Description
Incredible Apple Pie Cheese Buns with Streusel Topping: super soft, fluffy yeast dough filled with spiced apple and creamy cheese, finished with a crunchy streusel. The ultimate comforting fall bake.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 1/2 cups whole milk
- 1 tbsp instant yeast, or regular yeast
- 4 tbsp (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, melted
- 1 large egg
- 1/2 cup white granulated sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 tsp sea salt
- 4 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 6 cups diced apples (about 6 medium apples)
- 1/2 cup white granulated sugar
- 1 tbsp ground cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 tsp sea salt
- 1/3 cup water
- 1 1/2 tbsp cornstarch mixed with 2 tbsp water
- 16 oz cream cheese, softened at room temperature
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- Pinch sea salt
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup white granulated sugar
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter, very well chilled
- 2 tbsp cream or milk
- 1 large egg, for egg wash
Instructions
- Making the Yeast Dough: Heat milk to 110°F. Pour warm milk into a large bowl and add melted butter (cooled), egg, sugar, salt, vanilla, and yeast. Whisk until eggs are well beaten. Gradually add flour, whisking well. Transfer to a floured surface and knead until soft and barely sticky. Let dough rest for 15 minutes.
- Shaping & Proofing: Divide dough into 12 equal pieces, shape into smooth buns. Place 6 buns per baking sheet. Press each bun into a flatter disk. Cover and proof for about 1 hour until doubled in size.
- Making the Apple Filling: Peel and finely dice apples. Place apples in a pot with sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, salt, vanilla, and water. Cook until simmering. Remove lid, reduce heat, and cook 10–15 minutes until tender. Mix cornstarch and water, add to apples, cook for 1 minute until thickened. Cool completely.
- Making the Cheese Filling: Beat softened cream cheese, powdered sugar, vanilla, and salt until smooth.
- Making the Streusel Topping: Combine sugar and flour. Grate cold butter into dry ingredients. Toss until crumbly. Add 1–2 tbsp cream or milk just enough to bring mixture together.
- Assembly & Baking: Preheat oven to 350°F. Press wells into centers of proofed buns. Apply egg wash over buns. Fill wells with cream cheese filling (about ¼ to 1/3 cup). Add a heaping spoon of apple filling over cream cheese. Sprinkle streusel topping over each bun. Bake for 30–35 minutes until golden brown.
- Serve: Let cool on baking sheets for 20–30 minutes before serving.
Notes
- Fluffiness: Do not add too much flour when kneading the dough. The final dough should be soft and slightly sticky for the fluffiest buns.
- Proofing: Ensure the dough has proofed completely (doubled in size) before baking for the best rise and final texture.
- Apple Filling: Cook the apple filling until tender and cool it completely. Warm filling can melt the cream cheese and affect the bun’s rise.
- Streusel Prep: Use very cold butter for the streusel; grating it helps create small pockets that bake into a perfect crumbly topping.
- Serving Suggestion: These buns are excellent warm. Serve with an extra dusting of powdered sugar or a drizzle of caramel sauce.
- Prep Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Desserts
- Method: Baking, Kneading, Proofing, Simmering
- Cuisine: American Fusion
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice (1/12 of recipe)
- Calories: ~420
- Sugar: ~31g
- Sodium: ~300mg
- Fat: ~20g
- Saturated Fat: ~12g
- Unsaturated Fat: ~6g
- Trans Fat: ~0.5g
- Carbohydrates: ~55g
- Fiber: ~2g
- Protein: ~6g
- Cholesterol: ~70mg
Keywords: Apple Pie Buns, Cheese Buns, Streusel Topping, Yeast Dough, Apple Filling, Cream Cheese Filling, Fall Baking, Holiday Dessert, Fluffy Buns, Gourmet Pastry