Skip to main content

Apple Honey Pecan Sticky Buns

Apple Honey Pecan Sticky Buns
Yeasted sticky buns with a tender apple filling and irresistible honey-pecan topping.
Yield 18 buns
2

Reviews

Ingredients

Dough

  • 3 1/2 cups (490g) all-purpose flour, divided
  • 1 (0.25oz) package (7g) or 2 1/4 teaspoons Platinum Yeast
  • 1/4 cup (48g) granulated sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon table salt
  • 1 cup (240g) low-fat milk
  • 1/4 cup (56g) unsalted butter (room temperature)
  • 1 large egg (room temperature)

Topping

  • 1/4 cup (56g) unsalted butter
  • 1/4 cup (90g) honey
  • 1/4 cup (48g) light brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • Pinch of salt
  • 2/3 cup (80g) pecans

Filling

  • 1 tablespoon unsalted butter, melted
  • 1/4 cup (48g) granulated sugar
  • 2 cups (236g) peeled and diced Granny Smith apples
  • 3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Instructions

  • Combine 2 cups (280 g) flour, yeast, sugar, and salt in a large mixer bowl; mix on low speed until incorporated. Heat milk in a microwave-safe measuring cup for 45 seconds to 1 minute, until very warm (120-130°F). Add warm milk, butter, and egg to flour mixture and mix until combined; mix in remaining flour. Switch out the flat beater for a dough hook, and knead dough for 5 minutes until smooth and elastic. The dough is ready when it feels tacky but doesn’t stick to your fingers (if necessary, add additional flour, 1 tablespoon at a time, while kneading).
  • Place dough in a large bowl coated with nonstick spray and cover with plastic. Let the dough rise in a warm place until doubled in size, about 40 minutes. While dough rises, make the topping. Combine butter, honey, brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt in a heavy saucepan. Cook over medium-low heat until butter has melted, brown sugar has dissolved, and mixture is syrupy. Spray two 8-inch square cake pans with nonstick spray. Pour 1/3 cup warm topping into bottom of each pan; arrange 1/3 cup pecans over topping.
  • To check if dough has doubled, lightly flour two fingers and press them down into center of dough. If indentations remain, gently press down dough; cover and let rest 5 minutes. Turn dough out on a lightly floured board and roll into an 18 x 12-inch rectangle. Brush dough with melted butter, leaving a 1/4-inch border. Sprinkle sugar over dough. Toss apples with cinnamon to combine; sprinkle over dough, pressing gently into dough. Carefully roll dough up into a tight log and pinch edges to seal.
  • Trim off uneven ends and score dough into 18 equal slices. Use unflavored dental floss to slice dough crosswise (slip a long slice of floss under log of dough and cross on top to cut slices cleanly). Place rolls cut side up into prepared pans. Cover loosely with plastic and let rise in a warm place until doubled in size, about 30 minutes.
  • While the rolls rise, preheat oven to 350°F. Bake rolls for about 19 to 20 minutes, until golden and juices are bubbling. Remove from oven to cool on a wire rack for 3 minutes. Carefully invert pans onto wire rack; let pan stand 1 to 2 minutes so the sticky topping drizzles down over the rolls.

Notes

Sticky buns are best when eaten the same day, but can be wrapped well, stored overnight, and warmed in a low oven before serving.
Recipe by Laura Kasavan.

Did you make this recipe?

We want to see it! Tag @redstaryeast and use hashtag #redstaryeast

Review & Comments

Rachael | Reply

5 stars
I made these last weekend. They were excellent. I would have preferred the diced apples to be cooked, just a bit, like I would for a pie filling. My son said they were perfect, and ate half the batch. My husband said they were delicious, but he would have liked a little more sticky topping. I’d make them again, they were yummy. As with any recipe, tweak it a bit to make it perfect for your family!

Christine | Reply

May I substitute Platinum Yeast with Red Star Quick-Rise Instant Yeast?

Red Star Yeast | Reply

Hi Christine,

Yes you certainly can 1:1.

Happy Baking!

Martha | Reply

I don’t have a dough hook. Can I just hand knead?

Red Star Yeast | Reply

Hi Martha,

Yes you can, I would use either a wooden spoon or a Danish dough whisk to incorporate in all the ingredients first. In our baking steps guide there are some helpful tips for kneading and knowing when your dough has developed fully.

Happy Baking!

Anita | Reply

5 stars
Delicious!! Everything about them. The filling, topping and the soft dough.
I followed directions to the T other than using Honey crisp apples because that’s what I had on hand. I didn’t have that high of hopes because I feel like sticky buns are kind of dry. Not the case with this recipe. I highly recommend this recipe.

Lisa | Reply

This recipe calls for low fat milk. Is there a reason it calls for low fat as opposed to whole milk?

Red Star Yeast | Reply

Hi Lisa – You can substitute whole milk for the low-fat milk.
Happy baking!

Leave a Reply

Made the recipe? Rate it!