Quintessential Pecan Sticky Buns Recipes

PECAN STICKY BUNS

Steps:

• Dissolve yeast in warm water in a large mixing bowl. Add buttermilk, eggs, 2 1/2 cups flour, 1/2 cup of the butter or margarine, 1/2 cup of the sugar, baking powder and salt. Blend 30 seconds with mixer on low speed, scraping sides and bottom of bowl. Beat 2 minutes on medium speed. Stir in remaining 3 cups flour. (Dough should remain soft and slightly sticky) Knead for 5 minutes, or about 200 turns on a lightly floured board. Cover dough and allow to rest for half an hour.
• Divide dough in half and roll each half into a 12x7 inch rectangle. Spread each half with 1 tablespoon soft butter and sprinkle with 1/4 cup of the sugar and 1 teaspoon of the ground cinnamon. Roll up the halves, beginning at the wide side. Seal well by pinching the seams. Cut each roll into 12 slices.
• Coat two 9 inch round cake pans with 1/4 cup melted butter, 1/4 cup brown sugar, and 1/2 cup chopped pecans in each pan. Place 12 dough slices in each pan, leaving a small space between slices. Let rise until doubled.
• Bake in a preheated 375 degrees F (190 degrees C) oven for 30 minutes. Invert pans onto serving plates immediately.

PECAN STICKY BUNS

Steps:

• Place the yeast and warm water in a small bowl and stir with a fork to dissolve the yeast. Allow it to stand for about 3 minutes.
• Mix the flour and salt together in a large bowl. Add the warm water and the yeast mixture and stir with your fingers to moisten the flour, scraping the sides of the bowl and folding the dough over itself until it gathers into a shaggy mass.
• Move the dough to a lightly floured surface and knead it by hand for 5 minutes. This is a soft, moist dough. If the dough seems too stiff and hard to knead, add extra warm water 1 tablespoon at a time until you get a nice malleable dough. Gently shape the dough into a loose ball, cover it with plastic, and let it rest on the table for 20 minutes. (This rest period is the autolyse.)
• Gently knead the dough on the lightly floured surface for 1 to 2 more minutes, or until it becomes smooth, supple, and elastic but not too firm. The texture of the dough should be soft but springy. Shape the dough into a loose ball, place it in a lightly oiled bowl, and turn to coat the top with oil. Cover it tightly with plastic wrap and let it rise at room temperature (75 to 77 degrees F) until it has doubled in volume, about 1 1/2 to 2 hours.
• While the dough is rising; in a small saucepan, heat the 9 tablespoons butter and the dark brown sugar over low heat, stirring occasionally, until the butter has melted and the sugar is completely moistened (it won't be dissolved), then whisk until the mixture looks silky and a little lighter in color. Use 1 tablespoon softened butter to grease the sides of a 9-inch square pan, then pour in the caramel, tilting the pan slightly so the mixture spreads evenly over the bottom of the pan. Sprinkle the toasted pecans over the warm caramel and press them down slightly. Put the pan in the refrigerator to cool the caramel; be the pan's on a level surface. Put the granulated sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl and stir until evenly mixed. Set aside.
• When the dough has doubled, gently pour it out of the bowl onto the floured work surface. Flatten the dough and stretch it with your fingers to form a 13 by 10-inch rectangle, with a longside facing you. Work gently so you don't tear the dough surface. The dough should stretch easily at this point, but if it resists, let it rest for 5 minutes and resume stretching. Check to be sure the dough isn't sticking to the work surface; flour the table again, if necessary.
• Spread 3 tablespoons of the softened butter evenly over the dough, leaving a 1/2-inch strip unbuttered along the top edge. Sprinkle the cinnamon/sugar mixture generously and evenly over the butter, again leaving the top 1/2-inch of the rectangle bare. Starting with the bottom edge, roll up the dough jelly-roll fashion into a long log. If the dough sticks to the table as you're rolling, use a dough scraper to loosen it gently. Pinch gently but firmly along the seam to seal it. If necessary, gently shape the roll so it is a nice uniform log.
• Take the caramel-lined pan out of the refrigerator. Cut the log of dough into 9 equal pieces. (It's easiest to mark the roll first to show where you're going to make the cuts--a slight indentation with the knife edge will do--then use a sharp serrated knife to cut completely through the dough.) Lay the pieces cut side down on top of the caramel. Don't worry if it's a tight fit. Let rise, uncovered, at room temperature until the dough has almost doubled, about 1 to 1 1/4 hours. The rolls should fill the pan and extend 1/2 to 3/4-inch above it. In the meantime, position a rack in the center of the oven and preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Put the pan of sticky buns on a foil-lined baking sheet and place it in the oven. Bake for 10 minutes, then reduce the oven temperature to 350 degrees F and bake for 30 to 40 minutes longer, until the tops of the buns are golden brown and crusty. It's important to bake the buns long enough so the dough is cooked all the way through and the caramel topping develops properly. Set the pan of buns on a rack to cool for 5 minutes. Then quickly but carefully turn the pan upside-down and release the sticky buns onto a large flat heatproof plate. Immediately scrape out any hot caramel remaining in the bottom of the pan and spread it on the tops of the buns, filling in any bare spots. Let them cool until just warm before serving. (Clean the pan by soaking it in very hot water to dissolve the caramel.) Store any leftovers covered in plastic wrap at room temperature.

KILLER PECAN STICKY BUNS

Steps:

• Dough:.
• Combine water, yeast, and 1 teaspoon of sugar in a small bowl; stir to combine. Let stand in a warm place until small bubbles form on the surface, about 5 minutes.
• Meanwhile, heat milk, 8 tablespoons (1 stick) butter, salt, and remaining 2 teaspoons of sugar in a small saucepan over very low heat. Cook, stirring constantly, until sugar has dissolved and butter has melted. Be sure not to let the mixture become hotter than 115°, or it will kill the yeast. Remove from heat, and pour into a large bowl; add the yeast mixture. Stir until combined. Add 6 cups flour, and stir until mixture forms a soft dough. It may be necessary to add the remaining 1/2 cup flour.
• Transfer mixture to a lightly floured work surface, and knead until the dough is smooth, 5 to 8 minutes.
• Lightly oil a large bowl, and place dough in bowl. Cover, and let rise in a warm place until doubled in size, 30 to 45 minutes. At this point, dough may be stored, tightly covered, in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. Allow dough to reach room temperature before proceeding with the recipe.
• Punch dough down, and divide equally in half. Place on a clean work surface, and cover loosely with a kitchen towel or inverted bowl. Let rest for 5 to 10 minutes.
• Sticky Buns:.
• Butter two 9-inch round glass baking dishes with 2-4 tablespoons butter; set aside.
• In a small bowl, combine raisins and bourbon, and let soak until plumped, about 20 minutes.
• In a second small bowl, combine cinnamon, 1 cup brown sugar, and remaining 12 tablespoons butter; set aside.
• In a third small bowl, combine remaining 1 1/2 cups brown sugar, honey, and pecans. Spread half of mixture evenly in each prepared baking dish; set aside.
• Roll each half of dough into a 12 inch by 6-inch rectangle about 1/4-inch thick. Spread half of the brown sugar and butter mixture evenly over each half of dough, leaving a 1-inch border. Drain raisins, and sprinkle over brown-sugar mixture. Beginning with the long side of the dough, roll each half into a log. Place the logs, seam side down, on a clean work surface. Using a sharp knife, cut the logs crosswise into 1-inch-thick slices. Transfer slices, cut side down, to prepared baking dishes (the slices should fit snugly). Set aside in a warm place, and allow to rise until slightly puffy, 20 to 30 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Place baking dishes on a baking sheet with sides and bake until a cake tester inserted in the center comes out clean and the buns are golden brown, 45 to 50 minutes.
• Let cool for 5 minutes. While still warm, place a plate over baking dish. Invert baking dish to unmold. Serve warm or at room temperature.

TENDER PECAN STICKY BUNS

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine 2 cups flour, sugar, yeast and salt. In a small saucepan, heat milk and butter to 120°-130°. Add to dry ingredients; beat just until moistened. Add eggs; beat until smooth. Stir in enough remaining flour to form a soft dough (dough will be sticky). , Turn onto a floured surface; knead until smooth and elastic, about 6-8 minutes. Place in a greased bowl, turning once to grease top. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 1 hour., In a small saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Stir in brown sugar and corn syrup until combined. Pour into a well-greased 13x9-in. baking dish. Sprinkle with pecans., Punch dough down. Turn onto a floured surface. Roll into a 12x8-in. rectangle; brush with melted butter. Combine sugars and cinnamon; sprinkle over dough to within 1/2 in. of edges and press into dough. Roll up jelly-roll style, starting with a long side; pinch seam to seal. , Cut into 12 slices. Place cut side down in prepared pan. Cover and let rise until doubled, about 30 minutes. Preheat oven to 375°. , Bake 20-25 minutes or until golden brown. Immediately invert onto a serving platter. Serve warm.

KILLER PECAN STICKY BUNS

Steps:

• Prepare half the recipe for Granny Foster's Refrigerator Rolls dough through step 5.
• Butter a 9-inch round glass baking dish with 2 tablespoons butter; set aside.
• In a small bowl, combine raisins and bourbon, and let soak until plumped, about 20 minutes.
• In a second small bowl, combine cinnamon, 1/2 cup brown sugar, and remaining 6 tablespoons butter; set aside.
• In a third small bowl, combine remaining 3/4 cup brown sugar, honey, and pecans. Spread mixture evenly in prepared baking dish; set aside.
• Roll dough into a 12-by-6-inch rectangle about 1/4 inch thick. Spread the cinnamon mixture evenly over dough, leaving a 1-inch border. Drain raisins, and sprinkle over cinnamon mixture. Beginning at the long side of the dough, roll it into a log. Place the log, seam-side down, on a clean work surface. Using a sharp knife, cut the log crosswise into 1-inch-thick slices. Transfer slices, cut-sides down, to prepared baking dish (the slices should fit snugly). Set aside in a warm place, and allow to rise until slightly puffy, 20 to 30 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place baking dish on a baking sheet with sides and bake until a cake tester inserted in the center comes out clean and buns are golden brown, 45 to 50 minutes.
• Let cool for 5 minutes. While still warm, place a plate over baking dish. Invert baking dish to unmold. Serve warm or at room temperature.

CARAMEL PECAN STICKY BUNS

Steps:

• Prepare bread dough according to recipe directions. Place in large greased bowl. Cover and let rise in warm place until doubled in size, about 30 to 45 minutes (see Note).
• For Caramel Pecan Topping: Melt 1 cup butter in medium saucepan over medium heat. Add 1 cup brown sugar and corn syrup; stir until smooth. Remove from heat. Stir in vanilla. Spread evenly in 13 x 9-inch baking pan. Sprinkle evenly with pecans.
• For Cinnamon Filling: Mix 3/4 cup brown sugar, 6 tablespoons butter, flour and cinnamon in small bowl with fork until blended. Roll dough to 16 x 10-inch rectangle on lightly floured surface. Crumble filling mixture evenly over dough. Beginning at long side, roll up tightly, pressing seam to seal. Cut evenly into 15 slices. Place cut side down in prepared pan. Cover loosely with plastic wrap. Let rise in warm place (80 degrees to 90 degrees F) 30 to 45 minutes or until doubled in size.
• Heat oven to 350 degrees F. Bake buns 30 to 35 minutes or until golden brown. Cool 10 minutes to allow caramel to thicken. Invert onto serving plate. Serve warm or at room temperature.