Description
These Apple Cheesecake Buns with a Crumble Topping combine soft, fluffy yeast buns with a rich cheesecake filling, sweet cinnamon apples, and a buttery streusel topping. Perfect for breakfast, brunch, or dessert, these bakery-style treats are packed with cozy fall flavors that bring warmth and comfort to your table.
Ingredients
For the Dough
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 2¼ teaspoons active dry yeast
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¾ cup warm milk
- ¼ cup unsalted butter, melted
- 1 large egg
For the Apple Filling
- 2 medium apples, peeled and diced
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
For the Cheesecake Filling
- 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
For the Crumble Topping
- ½ cup all-purpose flour
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ cup cold unsalted butter, cubed
Instructions
- Activate Yeast: In a large bowl, combine the warm milk, yeast, and sugar. Let stand for 5 minutes until foamy, indicating the yeast is active and ready.
- Make Dough: Add the melted butter, egg, salt, and flour to the yeast mixture. Mix until a soft dough forms that begins to come together.
- Knead Dough: Knead the dough on a floured surface for 6–8 minutes until smooth and elastic. Place in a greased bowl, cover with a clean cloth, and let rise for 1 hour or until doubled in size.
- Prepare Apple Filling: While dough rises, cook the peeled and diced apples with brown sugar, cinnamon, and butter in a skillet over medium heat for about 5 minutes until the apples soften and release their juices. Remove from heat and let cool completely.
- Make Cheesecake Filling: In a separate bowl, beat the softened cream cheese with granulated sugar and vanilla extract until smooth and creamy, making a luscious cheesecake mixture.
- Prepare Crumble Topping: Combine the flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, and cold cubed butter in a bowl. Mix with your fingers or a pastry cutter until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
- Shape Buns: Punch down the risen dough and divide it into 12 equal portions. Shape each portion into a bun and arrange them on a parchment-lined baking sheet, spacing them evenly.
- Fill Buns: Press an indentation into the center of each bun with your thumb or the back of a spoon to create a well for fillings. Spoon a generous amount of the cheesecake filling into each indentation followed by the cooled apple mixture on top.
- Add Crumble: Sprinkle the crumble topping generously over the filled buns, ensuring they are well-covered with the buttery, cinnamon-sugar topping.
- Second Rise: Cover the baking sheet loosely with a clean kitchen towel and let the buns rise for another 20 minutes to puff slightly before baking.
- Bake: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Bake the buns for 18–22 minutes or until they turn a beautiful golden brown and the crumble topping is crisp.
- Cool & Serve: Remove from oven and let the buns cool slightly on a wire rack before serving warm for the best taste and texture.
Notes
- Honeycrisp or Granny Smith apples work best for a nice balance of sweetness and tartness.
- Serve the buns warm to enjoy the soft texture and flavorful fillings at their best.
- Store any leftover buns in the refrigerator for up to 3 days, reheating gently before serving.
- Optionally, drizzle with a simple powdered sugar glaze for extra sweetness and a beautiful finish.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Breakfast
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
