Description
Tender, gooey sticky buns filled with cinnamon and pecans, topped with a rich caramelized maple syrup glaze and finished with a tangy cream cheese drizzle. Perfect for impressing guests at brunch.
Ingredients
Scale
- 3 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 2 ¼ tsp instant yeast (1 packet)
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 cup warm whole milk
- ¼ cup melted unsalted butter
- 1 large egg
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- ½ cup unsalted butter (softened, for filling)
- 1 cup dark brown sugar
- ½ cup real maple syrup
- 1 cup chopped pecans (toasted)
- 2 tsp cinnamon
- 4 oz full-fat cream cheese (softened)
- 1 cup confectioners’ sugar (sifted)
- 1–2 tbsp milk or cream
- ½ tsp vanilla extract
Instructions
- In a large bowl, whisk together flour, instant yeast, granulated sugar, and salt. Make a well in the center.
- In a separate bowl, combine warm milk, melted butter, egg, and 1 tsp vanilla. Pour wet ingredients into the dry mixture.
- Mix until a shaggy dough forms. Knead by hand for 8-10 minutes or use a stand mixer with dough hook on low for 5-7 minutes until smooth and elastic.
- Place dough in a lightly oiled bowl, cover, and let rise in a warm spot for 1-2 hours until doubled in size.
- While dough rises, melt ½ cup butter in a 9×13-inch baking dish. Stir in brown sugar and maple syrup until smooth. Sprinkle toasted pecans over the caramel.
- Punch down risen dough and roll into a 12×18 inch rectangle on a floured surface.
- Spread softened ½ cup butter over the dough, leaving a border. Mix remaining brown sugar (if using extra) and cinnamon, then sprinkle over butter.
- Roll dough tightly into a log from the long edge and pinch seam to seal.
- Cut log into 12 equal slices using dental floss or a sharp knife. Place cut-side up into the prepared baking dish.
- Cover loosely and let rise again for 30-45 minutes until puffy.
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Bake buns for 25-30 minutes until golden brown and internal temperature reaches 190°F.
- Cool in pan for 5-10 minutes. Place a serving platter over the dish and carefully flip to release buns.
- Whisk cream cheese, confectioners’ sugar, milk/cream, and ½ tsp vanilla until smooth.
- Drizzle glaze over warm buns and serve immediately.
Notes
Toast pecans in a dry skillet for 3-5 minutes before chopping to enhance flavor. Use dental floss to cut the dough log for clean slices without squishing. For make-ahead, freeze unbaked buns after the second rise; thaw and rise for 1-2 hours before baking. Glaze while buns are warm for best texture.
- Prep Time: 45 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Breakfast
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bun
- Calories: 380
- Sugar: 28
- Sodium: 220
- Fat: 16
- Saturated Fat: 9
- Carbohydrates: 52
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 6
Keywords: sticky buns, maple pecan buns, cream cheese glaze, brunch recipes, homemade bread, weekend baking, make-ahead breakfast