Salted Caramel Apple Cinnamon Rolls

This post is sponsored by General Mills, but the thoughts and opinions are my own.

There's nothing better on a cold morning than baking up a pan of these warm and delicious 

Salted Caramel Apple Cinnamon Rolls. It's a comforting breakfast that the whole family will love! 

Christmas is right around the corner and I'm behind, as always. Every year I say I'm going to get a jump on my Christmas shopping early, but it never fails that my kids don't give me their lists until last minute. Why do they like to do that? I know..because they're boys! They never know what to ask for which makes it a little harder to start early. Luckily they're handsome! Does the same thing happen in your family?

One thing I've got going for me is my Christmas day menu. Every year we celebrate with my parents at our house so I can get a head start on my planning as early as I want to. These warm and decadent Salted Caramel Apple Cinnamon Rolls are going to be the star of our Christmas morning breakfast and I can't wait!

Simple Apple Tart

Celebrate fall and the upcoming holidays with this flaky and delicious Simple Apple Tart. 

Topped with a drizzle of caramel sauce, this is one dessert that everyone is sure to love!

I received a Stemilt Growers' Curated Box at no cost to me. All opinions, as always, are my own.

Although I love everything pumpkin when fall rolls around, I have an equal amount of love for apples as well. It's been a tradition since my boys were little to head to our local orchard and pick apples and enjoy copious amounts of fresh cider and freshly baked doughnuts. We eat plenty of apples as snacks, but I love to cook with them as well. From savory dishes to sweet desserts, apples are so versatile and can be made into so many things!

Caramel Apple Sangria

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone.

#NightOfTheBat #UnmaskYourSpirit #CollectiveBias

The following content is intended for readers who are 21 or older.

This Caramel Apple Sangria is an absolute must-have this fall! It's easy, light and

refreshing and will be the hit of your next party!

Fall is here and Halloween is just around the corner. I can't believe we are already halfway through October! Its seems like my boys just started their college classes, yet they both just took midterm exams and have made it through the first half of their semesters. It's just crazy how fast time is going! I've already decorated the house for Halloween {OK so I've had it done for weeks!} and I'm excited to start thinking about our Halloween party. I love to have friends and family over to celebrate one of my favorite holidays of the year!

Apple Walnut Crumb Bars #AppleWeek

These Apple Walnut Bars are addicting and so easy to make! A sweet apple filling is layered between a shortbread crust and a crunchy topping, making them a hit with everyone!

A special thank you to Rainier Fruit, Flahavan's Oats, and all of our amazing sponsors for sponsoring this post and our #AppleWeek giveaway!

I couldn't let #AppleWeek go by without sharing one of my favorite apple desserts! These Apple Walnut Crumb Bars are easy to make, full of flavor, and totally irresistible. They are perfect for taking to a tailgate or fall party, but even better when made just for the family. You probably should share them though because I guarantee you can't eat just one!

Apple Oat Quick Bread with Caramel Sauce #AppleWeek

This tender and flavorful Apple Oat Quick Bread gets drizzled with a simple Caramel Sauce, 

making it the perfect fall breakfast or snack!

A special thank you to Rainier Fruit, Flahavan's Oats, and all of our amazing sponsors 

for sponsoring this post and our #AppleWeek giveaway!

Now that it's officially fall I'm ready to bake everything in sight. One of my favorite things about the season (and trust me I have many faves) is that it's finally cool enough to turn the oven back on. I try my best to keep the baking to a minimum during the summer, or at least do it in the mornings only. The crazy heatwave has finally broken here in Michigan and I couldn't be more excited. Cookies, cupcakes and breads, like this Apple Oat Quick Bread, are cranking out of my kitchen like mad. There is nothing quite like a slice of homemade bread to go with your cup of coffee in the morning, am I right?

Apple Pecan Chicken Salad

Rotisserie chicken, apples, celery, and pecans are tossed in a creamy yogurt dressing 

to make this light and delicious Apple Pecan Chicken Salad!

One thing you can always find in my refrigerator is a rotisserie chicken. They are so versatile and can be used in so many different dishes, from wraps to quesadillas to topping a pizza. Chicken salad is a favorite around here but I never seem to make it that often. I decided to jazz up my typical chicken salad recipe with some apples, pecans, and a light and delicious yogurt dressing. I can honestly say that I am obsessed with this salad and have made it several times already since creating this recipe. It's perfect for lunch, a light dinner, and even as a snack!

Apple & Grape Breakfast Salad #BrunchWeek

This post is sponsored in conjunction with #BrunchWeek. I received product samples from sponsor 

companies to aid in the creation of the #Brunchweek recipes. All opinions are mine alone.

Lighten up your brunch menu with this creamy Apple & Grape Breakfast Salad! Fresh fruit
 is tossed in a flavorful lemony yogurt sauce that's not only delicious, but healthy too!

Happy Thursday, friends! I hope you've been enjoying #BrunchWeek so far. You didn't get a new brunch recipe from me yesterday but don't fret, I've still got two new ones coming your way this week. This Apple & Grape Breakfast Salad is one of my new favorite dishes. It's so simple, yet it's light and creamy and packed with flavor. It's perfect to serve at brunch, but also great for busy weekday mornings. You can make the dish ahead of time and eat it for the next few days. It gives me a great boost of energy and brightens my mood too!

Cinnamon Apple Oatmeal Bake #BrunchWeek

This post is sponsored in conjunction with #BrunchWeek. I received product samples from sponsor 

companies to aid in the creation of the #Brunchweek recipes. All opinions are mine alone.

This healthy and simple Cinnamon Apple Oatmeal Bake is the perfect brunch recipe! 
It's warm and comforting and is a great way to start your day!

Hello friends! It's day two of #BrunchWeek and I'm so excited to share with you this Cinnamon Apple Oatmeal Bake! Oatmeal bakes are my new best friend. They are so easy to make and also very customizable. You can swap out the fruits and spices with some of your favorites if you like. The combination of cinnamon and apples reminds me of my childhood, when I used to eat the little packets of instant oats for breakfast. My kids loved those too when they were little. {Actually, Evan still does!} This dish is perfect for breakfast or brunch as it feeds a crowd. Don't worry though, if you decide to make it for just your family and have leftovers, it's equally delicious warmed up!

Cranberry-Apple Sauce #CranberryWeek

This beautiful, bright red Cranberry-Apple Sauce will soon become a staple on your holiday dinner table! 

Simple and easy to make, it's both tart and sweet, and full of flavor. 

Welcome to #CranberryWeek, hosted by Caroline's Cooking and A Kitchen Hoor's Adventures! All week my blogger friends and I will be sharing cranberry-inspired creations in celebration of National Cranberry Day. Scroll down to the bottom of this post to check out the delicious recipes that are being shared today! 

First up for me is this beautiful, bright red, flavorful Cranberry-Apple Sauce. Truth be told, growing up I did not like cranberries at all. I couldn't even eat cranberry jelly, whether it was from a can or homemade. I just did not like the taste. Fast forward several years and depending on how they're prepared, I kinda love them. This Cranberry-Apple Sauce has become one of my favorite recipes during the holidays. Fresh cranberries are cooked with sweet honeycrisp apples, a little sugar, water, and a cinnamon stick until the flavors meld into one. It's quite fanastic if I do say so myself.

German Apple Pancake #SundaySupper

This German Apple Pancake, also known as a Apfelpfannkuchen, is made from a simple batter that is poured over caramelized apples and baked until it's puffed up and airy. It makes a fun breakfast or brunch for the whole family!

Guten Tag! {That means good day in German!} I'm really excited to be celebrating Oktoberfest with my #SundaySupper family today. Being of German heritage, I loved learning all about Oktoberfest and how it came about. Oktoberfest is the world's largest beer festival and is held annually in Munich, Bavaria, Germany. It's a 16- to 18-day folk festival running from mid or late September to the first weekend in October, with more than 6 million people from around the world attending the event every year.  The Oktoberfest is an important part of Bavarian culture, having been held since 1810. Other cities across the world also hold Oktoberfest celebrations that are modeled after the original Munich event.

Baked Apple Cinnamon Doughnuts #BrunchWeek

These soft and pillowy doughnuts are baked, not fried, and full of delicious apple goodness. 

Tossed in a cinnamon-sugar mix, each little bite is like a taste of heaven!

Oh how I love a good doughnut. Back in the day, I could throw down on my favorite Long John cream filled doughnuts without batting an eye. Nowadays, my hips tell me that's not such a good idea. Don't get me wrong, I still indulge every once in awhile, just not as often as I used to. 

I've learned that just because I can't eat Long Johns every day, that doesn't mean I can't have doughnuts ever again. I love making doughnuts at home and baking them, which takes a lot of the fat and calories out since I'm not frying them in oil. Plus, my versions don't typically have a cream filling. 

Apple Browned Butter Tart #SundaySupper

This beautiful tart is filled with delicious Honeycrisp apples and a browned butter custard filling that is simply irresistible! 

Although I love to bake, pies have never been my forte. I'm not exactly sure what it is. Maybe I'm intimidated by the whole crust thing. Or just the precision of everything. Whatever the reason is, I seem to gravitate towards baking everything else other than pie!

When I found out the theme for this weeks' Sunday Supper was pie, I knew I had to get in the kitchen and come up with something special. My creation is this Apple Browned Butter Tart. With it's flaky crust, creamy custard filling, and tender apples, it's a dessert you'll want to make again and again!

Apple Coconut Breakfast Cake

This sweet and delicious coffee cake is loaded with apples and coconut and is perfect for breakfast!

I love cake. Pretty much any kind of cake. But I really love a cake that is made for breakfast. I'll admit, I've had a piece of chocolate cake or birthday cake on an occasional morning with a cup of coffee. Admit it, I know you have too! But make a cake specifically for breakfast and I'm ALL over it.

Recently I received a box of gorgeous Stemilt Pinata apples and although they taste amazing as is, I couldn't wait to put them in a few recipes. This Apple Coconut Breakfast Cake was the very first thing I made and man was that a good idea! Pinata apples are crisp and juicy and have a tropical taste, which pairs perfectly with the coconut in this cake.

Sweet Potato and Apple Soup

This smooth and silky sweet potato and apple soup makes a warm and comforting meal!

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. 

#RecipeTwist #CollectiveBias

I eat soup pretty much all year round, but I absolutely love it in the fall and winter. There is nothing better than making a pot of homemade soup and the aromas it fills the house with. From French onion to creamy tomato to cheesy broccoli, I've cooked a lot of soups over the years, and I certainly have my favorites.

I've had butternut squash and apple soup before in a restaurant, but never made it at home. I decided to give it a try recently and make my own, but I gave my recipe a twist by using sweet potatoes instead of squash. I love sweet potatoes and thought they would be a perfect pairing with fresh apple and some nutmeg, and boy was I right! The soup is absolutely delicious and was quickly devoured by my entire family.

Apple Pecan Bundt Cake with Salted Caramel Drizzle

This delicious cake is filled with Michigan apples and pecans and topped with a decadent salted caramel drizzle. 

It's a great dessert, but I love eating it for breakfast with my coffee!

Today I'm really excited to be the Guest Blogger over at Michigan Apples! Last year I was blessed to go on an amazing tour with them, and I learned firsthand the history of apple orchards, the growing process, the picking process, and so much more. It was such a fun day and I learned a ton! (You can read all about my experience here) When I came back all I wanted to do was cook with apples. The great thing is that apples can be used in both savory and sweet dishes. They are very versatile like that. The first recipe I created once I was back home was an Apple, Fig, Feta and Arugula Pizza. A sweet, spicy and savory treat that my whole family loved.

Cheddar Apple Quesadillas

Honeycrisp apples and mild cheddar cheese come together to create a delicious quesadilla, 
perfect for a snack any time of the day!

We are a cheese loving family. My oldest son and I both love just about every cheese there is out there. Sharp cheddar, salty Parm, nutty Fontina...I don't think I've met a cheese I haven't liked!

Because we love cheese so much, I tend to cook with it a lot. Grilled cheese sandwiches are a favorite. I love to try different kinds and flavor combinations and get all fancy rather than just going the traditional route. It's so much fun to be creative!

Apple Pie with Toffee Glaze

Delicious apple pie gets a decadent touch with the addition of a simple toffee glaze and sea salt!

The holiday season is such a busy time of the year. We decorate, cook, bake, shop, and wrap, and somehow manage to get some sleep somewhere in between. Don't get me wrong, I love the holidays! It just seems like we are so busy that it flies by in the blink of an eye.

I love to bake during the holidays. I always bake cookies for friends and family, and I'm usually in charge of desserts for our gatherings as well. I've learned over the years that not everything has to be made from scratch. Sometimes it's nice to take shortcuts so we have more time to spend with everyone. I mean, the season only comes around once a year!

For Thanksgiving I decided to save a little time in the kitchen and bake one of Marie Callender's delicious Lattice Apple Pies. I gave it my own touch by making a simple toffee glaze to drizzle over the top, then added just a touch of sea salt to give it that sweet and salty kick. The results were outstanding!

This apple pie is delicious on it's own, just like homemade, but the toffee glaze and sea salt just kick it up a notch. Give this pie a try, you'll save time in the kitchen which means more time with family and friends. And your guests will be impressed with your dessert!

What do you do to save time during the holidays? Share your secrets with me! 

Apple Pie with Toffee Glaze
Author: Sarah Bates | The Chef Next Door
Serves 8
Print this recipe

Ingredients:
(1) Marie Callender's Lattice Apple Pie
2 Tbsp unsalted butter
3 Tbsp brown sugar
3 Tbsp heavy cream
1/4 tsp kosher salt
1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract
Flaked sea salt

Prepare the pie as directed on the back of the box. Once the pie is done baking, allow it to cool for at least two hours on a wire rack. 

While the pie is cooling, make the glaze. Add the butter, brown sugar, cream and salt to a small saucepan. Cook over medium high heat and bring to a boil, then lower the heat and simmer gently for about five minutes. Remove from the heat and carefully stir in the vanilla. Set aside and allow the glaze to cool completely. 

When the pie is ready, spoon the glaze all over the pie then sprinkle with a few flakes of sea salt. Slice and serve.

Bon Appetit! 

I am participating in a Vibrant Influencer network campaign for Marie Callender’s. I am receiving a fee for posting, however, the opinions expressed in this post are my own. I am in no way affiliated with Marie Callender’s and do not earn a commission or percent of sales.

Be sure visit Marie Callender's website and Facebook page to learn more about their frozen meals and desserts! 

Apple, Fig, Feta and Arugula Pizza + Michigan Apples Tour

Sweet Honey Crisps are the star of this delicious and savory apple pizza!

A few weeks ago I had the wonderful opportunity to go on an apple tour with the Michigan Apple Committee. Myself and a group of bloggers met in Grand Rapids to learn everything we could about apples and had tons of fun along the way.

Our first stop was Sietsema Orchards in Ada. We talked with Andy, the owner, and he shared with us the history of his orchard and all the different varieties of apples that they grow. They have 150 varieties on 15 acres of land.

Skillet Apple Pear Crisp

This delicious Fall dessert is quick, easy, and made in one skillet!

For me, nothing says fall like a warm apple crisp or cobbler. That is the quintessential fall dessert in my mind. The dish is comforting, makes the house smell absolutely amazing, and reminds me of my childhood.

This apple pear crisp is made in one skillet, is quick, easy and most importantly, delicious. You can have it on the table in less than 45 minutes. So what are you waiting for? Grab the ingredients and get cooking!