Coop's Outrageous Sticky Buns

by Cooper Boone
(NY, NY)

Easy Pecan Sticky Buns Recipe

These easy pecan sticky buns start with frozen bread dough, making them a simple baking project for families. Filled with cinnamon and brown sugar and topped with buttery pecans and molasses, they're perfect for holiday breakfasts, weekend brunches, and special occasions.

Ingredients

1 loaf frozen white bread dough, thawed in refrigerator
5 tablespoons flour, for dusting work surface
1 stick unsalted butter, softened
1 cup packed brown sugar
1 tablespoon cinnamon
Butter-flavored cooking spray
1 Cup unsalted pecans
Pinch of salt
Molasses, for drizzling

Directions

Preheat oven to 375°F. Lightly flour a work surface and roll the bread dough into a 15 x 7-inch rectangle. Spread half of the softened butter over the dough. Sprinkle with 1/2 cup brown sugar and the cinnamon. Roll the dough into a log and cut into 12 one-inch slices. Spray a 12-cup muffin tin with cooking spray. Place a small dollop of the remaining butter in the bottom of each cup. Sprinkle each cup with about 1 teaspoon brown sugar, add 3 to 4 pecans, a tiny pinch of salt, and a small drizzle of molasses. Place one dough slice into each muffin cup. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from the oven and immediately invert onto a wire rack or baking sheet. Serve warm.

Yield: 12 sticky buns.

Serving Ideas

Serve warm with fresh fruit, scrambled eggs, hot cocoa, or coffee for a special breakfast or brunch.

Kid Cooking Tip

Kids can help spread the filling, roll the dough, place pecans into the muffin cups, and assemble the sticky buns before baking.

Variation Ideas

Try walnuts instead of pecans, add raisins to the filling, or drizzle the finished buns with a simple powdered sugar glaze.

Sticky Buns vs. Cinnamon Rolls: Both recipes start with a cinnamon-sugar filled dough, but sticky buns are baked over a buttery brown sugar topping with pecans and then flipped after baking. This creates the signature gooey caramel topping. Cinnamon rolls are usually topped with icing or cream cheese frosting instead of a sticky caramel coating.