Sticky Buns with Pecans: A Sweet and Gooey Indulgence

These Sticky Buns are the ultimate indulgence for anyone who loves a combination of soft dough, sweet cinnamon filling, and a sticky, caramelized pecan topping. Made with a buttery dough, they are rolled and filled with cinnamon and sugar, then baked in a decadent brown sugar and honey glaze with pecans. The result? A gooey, sticky, and utterly irresistible treat that’s perfect for any occasion.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe:

You’ll love these sticky buns for their soft, pillowy dough and the rich, gooey pecan topping. The brown sugar, honey, and butter topping creates a caramel-like glaze that perfectly complements the cinnamon-sugar filling. The recipe might take a little time, but the result is a batch of warm, sweet, and sticky buns that are absolutely worth the effort!

Perfect Occasion:

These sticky buns are perfect for a weekend brunch, holiday breakfast, or as a sweet treat to serve with coffee or tea. They’re great for special occasions like birthdays or family gatherings, and they’ll fill your kitchen with the irresistible smell of cinnamon and caramelized pecans.

Decoration Tips:

For an extra touch, drizzle some additional caramel sauce over the sticky buns just before serving. You can also sprinkle extra chopped pecans on top for added crunch. If you’re feeling adventurous, add a light dusting of powdered sugar or even a drizzle of vanilla glaze.

Ingredients:

For the Dough:

• 13g fresh yeast
• 100g whole milk (room temperature)
• 1 egg
• 15g granulated sugar
• 10g vanilla sugar (or substitute with regular sugar)
• 300g bread flour (T65)
• 5g salt
• 100g unsalted butter (82% fat, room temperature)

For the Filling:

• 80g unsalted butter (82% fat, room temperature)
• 120g brown sugar
• 1 tsp cinnamon

For the Topping:

• 40g unsalted butter
• 55g brown sugar
• 20g honey
• 65g chopped pecans

Instructions:

1. Prepare the Dough:
   • In a large bowl, mix together the fresh yeast, milk, egg, granulated sugar, bread flour, and salt. Knead the mixture for 4 minutes until it starts coming together.
   • Add the room-temperature butter and continue kneading for another 8 minutes until the dough is smooth and elastic.
   • Let the dough rise for 45 minutes in a warm place.
2. Roll Out the Dough:
   • Once the dough has risen, roll it out into a rectangle measuring 30 x 40 cm.
3. Prepare the Filling:
   • In a small bowl, beat the room-temperature butter with brown sugar until well combined. Add the cinnamon and mix thoroughly.
   • Spread the filling evenly over the rolled-out dough.
4. Roll and Slice the Dough:
   • Roll the dough tightly into a log, starting from one of the longer sides. Use dental floss or a sharp knife to cut the log into 9 equal rolls, each about 4 cm thick. Set aside.
5. Prepare the Topping:
   • In a small saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the brown sugar, honey, and a pinch of salt, stirring until the mixture becomes bubbly and well combined.
   • Pour this sticky mixture into the bottom of a greased baking pan. Sprinkle the chopped pecans over the mixture.
6. Assemble and Proof:
   • Place the sliced cinnamon rolls on top of the pecan mixture in the baking pan. Cover and let the rolls rise for 1 hour.
7. Bake the Sticky Buns:
   • Preheat your oven to 200°C (390°F) and brush the tops of the buns with milk.
   • Bake at 180°C (350°F) for 17 minutes, then reduce the heat to 150°C (300°F) and bake for an additional 3 minutes until golden brown.
8. Cool and Serve:
   • Let the sticky buns sit in the baking pan for 10 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool.

Enjoy your Sticky Buns—gooey, sweet, and full of delicious pecan and cinnamon flavors!