Apple Pie Cinnamon Scrolls with Vegan Cream Cheese Frosting

Kanzi® apples are a cross between Gala and Braeburn apples, so the flavour is a blend of sweet Gala and juicy, tangy Braeburn. They’re full of healthy goodness (one apple contains more than 40% of your RDI of vitamin C), making them ideal for packing extra flavour and nutrients into your baking.

Serves 12

Prep time: 20 minutes

Resting time: 1.5 hours

Cooking time: 25 mins

Ingredients:

For the Apple Pie Filling:

• 5 Kanzi® Apples
• 1 tbsp vegan butter
• 2 tbsp coconut sugar

For the Dough:

• 3 cups (450g) plain flour, plus extra (the extra flour will be added during the kneading stage and will vary depending on your dough)
• 2 tsp (10g) instant dried yeast
• 1/2 cup (125g) plain coconut yoghurt, at room temperature
• 1/4 cup (45g) raw sugar
• 1/3 tsp fine salt
• 1 cup (250g) soy milk

For the Cinnamon Sugar:

• 1/2 cup (90g) raw sugar
• 1 tbsp ground cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
• 2 tbsp vegan butter, room temperature

For the Cream Cheese Frosting:

• 1 cup (140g) icing sugar
• 2/3 cup (70g) dairy free cream cheese (available in the vegan section at most major supermarkets)

Method:

1. MAKE THE DOUGH: I recommend using scales for this recipe and testing that your yeast is active (ensure your yeast is less than 6 months old). Add flour to a large mixing bowl and make a well. Add in yeast to the well and cover with flour, then add yoghurt, sugar and salt to the bowl. Hiding the yeast is important to keep it away from the salt, which would otherwise deactivate the yeast. Set aside.
2. Warm the soy milk in a saucepan until it is around 40-50 C. If you do not have a thermometer you can use your finger to test – the milk should feel fairly warm, but still comfortable and not hot. Pour the warm milk into the flour mix and, using a wooden spoon, combine until the dough becomes too thick to stir. Flour the benchtop and place dough on top. Knead for 7-8 minutes or until the dough becomes smooth and elastic, adding more flour only as needed to stop the dough sticking to your hands and the benchtop. Wash out your mixing bowl, dry and then lightly oil. Place dough into the bowl then cover and leave in a warm spot for 1 hour or until it doubles in size.
3. PREPARE FILLINGS: Meanwhile, prepare the Kanzi® apple pie filling. Core Kanzi® apples and dice into 1 cm cubes. Place the butter, sugar and diced Kanzi® apples into a medium saucepan and cook over medium heat for approx 20 mins, stirring occasionally, or until the Kanzi® apples have completely softened. Turn off the heat and set aside to cool. In a small bowl make the cinnamon sugar by mixing the sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg. You will use the butter in the next step. Grease a large, deep dish baking tray (ours was 33cm x 25cm) with butter or oil and also set this aside.
4. FILL AND ROLL: After the dough has risen, flour the bench and roll out the dough to a large rectangle. Take time to create an even thickness, around 1cm thick. Spread the set aside butter over the entire surface then top with an even layer of the cinnamon sugar. Try to get the whole rectangle evenly covered. Next, spread the cooled Kanzi® apple mixture on top and again spread evenly.
5. Now it is time to roll the log. Starting from the long end and roll up the side to create a long log. You want to roll it fairly tightly, but without squishing the dough. Once you have created a log it is time to cut it into 12 even slices. The best way to do this is with dental floss, though a very sharp knife will work. Place each slice, with the cut side facing up, into the greased tray. Preheat the oven to 180 C and set aside the covered tray of scrolls in a warm spot to rise for a further 30 minutes while the oven preheats.
6. Bake for 25 minutes, or until the scrolls are golden brown on top. Brush freshly baked scrolls with extra vegan butter to get the nice gloss top – and you can absolutely enjoy them while warm, or allow to cool and follow the next step to frost.
7. To make the optional cream cheese frosting sift icing sugar into a mixing bowl. Add cream cheese and vanilla. Whisk together until smooth, then spread on top on cooled scrolls and EAT.

Smart Tips:

• Vegan butter can be substituted for margarine or melted coconut oil
• If these delicious scrolls manage to last more than the day, you can store them in an airtight container in the panty overnight, or in the fridge for a few days.