Description
Delightful Apple Cheesecake Buns featuring a soft yeast dough filled with a smooth cream cheese and apple mixture, topped with a crunchy crumble and finished with a sweet powdered sugar glaze. Perfectly balanced textures and flavors make these buns a delicious treat for breakfast or dessert.
Ingredients
Scale
Dough
- ¾ cup warm milk
- 1 packet active dry yeast
- 2½ cups all-purpose flour
- ¼ cup unsalted butter
Filling
- 6 oz cream cheese, softened
- 2 medium apples, peeled, cored, and finely chopped
Topping & Glaze
- ¼ cup unsalted butter (for crumble topping)
- ½ cup powdered sugar (for glaze)
Instructions
- Prepare the yeast dough: In a small bowl, combine the warm milk with the active dry yeast and a pinch of sugar. Let it sit for 5-10 minutes until foamy. In a large mixing bowl, combine the all-purpose flour with the yeast mixture and softened butter. Knead the dough for about 8-10 minutes until smooth and elastic. Cover and let it rise in a warm place for 1 to 1.5 hours, or until doubled in size.
- Prepare the filling: While the dough is rising, peel and finely chop the apples. Mix the chopped apples with the softened cream cheese until well combined. Set aside.
- Make the crumble topping: In a small bowl, combine the softened butter with a portion of flour and sugar (if any, although not listed – for typical crumble top you mix butter and flour to make crumbs). Alternatively, pre-made crumble or use just softened butter to dot on top.
- Shape and fill the buns: Once the dough has doubled, punch it down and roll it out on a lightly floured surface into a rectangle approximately 12×8 inches. Spread the cream cheese and apple filling evenly over the dough. Roll the dough tightly into a log and cut into 8 equal pieces. Place the buns cut side up on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
- Add the crumble topping: Sprinkle the crumble evenly over the top of each bun.
- Bake: Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Bake the buns for 20-25 minutes until golden brown and cooked through.
- Prepare the glaze: While the buns are baking, mix the powdered sugar with a small amount of milk or water (about 1-2 tablespoons) to create a smooth glaze.
- Glaze the buns: When the buns are out of the oven and slightly cooled, drizzle the sweet glaze over the top to finish.
Notes
- Use room temperature cream cheese for a smoother filling.
- If the crumble topping is too soft, chill it briefly before sprinkling.
- These buns are best enjoyed fresh but can be stored in an airtight container for up to 2 days.
- Substitute apples with pears or peaches for a different fruit flavor.
- Adjust sweetness in the glaze by adding or reducing powdered sugar.
Keywords: apple cheesecake buns, yeast dough buns, crumble topping, sweet glaze, breakfast pastry, dessert buns