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Brown Butter Date & Pecan Sticky Buns

Brown Butter Date & Pecan Sticky Buns


  • Author: David Andersson
  • Total Time: 3 hours (including rising time)
  • Yield: 12 sticky buns 1x
  • Diet: Vegetarian

Description

To fully appreciate the genius of this pastry, it helps to understand how the individual components interact to create a superior sweet roll. At its core, this dish is a sophisticated variation of the classic American breakfast pastry. Traditional cinnamon rolls are typically baked in a dry pan and frosted after they emerge from the oven. In contrast, sticky buns are baked directly on top of a thick layer of liquid caramel and nuts. When the baking process is complete, the entire pan is inverted onto a serving platter, allowing the bubbling, hot caramel and toasted nuts to coat the top of the fluffy rolls.


Ingredients

Scale

For the Dough

  • 3½ cups (440g) all-purpose flour
  • 2¼ tsp (7g) instant yeast
  • ¼ cup (50g) granulated sugar
  • 1 tsp salt
  • ¾ cup (180ml) warm milk
  • 2 large eggs
  • ¼ cup (57g) unsalted butter, softened

For the Filling

  • 1 cup (170g) soft dates, finely chopped
  • ¼ cup (50g) brown sugar
  • 1 tsp ground cinnamon
  • 2 tbsp unsalted butter, softened

For the Brown Butter Pecan Topping

  • ½ cup (115g) unsalted butter
  • ¾ cup (165g) brown sugar
  • ¼ cup (60ml) heavy cream
  • 1 cup (100g) pecan halves
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • Pinch of salt

Instructions

1. Make the Dough

  1. In a large bowl, combine flour, yeast, sugar, and salt.
  2. Add warm milk and eggs, mixing until a dough forms.
  3. Knead in the softened butter and continue kneading for 8–10 minutes until smooth and elastic.
  4. Place in a greased bowl, cover, and let rise for 1–1½ hours, or until doubled in size.

2. Prepare the Topping

  1. Melt the butter in a saucepan over medium heat.
  2. Continue cooking until it turns golden brown and develops a nutty aroma.
  3. Stir in brown sugar, cream, vanilla, and salt until smooth.
  4. Pour the mixture into a greased 9 x 13-inch baking dish.
  5. Scatter the pecans evenly over the caramel mixture.

3. Make the Filling

  • Mix the chopped dates, brown sugar, and cinnamon in a bowl.

4. Shape the Buns

  1. Roll the dough into a 12 x 16-inch rectangle.
  2. Spread with softened butter.
  3. Sprinkle the date mixture evenly over the dough.
  4. Roll tightly into a log and cut into 12 equal pieces.
  5. Arrange the rolls over the pecan topping.

5. Second Rise

  • Cover and let rise for 30–45 minutes until puffy.

6. Bake

  • Bake at 350°F (175°C) for 25–30 minutes, or until golden brown.

7. Serve

  1. Let cool for 5–10 minutes.
  2. Carefully invert onto a serving platter so the pecan caramel topping is on top.
  3. Serve warm.

Notes

These Brown Butter Date & Pecan Sticky Buns combine the deep caramel flavor of browned butter with naturally sweet dates and toasted pecans. The result is a rich, sticky, bakery-style treat that’s perfect for holidays, weekend brunches, or whenever you’re craving something special.

  • Prep Time: 30 minutes
  • Cook Time: 30 minutes
  • Category: Breakfast
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: American

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 sticky bun
  • Calories: 420 kcal

Keywords: gooey date pecan sticky rolls, caramel pecan breakfast buns, brown butter date sweet rolls