Homemade Caramel Pecan Cinnamon Rolls

Ingredients

• For the dough: For the dough:
• 2 ¼ cups (280g) all-purpose flour 2 ¼ cups (280g) all-purpose flour
• ¼ cup (50g) granulated sugar ¼ cup (50g) granulated sugar
• 1 teaspoon active dry yeast 1 teaspoon active dry yeast
• ½ teaspoon salt ½ teaspoon salt
• ½ cup (120ml) milk, warmed ½ cup (120ml) milk, warmed
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
• 1 large egg 1 large egg
• For the filling: For the filling:
• ½ cup (100g) brown sugar ½ cup (100g) brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons ground cinnamon 2 tablespoons ground cinnamon
• ¼ cup (55g) unsalted butter, softened ¼ cup (55g) unsalted butter, softened
• ½ cup (60g) chopped pecans ½ cup (60g) chopped pecans
• For the caramel glaze: For the caramel glaze:
• ½ cup (100g) brown sugar ½ cup (100g) brown sugar
• ¼ cup (60g) unsalted butter ¼ cup (60g) unsalted butter
• ¼ cup (60ml) heavy cream ¼ cup (60ml) heavy cream
• Optional: Optional:
• Additional chopped pecans for topping Additional chopped pecans for topping

Nutrition

• Calories: 320 kcal / 1340 kJ
• Fat: 14g (Saturated Fat: 7g)
• Carbohydrates: 45g (Sugars: 22g)
• Protein: 5g
• Fiber: 2g
• Salt: 0.3g

Preparation

1. 1.
   In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, sugar, yeast, and salt.
2. 2.
   In a separate bowl, whisk together the warmed milk, melted butter, and egg.
3. 3.
   Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and mix until a dough forms.
4. 4.
   Knead the dough on a lightly floured surface for about 5 minutes, until smooth and elastic.
5. 5.
   Place the dough in a greased bowl, cover with a clean kitchen towel, and let it rise in a warm place for about 1 hour, or until doubled in size.
6. 6.
   Punch down the dough and roll it out into a rectangle shape on a floured surface.
7. 7.
   Spread the softened butter evenly over the dough.
8. 8.
   In a small bowl, mix together the brown sugar and cinnamon for the filling. Sprinkle the mixture over the buttered dough.
9. 9.
   Sprinkle the chopped pecans over the cinnamon sugar mixture.
10. 10.
    Starting from one long side, tightly roll up the dough into a log.
11. 11.
    Cut the log into 12 equal-sized rolls.
12. 12.
    Place the rolls in a greased baking dish, cover with a kitchen towel, and let them rise for another 30 minutes.
13. 13.
    Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C).
14. 14.
    Bake the rolls for 20-25 minutes, or until golden brown.
15. 15.
    While the rolls are baking, prepare the caramel glaze. In a small saucepan, melt the butter and brown sugar over medium heat. Stir in the heavy cream and cook for an additional 2-3 minutes until the mixture thickens slightly.
16. 16.
    Remove the rolls from the oven and drizzle the caramel glaze over them while they are still warm.
17. 17.
    Optional: Sprinkle additional chopped pecans on top for garnish.
18. 18.
    Serve the Homemade Caramel Pecan Cinnamon Rolls warm and enjoy!

Treat your ingredients with care...

• Pecans — Toast the pecans before chopping them to enhance their flavor and crunchiness.
• Active dry yeast — Make sure the yeast is fresh and activate it by dissolving it in warm milk with a pinch of sugar before adding it to the dough.
• Brown sugar — For a deeper caramel flavor, use dark brown sugar instead of light brown sugar.
• Heavy cream — If heavy cream is not available, you can substitute it with whole milk or half-and-half in the caramel glaze.
• Cinnamon — Use freshly ground cinnamon for the best flavor.

Tips & Tricks

• To make the rolls ahead of time, prepare the dough and shape the rolls the night before. Cover the baking dish with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight. In the morning, let the rolls come to room temperature and rise for about 30 minutes before baking.
• For a gooier filling, sprinkle some additional brown sugar and cinnamon on top of the buttered dough before rolling it up.
• If you prefer a less sweet glaze, reduce the amount of brown sugar in the caramel glaze.
• To reheat leftover rolls, place them in a preheated oven at 350°F (180°C) for a few minutes until warmed through.
• Experiment with different fillings by adding raisins, chopped apples, or even a cream cheese filling.

Serving advice

Serve the Homemade Caramel Pecan Cinnamon Rolls warm for the best experience. They are perfect on their own, but you can also serve them with a side of vanilla ice cream or a dollop of whipped cream for an extra indulgence.

Presentation advice

Arrange the freshly baked rolls on a serving platter, drizzle the caramel glaze generously over them, and sprinkle some additional chopped pecans on top for an enticing presentation. Serve them on a beautiful plate or a rustic wooden board to enhance their visual appeal.