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    Home » Recipes » Breakfast Pastry Recipes

    Apple Butter Cinnamon Pecan Sticky Buns

    Published: Aug 19, 2012 · Modified: Sep 9, 2021 by Chef Dennis Littley

    346 shares
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    • Yummly
    4.75 from 8 votes
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    Say good morning with my apple butter cinnamon pecan sticky buns. It’s a delicious way to start your day!

    One of the great joys of life has got to be sticky buns warm from the oven! Especially since they tease you as they bake, with that delicious aroma making its way throughout the house…..sigh. Life is good! And someday’s it gets even better!

    sticky buns on a white plate on top of a light brown napkin sitting on a white table

    I don’t know if you’ve ever made brioche dough, but the recipe I use from Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day has got to be the easiest brioche recipe I’ve ever used. It’s basically foolproof and makes an incredible rich dough that lends itself to so many types of baked goods.

    overhead shot of small plate with two apple butter sticky buns next to large plate with the rest of buns

    You have to try this recipe, I promise you won’t believe how easy it is to make this deliciously perfect brioche dough.

    sticky buns on a white plate on top of a light brown napkin sitting on a white table with a spatula

    My apple butter pecan sticky buns are perfect for the holiday season or a great way to make your weekend mornings extra special.

    If you enjoyed this recipe you may also like these:

    • Pecan Carmel Sticky Buns
    • Pan Dulce Recipe
    • No Knead Artisan Bread

    Did you make this? Please RATE THE RECIPE below!

    Please SUBSCRIBE and FOLLOW ME on FACEBOOK, TWITTER, INSTAGRAM and PINTEREST!

    2 pecan sticky buns on a white plate
    Print Recipe Save Saved!
    4.75 from 8 votes

    Apple Butter Pecan Sticky Buns

    If you love apple butter and pecans, you're going to be in heaven with these Apple Butter Pecan Sticky Buns! This easy to make brioche dough will amaze you!
    Prep Time15 mins
    Cook Time40 mins
    dough rising2 hrs
    Total Time55 mins
    Course: Breakfast
    Cuisine: American
    Servings: 8
    Calories: 604kcal
    Author: Chef Dennis Littley

    Ingredients

    • 1 ½ cups lukewarm water
    • 1 ½ Tbsp granulated yeast 2 packets
    • 1 ½ Tbsp coarse sea salt
    • 8 eggs lightly beaten
    • ½ cup honey
    • 1 ½ Cups unsalted butter melted (3 sticks)
    • 7 ½ cups all purpose flour

    Caramel Topping

    • 6 Tbsp unsalted butter softened
    • ½ tsp salt
    • ½ cup brown sugar
    • ¼ cup Karo syrup or Honey
    • 1 cup pecan pieces

    Filling for Rolls

    • 1 cup apple butter
    • 2 tsp cinnamon
    • 1 cup pecans
    • pinch of ground black pepper
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions

    Brioche Dough

    • Mix the yeast, and water in the bowl of your mixer, mix well
    • Add in eggs, honey and melted butter, and continue to mix until well blended
    • Add in flour and salt. using your dough hook, incorporate all the flour, mix just enough so that all the flour is mixed in.
    • The dough may look loose and wetter than you think it should be, it may also look like it has lumps, that’s ok.
    • Transfer dough to another bowl, cover with a towel and allow to sit and rise for two hours.
    • Chill dough for at least 2 hours, before making the rolls*

    Caramel Topping

    • Cream the butter, salt, and brown sugar until fluffy (about 5 minutes).
    • Spread evenly over the bottom of a 9-inch cake pan. Scatter pecans over the topping and set aside till needed.

    Assembly

    • Using floured hands cut out a 1 ½ lb piece of brioche dough.
    • Dust dough with more flour and shape into a ball by stretching the dough around and under in quarter turns until it is fully shaped.
    • Using a rolling pin, roll out the dough int a ⅛ inch thick rectangle (about 12"x8") add flour as needed to keep the dough from sticking to the rolling pin or surface.*
    • While the dough is resting mix the apple butter, pecans, cinnamon, and pepper, then spread the mixture evenly over the dough
    • Start rolling the dough along the long side of the dough, so you end up with a roll.
    • If the dough feels too soft to cut, allow it to chill for about 20 minutes.
    • When the dough is ready, with a serrated knife, cut the log into 8 equal pieces and place in prepared cake pan.
    • Cover with plastic and allow to rise for 1 hour*
    • Place rolls in a 350 degree preheated oven, and bake for about 40 minutes or until golden brown and set in the center.
    • Run a knife around the sides of the pan and turn out the rolls onto a platter immediately*1
    • Serve the rolls and get ready for rave reviews

    Nutrition

    Calories: 604kcal | Carbohydrates: 67g | Protein: 10g | Fat: 33g | Saturated Fat: 15g | Cholesterol: 139mg | Sodium: 766mg | Potassium: 179mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 20g | Vitamin A: 790IU | Vitamin C: 0.2mg | Calcium: 47mg | Iron: 3.6mg
    Tried this Recipe? Pin it for Later!Mention @askChefDennis or tag #askChefDennis!

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    About Chef Dennis

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    Chef Dennis Littley is a classically trained chef with over 40 years of experience working in the food service industry. In his second career as a food blogger he has made it his mission to demistify cooking by sharing his time-tested recipes, knowledge, and chef tips to help you create easy-to-make restaurant-quality meals in your home kitchen. Let Chef Dennis help you bring the joy of cooking into your home. For more details, check out his About page.

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    1. Erin @ The Spiffy Cookie

      March 21, 2013 at 8:30 am

      These sound wonderful! I always make cinnamon rolls but never think to make sticky buns instead. Going to have to fix that.

      Reply
      • Chef Dennis

        March 21, 2013 at 8:32 am

        hi Erin, the easy brioche dough is great for either type, I love cinnamon buns but like them as gooey as possible….it’s a wonderful thing!

        Reply
    2. Pam

      March 21, 2013 at 7:57 am

      5 stars
      There is nothing better than the smell of Sticky Buns baking. I never thought of Apple Butter in my sticky buns…but boy does it sound amazing. I really will have to try your recipe….I’m sure my boys will be thrilled. Thanks for sharing.
      Pam @ The Patriotic Pam

      Reply
      • Chef Dennis

        March 21, 2013 at 8:09 am

        Thanks Pam, it was a nice change to the buns and I’m an apple butter lover so they were perfect for me. The easy brioche dough is the best part of the whole roll though,

        Reply
    3. Minnie@thelady8home

      August 22, 2012 at 4:43 pm

      Yummmmm!!! O my goodness, these look so good that I want to take a bite now. And I don’t even like apples!!!!!

      Reply
    4. Mari @ Mari's Cakes

      August 22, 2012 at 10:57 am

      Hi Dennis 🙂 What a delightful way to use your apple butter, I am sure it makes these buns to die for. I wish you a nice and easy start on your fantastic job.

      Reply
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