Apple Cinnamon Cream Cheese Roll-Ups are a quick baked bread treat made with soft white sandwich bread, sweetened cream cheese, finely chopped apples, butter, cinnamon, and sugar. Ready in about 35 minutes, these ten roll-ups bake at 350°F (175°C) for 15–20 minutes until lightly golden and crisp.
Each roll-up tastes like a tiny apple-cinnamon pastry with a creamy center. The outside becomes buttery and crunchy while the apple stays pleasantly tender, making these a wonderful breakfast, brunch, snack, or easy dessert served warm from the oven.
Jump to RecipeWhy You’ll Love This Recipe
These Apple Cinnamon Cream Cheese Roll-Ups bring together the familiar comfort of cinnamon toast, apple pie, and cheesecake in one petite baked bite. They use everyday ingredients and require no yeast, rising time, pastry dough, or complicated shaping.
The recipe is especially useful when you want a warm homemade treat without spending an entire afternoon in the kitchen. From start to finish, the preparation takes about 15 minutes, followed by 15–20 minutes in the oven.
They are also easy to portion for a family breakfast or casual gathering. Ten slices of bread make about ten roll-ups, and each one can be picked up and enjoyed without a fork.
If you enjoy sweet cream cheese fillings, you may also like these pumpkin cupcakes with cream cheese for another cozy baking idea.
Ingredients You’ll Need
The ingredient list is short, but each item has an important job. Soft white sandwich bread creates a tender wrapper, while the butter and cinnamon sugar form the crisp, fragrant coating.
- 10 slices soft white sandwich bread: Choose flexible slices that flatten without tearing.
- 5 ounces softened cream cheese: This makes the filling rich, smooth, and easy to spread.
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar: It sweetens the cream cheese without adding a grainy texture.
- 2 medium peeled apples: Finely chopped apple provides fresh fruit flavor and gentle texture.
- 1/4 cup melted butter: Butter helps the cinnamon sugar cling to the bread and encourages browning.
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar and 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon: Together, they create the classic sweet coating.
Soften the cream cheese fully before beginning. Cold cream cheese can leave lumps and may tear the flattened bread as you try to spread it.
For a savory-sweet breakfast pairing, consider serving these beside homemade turkey apple cinnamon sausage. The gentle spice and apple notes complement the roll-ups beautifully.
How to Make It Step-by-Step
Step 1: Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C), then lightly grease a baking sheet or baking dish. The greased surface helps prevent the buttered coating from sticking and makes the finished roll-ups easier to lift.
Step 2: Cut or pull away the crusts from all ten bread slices. Flatten each slice thoroughly with a rolling pin, working from the center outward until the bread is thin and flexible.
Step 3: Place the softened cream cheese in a bowl and mix it with the powdered sugar until smooth. In a separate shallow bowl, stir together the granulated sugar and ground cinnamon so the coating is evenly blended.
Step 4: Spread a thin layer of the sweet cream cheese over each flattened slice. Leave a little room around the edges, then add a small amount of finely chopped apple near one end of the bread.
Step 5: Starting at the end with the apple, roll each slice tightly into a compact log. A firm roll keeps the filling in place, while avoiding too much apple helps the bread close securely.
Step 6: Dip each bread log in melted butter, turning it carefully so the surface is lightly coated. Immediately roll it through the cinnamon-sugar mixture until the outside is covered.
Step 7: Arrange the coated roll-ups seam-side down on the prepared baking sheet or in the baking dish. Leave a little space between them so the hot air can reach the sides.
Step 8: Bake for 15–20 minutes, watching for a lightly golden color and a crisp exterior. Serve warm, when the cinnamon coating is fragrant and the cream cheese center is soft.
Pro Tips for Crisp, Tidy Roll-Ups
The most important detail is apple size. Chop the apples very finely and use a modest amount in each roll-up; larger pieces can poke through the bread, while excess fruit can release moisture and make the roll-ups soggy.
Flatten the bread more than you might expect. A thin slice wraps around the filling neatly and gives the butter and sugar more surface area for browning.
- Use softened cream cheese: Let it become easy to stir and spread before assembling.
- Spread thinly: A modest layer keeps the roll-ups from becoming difficult to close.
- Roll firmly: Compact logs hold their shape better during baking.
- Keep the seam underneath: This helps prevent the bread from opening in the oven.
- Coat just before baking: The butter and sugar stay crispest when the roll-ups go directly into the oven.
For another cream cheese treat with a different texture, try these soft cream cheese cookies. They make a nice addition to a dessert tray alongside the apple-filled bread bites.
Serving Suggestions
Serve the roll-ups warm on a platter with the seam side down. Their cinnamon-sugar coating is flavorful on its own, but a small bowl of extra cream cheese dip, vanilla yogurt, or applesauce can make the presentation feel special.
For breakfast, pair them with coffee, tea, or cold milk. At brunch, arrange them beside fresh apple slices and other baked favorites so guests can easily take one or two.
A light dusting of powdered sugar just before serving adds a pretty finish, although it is optional. You can also place a cinnamon stick or a few thin apple slices on the serving platter for a simple seasonal accent.
These roll-ups fit naturally on a comfort-food table with other creative bread recipes. If you are planning a larger meal, our cream cheese banana bread coffee cake offers another rich baked centerpiece.
Storage and Reheating
These roll-ups are best served warm on the day they are baked, when the outside is crisp and the center is creamy. If you have leftovers, let them cool before placing them in a covered container and refrigerating them.
To reheat, warm them in an oven or toaster oven until heated through and lightly crisp again. A microwave will warm the filling quickly, but the bread coating will be softer.
Because the recipe relies on soft bread and fresh apple, avoid assembling the roll-ups far in advance. The apple can release moisture into the bread, so baking soon after assembly gives the best texture.
For a savory roll-up idea using cabbage instead of bread, take a look at this cabbage roll casserole. It is a hearty contrast to this sweet, snack-sized recipe.
Apple Cinnamon Cream Cheese Roll-Ups
Ingredients
Method
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and lightly grease a baking sheet or baking dish.
- Remove the crusts from the bread, then flatten each slice thoroughly with a rolling pin.
- Mix the softened cream cheese and powdered sugar until smooth. Combine the granulated sugar and cinnamon in a shallow bowl.
- Spread a thin layer of the cream cheese mixture over each flattened bread slice. Place a small amount of finely chopped apple near one end.
- Roll each slice tightly into a log. Dip each roll-up in melted butter, then coat it in the cinnamon-sugar mixture.
- Place the roll-ups seam-side down on the prepared baking sheet. Bake for 15–20 minutes, until lightly golden and crisp on the outside, then serve warm.
Notes
Final Thoughts
Apple Cinnamon Cream Cheese Roll-Ups are proof that a few simple ingredients can create something wonderfully comforting. Soft bread wraps around sweet cream cheese and finely chopped apple, then bakes beneath a buttery cinnamon-sugar crust.
Remember the key techniques: soften the cream cheese, chop the apples very finely, flatten the bread well, roll each piece firmly, and place every seam underneath before baking. Those small steps produce tidy roll-ups with a crisp outside and warm, creamy center.
Make a batch for a weekend breakfast, an after-school snack, or a relaxed dessert. Once they emerge lightly golden from the oven, serve them warm and watch them disappear.