this recipe takes about 30 minutes to put together but keep in mind that the crescent dough takes about 2 hours to make. To save time, you can make the dough up to 2 days in advance. Keep it well-wrapped in the refrigerator. Instead of apricot jam, you can use my Sweet and Boozy Peach Whiskey Jam, Easy Orange Marmalade, or Salted Caramel Sauce. These are little treats but you can make them bigger: when rolling the dough, after cutting the rectangle in half, cut each square diagonally in half in both directions to make a total of 8 triangles. Add double the filling and roll up the same way. Glaze while they are still slightly warm as they will also soak up the glaze and create a crisp shell. You can add spices such as Mixed Apple Pie Spice or Homemade Pumpkin Pie Spice to the filling. Serve with a scoop of Vanilla Ice Cream, a thin layer of cream cheese frosting, or sprinkle cinnamon sugar mixture for extra indulgence.
Make Ahead and Storage Instructions:
Make Ahead:
You can prepare these Apple Pie Crescent Rolls ahead of time raw or fully baked.
Prepare the dough and jam separately: You can prepare the dough up to 2 days in advance and store it in an airtight container in the fridge. When ready to bake, assemble and bake the rolls with jam per this recipe. Assemble and Freeze: You can assemble the apple pie crescent rolls up to the point just before baking. , then place the rolls on a baking sheet and freeze them until they are firm. Once frozen, transfer them to an airtight container or freezer bags. When you’re ready to bake, you can place them directly in the oven from the freezer, but you may need to extend the baking time slightly to ensure they’re baked through. Bake and Reheat: Alternatively, you can fully bake the apple pie crescent rolls, let them cool, and then store them in an airtight container. Before serving, reheat them in the oven for a few minutes to regain their crispiness.
Store:
Store any uneaten rolls at room temperature in a covered container for one day.
What is the difference between crescent rolls and croissants?
As to the dough, both crescent rolls and croissants are laminated by layering butter between layers of the dough which is then folded and rolled multiple times to create thin flaky layers or air pockets to rise. Crescent rolls are typically leavened with baking powder, and do not require proofing. Croissants are leavened with yeast which needs proofing to develop the structure. As to flavor and texture, crescent rolls resemble soft bread with fine and evenly distributed crumb. In comparison, croissants are a pastry with characteristic flakiness, soft and elastic gluten strands, and a richer buttery flavor. As to the origins and usages, crescent rolls are a popular American creation commonly used for making wrapping around mini hot dogs (pigs in a blanket), stuffed with various fillings, or enjoyed as rolls with a meal. While croissants originated in France and are enjoyed as a standalone breakfast star, or in sweet or savory sandwiches. Check out my amazing Homemade Chocolate Croissants recipe for a foolproof way to make them at home.
Can I substitute another fruit for apple?
Yes, you can use another fruit in the filling. Use diced pear in place of the apple, or substitute with the filling from Pumpkin Pie Egg Rolls. Use a tablespoon of pumpkin filling for each crescent. You can also add chopped pecans or walnuts to add a little crunch.
Can I make Apple Pie Crescent Rolls without egg?
Yes, you can make these crescent roll apple pies egg-free. Use milk or melted butter in place of the egg wash.
Can I use store-bought crescent dough in these Apple Pie Crescent Rolls?
You can’t beat the homemade taste of our homemade crescent rolls. Luckily, they come together easily and are made from just six wholesome ingredients you probably have on hand. But if you absolutely want to use store-bought, simply assemble and bake as directed in the recipe.
More Apple Pie-Inspired Dessert Recipes
3-Layer Apple Pie Blondies Recipe McDonald’s Apple Pie: Better Homemade! Apple Pie Egg Rolls Apple Pie Ice Cream Apple Pie Microwave Oatmeal in a Mug
IMPORTANT NOTE: This recipe was improved and updated on 10/3/2024, to include a NEW STEP-BY-STEP tutorial video, explanations and substitutes of key ingredients, make-ahead and storage instructions, difference between crescent rolls and croissants, and more Pro Chef Tips.
