Soft Pecan Honey Buns (Printer-Friendly)

Pillowy buns with cinnamon, pecans, and honey caramel create a decadent breakfast or dessert treat.

# What You Need:

→ Dough

01 - 3 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 1/4 cup granulated sugar
03 - 1 packet (2 1/4 tsp) active dry yeast
04 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
05 - 3/4 cup whole milk, warmed to 110°F
06 - 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
07 - 2 large eggs

→ Filling

08 - 1/2 cup light brown sugar, packed
09 - 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
10 - 1/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
11 - 1 cup pecans, roughly chopped

→ Honey Caramel Sauce

12 - 1/2 cup unsalted butter
13 - 1/2 cup honey
14 - 1/2 cup light brown sugar, packed
15 - 1/2 cup heavy cream
16 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
17 - 1 cup pecan halves

# How to Cook:

01 - Combine warm milk, yeast, and a pinch of sugar in a large bowl. Let stand 5 to 10 minutes until foamy.
02 - Add melted butter, eggs, remaining sugar, and salt to the yeast mixture. Mix well. Gradually incorporate flour until a soft dough forms.
03 - Knead the dough on a floured surface for 6 to 8 minutes until smooth and elastic. Place in a greased bowl, cover, and let rise in a warm place until doubled in size, approximately 1 hour.
04 - In a saucepan over medium heat, melt butter. Stir in honey, brown sugar, and salt until smooth. Pour in heavy cream and simmer for 2 minutes, stirring constantly. Remove from heat and stir in pecan halves. Transfer sauce to a greased 9x13-inch baking dish.
05 - Punch down the risen dough. Roll out on a floured surface to a 16x12-inch rectangle.
06 - Spread softened butter evenly over dough. Sprinkle with brown sugar, cinnamon, and chopped pecans.
07 - Starting from the long side, roll the dough tightly into a log. Slice into 12 equal pieces.
08 - Arrange buns cut side down over the honey caramel sauce in the baking dish. Cover and let rise for 30 minutes until puffy.
09 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Bake buns for 25 to 30 minutes until golden brown and cooked through.
10 - Cool buns for 5 minutes, then invert the pan onto a serving platter so the sticky pecan topping is on top. Serve warm.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • Soft pillowy texture
  • Rich honey caramel sauce with pecans
02 -
  • For extra flavor, add a pinch of ground cardamom or nutmeg to the filling
  • These buns are best enjoyed fresh but can be reheated gently in the microwave
03 -
  • Use warm milk not hot to activate yeast properly
  • Let buns rise fully to ensure fluffiness
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