Caramelized Pecan Cinnamon Rolls
These were the signature food of Christmas morning in my childhood home. Caramelized Pecan Cinnamon Rolls are sticky, gooey, and the best mix of flavors. Plus, they are a great way to use up leftover mashed potatoes (which is available in truckloads around the holidays)!
Before we even begin this post, I want to hear from you. Leave me a comment below:
What is the signature flavor of Christmas, in your opinion?
What is the flavor of Christmas?
Often, the smells and tastes of the holiday season are engrained in us as children.
In my home, cinnamon, nuts, caramel, and bread were abundant during “the most wonderful time of the year.”
My mom combined all of these in her signature Christmas morning brunch “sticky buns” (the Maryland / Southern name for cinnamon rolls). These Caramelized Pecan Cinnamon Rolls grew on me each year as I got older, and they are now my favorite part of Christmas breakfast.
How do you make caramelized cinnamon rolls?
To make caramel cinnamon rolls, you need to melt butter and mix it with a sweetener (brown sugar, honey, etc.) or two. Bake the rolls with this sauce (usually in the bottom of the pan).
My favorite version of cinnamon rolls uses potatoes in the dough.
How can you use leftover mashed potatoes?
Some common ways to use leftover mashed potatoes are in main dishes such as shepherd’s pie, snacks like latkes, and cheese potato casserole.
But did you know that you can also make bread?
Can you use potato bread for cinnamon rolls?
Bread is the foundation for cinnamon rolls. You’ve gotta use a great bread recipe to make the rolls the best.
You can use mashed potatoes (leftover or fresh) in cinnamon roll dough. In fact, I think this is the best base bread for cinnamon rolls. You can make the dough days ahead of time and cut down on the whole process the day-of.
Find my recipe for the BEST Make-Ahead Potato Bread here.
Are Cinnamon rolls and sticky buns the same?
In my anecdotal experience, yes. These are regional names for the same delicious bread. Sticky buns is more common in the Southern and Eastern USA. Cinnamon rolls, on the other hand, seems to be a more common name in the Midwest.
What pans are good for making cinnamon rolls?
I recommend this baking pan for making cinnamon rolls. It is stainless steel, so no harmful metals will leach onto your bread (or into your caramel sauce). The set also includes a stainless steel loaf pan, cookie sheet, and cake pans.
How do you clean the caramel from cinnamon rolls out of the pan?
It’s easiest to clean a pan of caramel cinnamon rolls right after you remove the warm sticky buns.
If you are having trouble getting the caramel to “unstick” from the pan, first scrape off as much as possible and then pour a solution of 1 part vinegar to 3 parts water into the pan. Return the pan to the oven and let it “bake” for about 10 minutes. Remove from the oven. Then use a wool steel scraper to remove the sticky gunk from the pan. (Only use the wool steel, of course, if you are using a stainless steel pan and not a nonstick pan.)
Final thoughts on Caramelized Pecan Cinnamon Rolls
Christmas morning will soon be here! Make it a delicious one with these caramelized pecan cinnamon rolls!
Find my recipe for the BEST Make-Ahead Potato Bread to use for Caramelized Pecan Cinnamon Rolls here.
I’d love to join in your Christmas celebration! Make sure to tag @myhome.yourhome.ourhome on Instagram or use the hashtag #myhomeyourhomeourhome.
Chat with you soon,
Caramelized Pecan Cinnamon Rolls
Ingredients
Rolls:
- 1 recipe of Make-Ahead Potato Bread Dough (recipe link in the notes)
Filling:
- 1 cup butter, softened or melted
- 2 cups white sugar
- 8 Tbsp ground cinnamon
- 4 tsp vanilla extract
Caramel:
- 1 cup unsalted butter, melted
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 1 cup honey
- 1 cup chopped pecans, chopped into roughly small pieces (not minced)
Other:
- sewing thread (I prefer to use red thread because it is easier to find if you lose hold of it.)
Instructions
Filling:
- Mix together the cinnamon and sugar for the filling. Set aside.
Caramel Sauce:
- Mix together the melted butter, brown sugar, and honey. Divide between the four baking pans and spread evenly on the bottom of each pan. Sprinkle with the chopped pecans. Set aside.
Cinnamon Roll Assembly:
- Divide the potato bread into four parts. Roll each part into a 1/4"-thick oval shape.
- Spread butter on each oval. (Don't spread it too thin because this is one of the best parts of the roll!)
- Sprinkle with 1 tsp of vanilla extract for each circle. Use a spoon to spread the extract evenly over the surface of the oval.
- Sprinkle the cinnamon sugar evenly over each oval, using 1/2 cup of the cinnamon sugar for each circle.
- Roll up each oval tightly, starting from the long side. Use a long piece of sewing thread to "slice" the rolled-up log of dough into cylinders. (These will be the rolls, so make them according to the size of roll that you would like to have, remembering that the rolls will rise and increase in size.)
- Place each roll into the pans, leaving about one inch of space around each roll on all sides. Let rise in a warm place until doubled (about 30-40 minutes).
- Bake at 400° F for 15-20 minutes or until the bread is no longer doughy. (Because of the caramel sauce, the rolls might appear slightly more like dough than they actually are. So take care not to overtake them.)
- Remove from the oven. Turn upside down on top of a cutting board or plate. Scrape the remaining caramel sauce from the bottom of the pan and spread on the cinnamon rolls.
- Serve warm.
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