Gooey Goodness: Perfect Pecan Sticky Buns

Hey there, baking buddies! Today, I’m here to tantalize your taste buds and fill your kitchen with the irresistible aroma of freshly baked pecan sticky buns. Trust me; these delightful treats are like little parcels of happiness wrapped in dough. So, roll up your sleeves and let’s dive into the gooey goodness together!
1. The Sweet Beginnings: Picture this: a lazy Sunday morning, the sun gently streaming through the curtains, and the scent of cinnamon wafting through the air. That’s the magic of pecan sticky buns. These delectable delights are more than just a breakfast pastry; they’re a warm embrace from the oven, a moment of pure indulgence in every bite.
2. Embracing the Dough: Now, let’s talk about the heart of our pecan sticky buns—the dough. Soft, pillowy, and oh-so-perfectly sweet, this dough is where the magic happens. Start by adding warm milk, water, egg yolks and softened butter in a mixer bowl. Then add the flour, sugar, yeast. Knead it all together until it’s smooth and elastic, then let it rise until it’s doubled in size. Trust me; the patience is worth it!
3. Caramelized Goodness: Next up, let’s talk about that luscious caramel sauce. This is what gives our sticky buns their signature gooeyness and irresistible sweetness. In a saucepan, melt butter and brown sugar, honey and corn syrup until nicely melted together. Pour this heavenly mixture into the bottom of your baking dish, creating a gooey bed for our buns to rest in. Sprinkle with the chopped pecans. It’s the stuff dreams are made of, folks!
4. The Filling: Now, onto the filling. Prepare a heavenly concoction of cinnamon, brown sugar. Spread this decadent mixture evenly over your buttered rolled-out dough, then roll it up into a tight, doughy log. As you slice it into individual buns, revel in the anticipation of what’s to come—the perfect blend of sweetness, spice, and nutty goodness.

5. Bake to Perfection: Pop those beauties into the oven and let the magic happen. As they bake, your kitchen will be filled with the most tantalizing aroma imaginable—warm cinnamon, toasted pecans, and caramelized sugar. It’s pure bliss in every breath. After they’ve turned a beautiful golden brown and the caramel sauce is bubbling around the edges, it’s time to pull them out and let them cool slightly.
6. Dive In and Indulge: Finally, the moment we’ve all been waiting for—time to indulge in our freshly baked pecan sticky buns. As you pull them apart, savor the sticky caramel strands that cling to your fingers. Each bite is a symphony of flavors and textures—soft dough, crunchy pecans, and gooey caramel. It’s a taste sensation like no other, guaranteed to put a smile on your face and warmth in your heart.
Gooey Pecan Sticky Buns
Course: Breakfast12
servings2
hours30
minutes2
hours30
minutesIngredients
- Dough
1/4 cup warm water
3/4 cup warm milk
1/4 cup white sugar
4 tablespoons softened unsalted butter
3 large egg yolks
1 teaspoon salt
4 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 oz package of instant yeast
- Filling
4 tablespoons butter, melted
1 tablespoon cinnamon
1/2 cup light brown sugar, packed
- Topping
3/4 cup light brown sugar, packed
4 tablespoons butter
3 tablespoons honey
1 tablespoon light corn syrup
1 1/2 cup pecans, coarsely chopped
Directions
- Place all of the dough ingredients into bowl of mix master using dough hook. If dough is too wet add up to another 1/4 cup of flour. Knead for 5 minutes. Shape dough into ball and place in buttered bowl turning to coat both sides. Cover with towel or siran wrap and keep in warm place until doubled in size (approximately 1 hour). After dough has risen, punch down and turn onto lightly floured surface or silicone mat. Let rest for 15 minutes.
- While the dough is resting prepare your filling. Melt butter and let cool slightly. Combine cinnamon and brown sugar in separate bowl.
- Roll out the dough to 15″x 20″ rectangle. Brush with the melted butter and sprinkle with the brown sugar and cinnamon leaving a 1/2 edge. Starting on long edge, tightly roll the dough into log and pinch seam together. Turn over with seam side down. Cut into 1 1/2″ to 2″ pieces or size to give you 12 rolls.
- In a medium sized pot, combine the topping ingredients and cook on low heat stirring until the sugar has melted. Pour mixture into bottom of greased 9″ x 13″ pan. Sprinkle with pecans. Place cut rolls seam side down on top of topping. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise at room temp for an hour or place in fridge overnight. If you choose the overnight option, remove from fridge for 1 hour before baking.
- Bake in preheated 350 degree oven for 30 minutes for until nicely golden brown. Remove from oven and CAREFULLY turn over onto wax paper lined cookie sheet. Be careful not to burn yourself with the hot topping.
- Let cool slightly and serve warm.
Notes
- You can make this dough in a bread maker as well if you wish. Place all ingredients in bread maker in the order that I have listed and select dough cycle. Follow remainder of steps as I have listed.
- Placing your covered dough in the oven with the light turned on is a great way to help the dough rise. DO NOT TURN OVEN ON.
