Cinnamon Sticky Buns

Cinnamon Sticky Buns

675 min
15 servings

Cinnamon sticky buns are great make-ahead breakfast treats! This step-by-step recipe features brown sugar, pecans, and other pantry ingredients you likely already have in your home.

Ingredients

  • Dough:
  • 1/4 cup warm water (105°F to 115°F)
  • 1 (1/4-ounce) package active dry yeast
  • 1/3 cup sugar, divided
  • 3/4 cup milk
  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter (at room temperature), plus more for greasing
  • 3 large egg yolks
  • 1 tablespoon finely grated orange zest
  • 1 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 4 cups all-purpose flour, divided, plus more for dusting
  • Filling:
  • 1/2 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
  • 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • Topping:
  • 3/4 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 3 tablespoons honey
  • 1 tablespoon light corn syrup
  • 1 1/2 cups (6 ounces) coarsely chopped pecans

Directions

  1. 1

    Make the dough: In the bowl of an electric mixer, combine warm water, yeast and 1 teaspoon sugar. Stir to dissolve and let sit until foamy, about 5 minutes. Add milk, butter, remaining sugar, egg yolks, orange zest, salt and 3 cups flour. Mix on low speed until blended. Switch to a dough hook and then, again on low speed, slowly incorporate more flour, a few tablespoons at a time (up to 1 cup more), until the dough pulls away from the sides of the bowl. Increase speed to medium, kneading dough until smooth and slightly sticky (adding a little more flour if too wet), 3 to 5 minutes. Shape the dough into a ball and place in a large, buttered bowl. Turn dough over in bowl to coat with the butter. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap. Let rise in a warm place until doubled in volume, about 1 hour (or 2 hours if not in an entirely warm place). After the dough has risen, punch down. Turn out onto a lightly floured surface and let sit 20 minutes.

  2. 2

    Make the filling: Combine brown sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl. In a separate bowl, melt butter and keep separate.

  3. 3

    Roll out the dough, sprinkle with cinnamon sugar: On a floured surface, roll dough out into a 12" x 18" rectangle. Brush with melted butter and sprinkle with the cinnamon-sugar mixture. Roll into a cylinder, make crosswise cuts: Starting with the long side, roll dough into a cylinder. Place seam side down and cut crosswise into 15 slices.

  4. 4

    Make the topping: In a 1-quart saucepan, combine brown sugar, butter, honey, and corn syrup over low heat; stir until sugar and butter are melted. Pour mixture into a greased 9 x 13-inch pan and sprinkle pecans on top.

  5. 5

    Place dough rounds, flat side down, on top of prepared topping: Crowd them so they touch. Cover with plastic wrap, leaving room for the buns to rise, and refrigerate overnight.

  6. 6

    Bake: Remove the rolls from the refrigerator and let stand at room temperature while the oven preheats, about 30 to 60 minutes. Preheat the oven to 375°F. Bake buns until golden, 25 to 30 minutes.

  7. 7

    Remove from the oven and invert: Remove pan from oven and immediately (and carefully as not to spill hot topping on your toes!) invert onto a serving tray or baking dish. Let buns cool slightly and serve warm.