A healthy spin on the good classic kind!
Ingredients:
Dough:
- 1 cup full-fat Greek yogurt
- 1 cup water
- 1/4 cup honey or pure maple syrup
- 1 package active dry yeast
- 5 1/2 cups (660 g) AP flour
- 1 tsp salt
Filling:
- 1 cup (210 g) apple sauce
- 1/2 cup (150 g) honey, pure maple syrup, or coconut sugar (works best)
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 Tbsp cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp salt
Frosting:
- 1 block (8 oz) cream cheese
- 2/3 cup pure maple syrup or honey
- 1 Tbsp vanilla extract
- 1/4 tsp salt
Directions:
- In a glass bowl or cup, mix together Greek yogurt & water, then microwave for 1-1.5 mins until warm but not hot (approx. 125°F & not above 140°F).
- Into the yogurt/water mixture, mix in honey & yeast, then let sit for 5 minutes for the yeast to bloom (mixture will be foamy).
- In a separate large bowl, mix together flour & salt.
- Once the yeast mixture is foamy, pour it into the flour mixture & mix until a dough forms.
- Then, knead the dough for 6-7 minutes. (Can be done by hand on a lightly floured surface or in an electric mixer with dough hook attachment. The dough should be slightly sticky - the stickier the dough, the moister & fluffier the rolls will be. If dough is too sticky, add a little flour).
- Then, grease a large bowl with oil, place dough in bowl, cover with towel, & let rise for 1-2 hours or until doubled in size.
- Meanwhile, make filling: in a large bowl, combine apple sauce, natural sweetener (either coconut sugar, honey or maple syrup - if using honey or maple syrup, add 2 Tbsp flour to the mixture to soak up some of the moisture). Then mix in vanilla, cinnamon, & salt. Refrigerate until the dough is ready.
- On a floured surface, roll dough out into a rectangle of desired size. (I normally do whatever makes the dough ~1/3” thick).
- Spread the filling in an even layer on the dough, going almost to the edges.
- Roll up the dough lengthwise, then cut into rolls of desired size (I normally make 10 from the whole roll).
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Place 4 Tbsp melted butter or oil in a 12” cast iron skillet or in desired baking dish.
- Place rolls in skillet/dish about 1/2 inch apart, then bake for 20-25 minutes, or until golden brown.
- Make the frosting: in the microwave or on the stove (works best), melt cream cheese and maple syrup. Whisk together until fully combined & smooth. Then, whisk in vanilla extract & salt. Set aside.
- Spread the frosting over the cinnamon rolls immediately after they finish baking & enjoy!!
In this recipe...
- Greek yogurt adds protein & calcium to the dough.
- Apple sauce adds fiber & vitamins to the filling.
- Unrefined sugars add some antioxidants & minerals!
