Apple Pecan Sticky Buns are perfect for fall weekends, best served piping hot and just out of the oven. Picture a fall day: the leaves are turning brilliant colors, the sun is shining, and the air is brisk. The intoxicating smell of warm Apple Pecan Sticky Buns fills the house. Grab a cup of coffee, the newspaper and a few of these delectable treats and relax. This scenario may be a dream for most of us, but I like to think that one bite of these warm sticky buns has the power to transport you to a happy place. As Superman Cooks readers know, Jackie is the baker in our partnership, but I decided to allow her a well-deserved break and give this idea a try. I have to say that I think they turned out great.
I am crazy about the pictures that Jackie took of my sticky buns, but they do not do the taste or the smell of these little beauties justice. The aroma of these sticky buns baking in the oven on a weekend morning is amazing, kind of like the smell of my teenage daughter’s bedroom when she has three different sugary-scented candles burning at once (except one hundred times better). These sticky buns look like you ran to the local bakery and picked them up, but the sweet aromas are proof that they were made with love.
We actually made extra sugary topping to spread on the buns once they were out of the oven because it tasted so heavenly. The trick to this recipe is to try not to eat all the sugary topping before the rolls were done baking. I could be found dipping pecan pieces into the buttery topping (like chips in chip dip) as I waited for the buns to rise. This is my kind of baking: the kind where you make extra to share with your favorite people, the kind that has the ability to transport you.

Apple Pecan Sticky Buns

Author: Superman Cooks
Prep Time: 3 hours
Cook Time: 20 mins
Total Time: 3 hours 20 mins
Yield: 12 rolls 1x
Category: Dessert or Breakfast
Cuisine: American

Scale

Ingredients

6 tbsp unsalted butter, softened
½ c milk
3 C AP flour
½ C sugar
1 packet rapid rise dry yeast
¾ tsp salt
2 large eggs
For the filling:
1 apple, peeled and diced
¾ C granulated sugar
2 tbsp cinnamon
8 tbsp butter
For the topping:
2 C pecan halves
1/2 C brown sugar
1/4 C maple syrup
8 tbsp butter, softened

Instructions

To make the topping:
In a mixer, mix together butter, syrup and brown sugar until fluffy (about 5 minutes).
To make the Cinnamon Roll:
In a small pot, bring milk to almost boiling. Remove from heat, add butter and allow to melt.
Combine the flour, salt, sugar and yeast in a stand mixer with dough attachment.
Slowly add the milk mixture and eggs until combined.
Knead on low for 6-8 minutes until ball is formed.
Remove from mixer and place in a large bowl that is sprayed with cooking spray.
Cover loosely with plastic and set aside for the dough to rise about 1½ hours.
Butter a 10′ cast iron skillet (9 X 13 baking dish will work also)
In a small bowl, combine the sugar and cinnamon for the filling
Turn the dough onto a lightly floured surface and roll out to measure 13×20 rectangle.
Melt 8 tbsp butter (from filling) and spread with pastry brush over surface of dough.
Sprinkle cinnamon and sugar mixture over butter covering entire surface.
Sprinkle finely diced apple over entire sheet of dough.
Starting at the small end roll dough to form pinwheel.
Once done, cut log with serrated knife into 12 equal pieces.
Take topping mixture and place in bottom of pan and spread until covered bottom.
Top with 2 cups of pecan halves.
Take the cinnamon rolls and place in pan on top of pecans .
Cover with plastic wrap and allow to sit at room temperature for 1-2 hours until rolls have risen and are touching each other.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees and bake rolls for 20 minutes or until golden brown.
Remove from oven and allow to cool for 2 minutes.
Place inverted plate on top of rolls and being careful flip pan over and remove pan. The topping will be very hot so be careful to not get on skin.
Serve warm.