This Effortless 2-Ingredient Dessert Is Perfect for Fall

There are still a few weeks left of summer, but the flavors of fall are already calling to me. And while I haven’t sipped on a pumpkin spice latte yet, cooking my favorite cozy recipes is well under way. 

In the last week alone, I’ve made a delicious Mississippi pot roast, slow cooker salsa verde chicken, and a skillet version of our creamy chicken and orzo bake. What I haven’t done yet, however, is begin to tackle my list of autumn-inspired baking ideas, which includes pumpkin bars, banana bread, and apple pie. 

Recently, as I was scrolling through social media, an unbelievably simple dessert caught my eye. It’s only two ingredients, requires less than five minutes of prep time, and looks so good that it skipped the line and went right to the top of my baking list. 

How to Make the 2-Ingredient Apple Cinnamon Roll Bake 

TikToker Morgan Winton of @ourwintonhome often shares easy recipes that are perfect for crowds. When I saw Winton’s recipe for a two-ingredient apple cinnamon roll bake, I knew I just had to try it. To get started, all you need is a can of cinnamon roll dough and a can of pie filling. The video’s creator uses store bought apple pie filling, but you can use any flavor you like.

In the video, we see bite-sized cinnamon roll dough pieces added to a greased baking dish. Then, the pie filling is spread on top of the dough pieces in an even layer and baked until golden brown. From here, we see Winton drizzle the dessert with icing and serve. We can’t tell if the scoop is topped with ice cream or whipped cream, but we can imagine either would taste great. 

The comment section is filled with praise for the straightforward dish. “That looks super good and super easy to throw together,” said one person. “I’ve made this one in my crock pot before when we go camping. Best breakfast ever!” added another. One user shared how they would customize the recipe, writing “I would put another batch of cinnamon rolls on top to make crust.”

Tips for Making 2-Ingredient Apple Cinnamon Roll Bake

One of my personal rules is that I never share a recipe with a crowd without giving it a test run first. And even though this is an easy one to follow, the same rule applies.

Here’s what I learned while testing this recipe: 

• Pick the right pan: The TikTok video doesn’t specify a pan size, but in my trial, I used a 9-inch round baking dish. I found the amounts were perfect for this size, but you can also use an 8×8-inch square baking dish.
• Adjust cook time as needed: The recipe states to bake this at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) but doesn’t specify a cook time. I found it needed 18 to 20 minutes to fully cook, possibly more if you’re using large cinnamon rolls. I would recommend baking the dish until the pie filling is bubbling at the sides. This will not only ensure the center is fully cooked but also help the filling set up better during the cooling phase. 
• Arrange rolls in a single layer: Raw dough pieces are easy to miss when covered in pie filing. A single layer will ensure the cinnamon rolls are properly baked.
• Get creative with flavors: I tried this recipe with apple pie filing and cherry pie filling, but you can use any flavor you like. This includes blueberry, blackberry, or pumpkin pie filling. If I made this dish again, I would probably add a cinnamon crumb topping for crunch and extra flavor. Beyond pie filling, feel free to experiment with different flavored canned cinnamon rolls, such as Pillsbury Grands Pumpkin Spice Rolls.