In 2004, Danger Mouse released The Grey Album, a mashup of Jay-Z’s “The Black Album” and the Beatle’s “The White Album,” hence the title “The Grey Album” (so clever). Like other successful albums, this one was intriguing and memorable. Not to say all mashups are a success though does any remember the mashup of JT’s “Cry Me a River” with “Let it Whip”? I didn’t think so. Food mashups, like musical mashups, unite two great dishes into something epic… like cinnamon buns and apple cobbler. 

Okay, hear me out. I was staring at a bucket of apples from our tree (it’s fall right now, FYI) and started thinking about apple cobbler. So I started googling for some inspiration and came across a cinnamon bun pineapple upside-down cake recipe. I was immediately intrigued. Now, pineapple upside-down cake doesn’t scream fall to me, but cinnamon buns do. Then it hit me – CINNAMON BUN APPLE COBBLER! thus, the idea was born.   

Here is what you need to know about this dish:

• You can use homemade or store-bought cinnamon rolls, such as Pillsbury Grands Cinnamon Rolls. I’ve made this both ways, and it turns out well either way. It depends on how much time you want to invest. If you choose to make your own, I like this recipe from the Pioneer Woman or this recipe with cream cheese icing from food.com. If you decide to buy them, you will need two cans (10 large rolls). I like Pillsbury Grands! with Cinnabon cream cheese icing. 
• Use a mix of different apples. I recommend mixing tart apples, like Granny Smith, and a few sweeter apples, for more texture and a deep apple flavour. Granny Smith apples will remain tart and crisp, while the sweeter varieties will become jammy. You can use whatever you have on hand for sweeter apples: Honey Crisp, Gala, Pink Lady… any kind will do. 
• I like baking this recipe in my 13-inch cast-iron skillet, but any 10-to13-inch round pan or oven-safe skillet works. If you use a 10-inch pan and Pillsbury Grands! there will be two or three rolls leftover. You can freeze these to bake later

If you like this recipe, check out my Chocolate Peanut Butter Banana Bread Recipe!

CINNAMON BUN APPLE COBBLER RECIPE

Ingredients

1/3 cup brown sugar, packed
2 tbsps corn starch
1 tbsp lemon juice 
1 tbsp cinnamon
¼  tsp nutmeg 
½ tsp salt 
6 medium apples (I used three each of Granny Smith + Honey Crisp apples)
Butter or margarine, for the skillet or pan
2 cans of Pillsbury Grands! Cinnamon Rolls or ~ 10 large homemade cinnamon rolls

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 375F. Generously butter or grease a cast iron skillet or round pan. Set aside. 
2. Mix the brown sugar, corn starch, lemon juice, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt in a large bowl. 
3. Peel and core the apples before slicing them into thin ¼-inch slices. Add the apples to the sugar mixture and toss to combine. Add the apples to the buttered skillet or pan and arrange in an even layer. 
4. Place the skillet or pan in the oven and bake the apple mixture for 20 minutes. Take the pan out and arrange the cinnamon rolls over the top of the apple mixture. Place the pan or skillet back in the oven and bake for another 25 to 30 minutes, or until the apple layer is bubbling and the rolls are golden brown.
5. Take the icing that comes with the rolls or homemade icing and drizzle it over the cinnamon rolls. Serve immediately, being very careful because the skillet is scorching. Enjoy! 

Did you make this recipe? Tag @chrissymeetsworld on Instagram!

Sincerely,
Chrissy