Easy 2‑Ingredient Apple Pie Cups You’ll Make Again and Again

 

 

If you love easy, cozy bakes that taste like home, you’re going to adore these 2‑Ingredient Apple Pie Cups. They’re the kind of simple little treat that feels almost magical — sweet, warm apple filling tucked into golden, flaky cinnamon roll cups with hardly any effort at all. 

Perfect for busy days, after‑school snacks, or when you just want something comforting without turning the whole kitchen upside down. Quick to make, fun to eat, and guaranteed to disappear fast… these tiny apple pies are pure delight in every bite.

 

A few weeks ago my sister made this simple and delicious dessert for Sunday Dinner. I was surprised to find out just how simple they were to make.  Not only were they delicious but they looked really pretty as well.

I could hardly wait for an opportunity to try making them myself.  My brother is down visiting with his wife at the moment and I was looking for a quick and easy dessert to make. I had all of the ingredients on hand and so decided to make these.

As always, they went down a real treat.  I recommend serving them slightly warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream for a really special occasion. Nobody will be complaining, I guarantee!

A bit of a cheat for sure, but well worth it!

 

INGREDIENTS REQUIRED

TO MAKE

🍎2-INGREDIENT APPLE PIE CUPS🍎

Yes, there is really only two basic ingredients required to make this delicious dessert! 

• 1 can (8 count) flaky cinnamon rolls
• 1 can of Apple pie filling (You will not need it all)

 

🍎INGREDIENT NOTES 🍎

Refrigerated Cinnamon Rolls

These are available in the refrigerator section of the grocery store. This is an ingredient which makes for a quick and fun dessert. The refrigerated rolls will give you a soft, buttery base with the perfect cinnamon swirl baked right in. They puff up beautifully in the muffin tin to create perfect edible cups that hold the apple filling beautifully. The enclosed icing melts into a gorgeous drizzle. In the U.K. you can use the Jus Rol Cinnamon Swirls puff pastry dough, which is in the refrigerated section of the shops. You will only get six cups however and they will be somewhat larger. They will be more like pastry however and delicious.

Apple Pie Filling

Canned apple pie filling keeps things simple whilst delivering that classic apple pie comfort. Sweet tender apples in a lush gooey sauce. If the slices are too big, you will need to cut them down to a smaller size. You will not need the whole tin for this recipe. (The remainder can be frozen.)

 

🍎HOW TO MAKE 2-INGREDIENT APPLE PIE CUPS🍎 

Nothing could really be easier. The hardest part is opening the tin of Cinnamon rolls without jumping out of your skin.

1. Preheat your oven to 375*F/190*C/ gas mark 5.
2. Butter 8 muffins cups really well, or spray with some non-stick baking spray. (Fill the cups you are not using with a bit of water to help prevent them from buckling in the oven.)
3. Open your can of pie filling. If the chunks of apple are very large, chop them into smaller pieces. (I just used a pair of kitchen scissors, cutting down right into the can.)
4. Open your can of cinnamon rolls, setting the icing aside. Separate the dough into 8 separate rolls.
5. Roll each roll out thinly to about four inches in circumference and then press the dough into the buttered muffin cups, pressing across the bottom and up the sides to help the dough adhere. (I just pressed them into a large flat circle between my hands. You want it to be roughly twice the circumference of the muffin cup.)
6. Spoon about 2 TBS of the apple filling into the center of each cup. (Do not overfill as it will expand in the oven.)
7. Bake in the preheated oven for 15 to 19 minutes until the dough has cooked through and is golden brown. (Try not to drool at the smell.)
8. Leave to sit in the muffin tin for about 5 minutes before removing to a wire rack to cool slightly.
9. Gently heat the icing provided with the cinnamon rolls in the microwave to soften it. (8 to 10 seconds)
10. Drizzle the icing over top of the apple cups and leave to set. (The hardest part is waiting for them to cool enough to frost and eat.)
11. Serve warm or at room temperature. Leftovers will keep at room temperature for about day.

A scoop of vanilla ice cream goes very well with these! In for a penny, in for a pound! 

 

🍎HINTS AND TIPS FOR SUCCESS🍎

Make the dough cups deep enough

Press the cinnamon roll dough up the sides of the muffin cups so it forms a proper little bowl to hold the filling. This helps prevent overflow and gives you that perfect “cup” shape.

Chop the Apple Filling

Coarsely chopping the apple pie filling makes it easier to spoon into the dough cups and ensures every bite has a good mix of fruit and gooey sauce.

Spray the Muffin tin well

A generous coat of cooking spray keeps the cups from sticking and makes removal effortless — especially important with sugary fillings.

Don't Overbake

Bake until the edges are golden brown, not dark. Overbaking can make the dough tough instead of soft and flaky.

Cool Before Drizzling

Let the cups cool in the pan for about 5 minutes so they firm up. This keeps the icing from melting too quickly and disappearing into the dough.

Warm the Icing Slightly

Microwaving the icing for 8–10 seconds makes it beautifully pourable and gives you that pretty bakery-style drizzle.

Serve Warm for the Best Texture

These cups are at their absolute best when served warm — the dough is soft, the apples are gooey, and the icing melts into every nook.

 

🍎FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS🍎

CAN I USE A DIFFERENT KIND OF PIE FILLING?

Yes! The recipe notes that any prepared fruit pie filling works — cherry, blueberry, peach, strawberry, or even a spoonful of jam if that is all you have. 

WHY DO I NEED TO CHOP THE APPLE PIE FILLING?

It’s recommended. Smaller pieces help you fit more fruit into each cup and make the filling easier to spoon in neatly.

WHAT CAN I DO TO PREVENT MY CINNAMON ROLL DOUGH FROM SHRINKING BACK?

Using a tablespoon to press the dough firmly up the sides of the muffin tin will help it to stay in place. Another suggestion is to shape the dough over the outside of a glass to form the perfect cup before placing it into the muffin tin.

CAN THESE BE MADE AHEAD OF TIME?

Yes — they reheat beautifully. You can warm them in the microwave for about 15 seconds the next day and they taste just as lovely.

HOW SHOULD I STORE ANY LEFTOVERS?

Room temperature: Overnight only, or they’ll get too gooey

Fridge: Up to 5 days in an airtight container

Freezer: Up to 6 months, in an airtight container

WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO REHEAT THEM?

From fridge or counter: 3–4 minutes at 350*F/180*C in the oven or air fryer

From freezer: 8–10 minutes at 350*F/180*C in the oven or air fryer

 

🍎A FEW OTHER RECIPES USING CINNAMON ROLLS🍎

Here are a few other recipes that we like to make using refrigerated cinnamon rolls!

TIKTOK FAMOUS CINNAMON ROLLS - Just two simple ingredients turn them into something truly irresistible — soft, fluffy, golden‑brown rolls that taste every bit as indulgent as a bakery treat. By baking refrigerated cinnamon rolls in a bath of rich heavy cream, they emerge unbelievably tender, gooey, and decadent, with that dreamy icing melting over the top in perfect swirls. They’re quick, they’re easy, and according to your own notes, they’re the best cinnamon rolls other than homemade you’ve ever eaten — even staying soft and delicious the next day. A small‑batch delight that feels like pure comfort.

EASY CINNAMON ROLL WAFFLES - The kind of breakfast magic that feels almost too simple to share — yet far too scrumptious to keep to yourself. With just one ingredient and a waffle iron, refrigerated cinnamon rolls transform into golden, crisp‑edged waffles with soft, pillowy centers and little dimples that catch every drop of warm vanilla icing. Ready in about five minutes and loved by kids, busy mums, and weekend treat‑seekers alike, they’re a sweet, cinnamony delight that tastes like comfort and feels like a cheat… in the very best way.

 

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Yield: Makes 8 servings

Author: Marie Rayner

2-Ingredient Apple Pie Cups

Prep time: 10 MinCook time: 19 MinTotal time: 29 Min

Such a simple make and oh-so-tasty! With a crisp cinnamon roll pastry, lush apple filling, and sweet glaze, these always go down a real treat.

Ingredients

• 1 can (8 count) flaky cinnamon rolls
• 1 can of Apple pie filling (You will not need it all)

Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 375*F/190*C/ gas mark 5.
2. Butter 8 muffins cups really well, or spray with some non-stick baking spray.
3. Open your can of pie filling. If the chunks of apple are very large, chop them into smaller pieces.
4. Open your can of cinnamon rolls, setting the icing aside. Separate the dough into 8 separate rolls.
5. Roll each roll out thinly to about four inches in circumference and then press the dough into the buttered muffin cups, pressing across the bottom and up the sides to help the dough adhere.
6. Spoon about 2 TBS of the apple filling into the center of each cup. Do not overfill as it will expand in the oven.
7. Bake in the preheated oven for 15 to 19 minutes until the dough has cooked through and is golden brown.
8. Leave to sit in the muffin tin for about 5 minutes before removing to a wire rack to cool slightly.
9. Gently heat the icing provided with the cinnamon rolls in the microwave to soften it. (8 to 10 seconds)
10. Drizzle the icing over top of the apple cups and leave to set.
11. Serve warm or at room temperature. Leftovers will keep at room temperature for about day.

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