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Apple Cheesecake Streusel Buns

Warm, soft buns filled with sweet apple and creamy cheesecake, topped with a crunchy streusel for a delightful breakfast or dessert treat.
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Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Servings: 12 buns
Course: Breakfast, Brunch, Dessert
Cuisine: American
Calories: 250
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Dough
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour plus more for dusting
  • 1 tbsp sugar for sweetening the dough
  • 1 tsp yeast instant or active dry
  • 1 cup milk warm, for activating yeast
  • 1 large egg for enriching the dough
  • 1/2 cup butter melted, for richness
Cheesecake Filling
  • 8 oz cream cheese room temperature for easier mixing
  • 1/2 cup sugar for sweetness in the filling
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract for flavoring
Apple Filling
  • 2 cups apples finely chopped, such as Granny Smith or Honeycrisp
  • 1 tbsp sugar for sweetness
  • 1 tsp cinnamon for spice
  • 1 tsp lemon juice to enhance flavor
Streusel Topping
  • 1/2 cup all-purpose flour for the streusel
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar to give sweetness and depth
  • 1/4 cup cold butter for texture in the streusel
  • a pinch salt to enhance flavor

Method
 

Dough Preparation
  1. Make the dough by following a basic sweet roll dough recipe and let it rise until doubled.
Cheesecake Filling Preparation
  1. In a mixing bowl, beat cream cheese with sugar and vanilla until smooth.
Apple Filling Preparation
  1. Chop apples small, toss with sugar, cinnamon, and lemon juice, and cook until soft. Let cool.
Assembly
  1. Roll the dough on a floured surface into a large rectangle.
  2. Spread the cheesecake filling in a thin layer over the dough.
  3. Scatter the cooled apple filling over the cheesecake layer.
  4. Roll the dough tightly from the long side, like a jelly roll.
  5. Cut the roll into buns about 1 to 1.5 inches wide.
  6. Place buns in a greased pan with space between them.
Streusel Preparation and Baking
  1. Mix flour, brown sugar, cold butter, and a pinch of salt until crumbly to make the streusel.
  2. Sprinkle streusel over each bun.
  3. Let buns rise a short time, then bake in a preheated oven at 350°F (175°C) for 20 to 30 minutes, until golden and cooked through.
Serving
  1. Cool slightly before serving, or drizzle with a simple icing if desired.

Notes

Use room temperature cream cheese for a smooth filling. Cook apples until soft but not mushy. Chill the filling if it gets too loose before rolling the dough. Keep butter cold when making streusel for better texture. Do not overfill the dough. Test one bun for doneness before serving.