Pecan Honey Sticky Buns (Printable)

Soft buns with cinnamon sugar, pecans, and a rich honey caramel glaze for a sweet, indulgent bite.

# What You Need:

→ Dough

01 - 3 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 1/4 cup granulated sugar
03 - 1 packet active dry yeast (2 1/4 tsp)
04 - 1/2 tsp salt
05 - 3/4 cup whole milk, warmed to 110°F
06 - 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
07 - 2 large eggs

→ Filling

08 - 1/2 cup light brown sugar, packed
09 - 2 tsp ground cinnamon
10 - 1/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
11 - 1 cup pecans, roughly chopped

→ Honey Caramel Sauce

12 - 1/2 cup unsalted butter
13 - 1/2 cup honey
14 - 1/2 cup light brown sugar, packed
15 - 1/2 cup heavy cream
16 - 1/2 tsp salt
17 - 1 cup pecan halves

# Directions:

01 - Combine warm milk, yeast, and a pinch of sugar in a large bowl; let stand 5 to 10 minutes until foamy.
02 - Add melted butter, eggs, remaining sugar, and salt to the yeast mixture. Mix well, then gradually incorporate flour until a soft dough forms.
03 - Knead dough on a lightly floured surface for 6 to 8 minutes until smooth and elastic. Place in a greased bowl, cover, and let rise in a warm area until doubled, about 1 hour.
04 - In a saucepan over medium heat, melt butter. Stir in honey, brown sugar, and salt until smooth. Add heavy cream and simmer for 2 minutes, stirring constantly. Remove from heat and mix in pecan halves. Pour sauce into a greased 9x13-inch baking dish.
05 - Punch down risen dough and roll out on a floured surface into a 16x12-inch rectangle.
06 - Spread softened butter evenly over dough. Sprinkle with brown sugar, cinnamon, and chopped pecans.
07 - Starting from the long side, roll dough tightly into a log. Slice into 12 equal pieces.
08 - Place buns cut side down over the honey caramel sauce in the baking dish. Cover and let rise for 30 minutes until puffy.
09 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Bake buns for 25 to 30 minutes until golden brown and cooked through.
10 - Cool buns for 5 minutes, then invert baking dish onto a serving platter to reveal sticky pecan topping. Serve warm.

# Expert Hints:

01 -
  • One-pot meal replaced with layered sticky buns
  • Decadent honey caramel sauce with pecans
02 -
  • Use warm milk to activate yeast properly
  • Ensure dough doubles in size for best texture
03 -
  • Lightly toast pecans before adding for extra crunch
  • Use a sharp knife to slice buns cleanly
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