Description
Delight in these decadent Butter Pecan Cinnamon Buns, combining the classic soft cinnamon roll with a luscious pecan twist. Featuring a rich blend of warm spices, gooey brown sugar filling, and crunchy pecan toppings, these buns are perfect for festive mornings like Thanksgiving or Christmas. Soft, buttery, and generously nutty, they’re an indulgent breakfast treat that will impress family and friends.
Ingredients
Scale
Dough Ingredients
- 1 cup whole milk
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, very soft
- 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, divided
- 1 (0.25 oz) package rapid rise yeast
- 3 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 3/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 large egg, at room temperature
Filling Ingredients
- 1 cup light brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
- 3/4 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
- 1/4 teaspoon cloves
- 1/2 cup butter, VERY soft
Topping Ingredients
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter
- 3/4 cup dark brown sugar, packed
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/3 cup heavy cream
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 1/2 cups pecan halves
- 1/2 cup pecans, roughly chopped
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Instructions
- Prepare the Dough: Warm the whole milk to about 110°F (lukewarm). In a large bowl, combine the warm milk with the rapid rise yeast and granulated sugar. Let it sit for 5 minutes until frothy. Add the very soft unsalted butter, egg, salt, and 3 cups of the all-purpose flour. Mix until a dough forms, then gradually add the remaining 1/2 cup flour to achieve a soft but workable consistency. Knead the dough on a floured surface for about 8-10 minutes until smooth and elastic.
- First Rise: Place the dough in a lightly greased bowl, cover with a clean kitchen towel or plastic wrap, and let it rise in a warm place for about 60 minutes or until it has doubled in size.
- Prepare the Filling: In a small bowl, mix together the light brown sugar, ground cinnamon, ground ginger, nutmeg, cloves, and the 1/2 cup of very soft butter until well combined and spreadable.
- Roll and Fill the Dough: Punch down the risen dough and transfer it to a floured surface. Roll it out into a large rectangle approximately 16×12 inches. Spread the prepared cinnamon-spiced butter filling evenly over the dough surface.
- Form the Rolls: Carefully roll the dough tightly from one long edge to the other to form a log. Pinch the seam to seal. Using a sharp knife or dental floss, cut the roll into 12 equal pieces.
- Second Rise: Grease a 9×13 inch baking pan and arrange the rolls cut-side up, spacing slightly. Cover the pan with a towel and let the rolls rise for another 30 minutes until puffy.
- Prepare the Topping Sauce: In a saucepan over medium heat, melt the 1/2 cup unsalted butter. Stir in the dark brown sugar, ground cinnamon, salt, and heavy cream. Bring to a simmer and cook until sugar is dissolved and mixture is smooth. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla extract and the pecan halves.
- Preheat Oven: While the rolls are in the second rise, preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Bake the Rolls: Pour half of the pecan topping sauce into the baking pan, spreading evenly. Place the risen rolls on top. Bake in the preheated oven for 20 minutes, or until golden brown and cooked through.
- Add Remaining Topping and Serve: Immediately after baking, spoon the remaining warm pecan topping sauce over the rolls and sprinkle the roughly chopped pecans on top for extra crunch. Allow the rolls to cool slightly before serving. Enjoy warm for the best experience.
Notes
- We’re butter pecan fanatics, so it only seems fitting that one of our favorite “splurge” breakfast treats are Butter Pecan Cinnamon Buns!
- These buns are just like classic cinnamon rolls, but with a ton of crunchy, gooey, chopped pecans on top.
- Perfect for holiday mornings like Thanksgiving or Christmas to impress your guests.
- Use room temperature ingredients to help the yeast activate and dough rise properly.
- Make sure the butter for filling and topping is very soft for easy spreading and mixing.
- For extra gooey buns, drizzle additional warm pecan sauce when serving.
- Store leftovers covered at room temperature for up to 2 days or freeze for longer storage.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bun
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 22g
- Sodium: 250mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 7g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 42g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 5g
- Cholesterol: 40mg
