You won’t believe how amazingly delicious my pecan caramel rolls are, and your family won’t believe you made them!
Good sticky buns are a thing of beauty, and the best are made using brioche dough.
The problem is most brioche doughs are complicated and can prove to be a little daunting for a novice baker. But using a no-knead brioche dough recipe takes most of the work out of the process.
I was truly amazed the first time I made these perfectly delicious pecan caramel rolls. So much so that I had to make them again just to be sure it wasn’t beginners’ luck.
It’s a simple foolproof recipe, that only needed a little tweaking to get the best results possible.
Of course, the dough is great for just plain Brioche rolls or a nice loaf of bread! The recipe I’m going to give you will make a few batches and the dough holds up for 5 days so you have so time to plan what other types of deliciousness you can bake up.
What ingredients do I need to make Pecan Caramel Cinnamon Rolls?
Let’s start by gathering the ingredients we need to make Caramel Pecan Cinnamon Rolls. In Chef Speak this is called the “Mise en Place” which translates to “Everything in its Place”.
Not only does setting your ingredients up ahead of time speed up the cooking process, it also helps ensure you have everything you need to make the dish.
How do I make no-knead brioche dough?
- Mix the yeast, salt, water in the bowl of your mixer, mix well
- Add in eggs, honey and mix until well blended
- Add the melted butter, and continue to mix until well blended
- Add in flour and 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.
- 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.
How do I make the caramel topping for the rolls?
- Cream the butter with salt and brown sugar.
- Spread evenly over the bottom of a 9-inch cake pan, and scatter the pecan halves over the topping.
- Set aside until needed.
How do I make the cinnamon smear for the rolls?
While the dough is resting, cream the butter, cinnamon and sugar until smooth and creamy.
How do I assemble the Pecan Caramel Rolls?
- Using a rolling pin, roll out the dough to a ⅛ inch thick rectangle (about 12″x8″). Add flour as needed to keep the dough from sticking to the rolling pin or surface.*
- Spread the mixture evenly over the dough.
- Sprinkle the pecans over the filling.
- Start rolling the dough along the long side of the dough, so you end up with a roll.
*Refrigerate the roll for 20-30 minutes to chill the dough before slicing.
- When the dough is ready, using a serrated knife, cut the log into eight equal pieces and place them in a prepared cake pan.
- Cover with plastic and allow to rise for 1 hour in a cool area of your kitchen.
- 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.
When I first made these rolls, I had no idea if this type of brioche dough would turn out and I definitely didn’t expect it would be so good!
These are without a doubt the best Pecan rolls I ever had, light and fluffy, and so very flavorful!
Recipe FAQ’s
Also known as Active Dry yeast, it’s a type of dry yeast that’s granular, with a consistency similar to cornmeal. It’s a living organism that’s dormant until proofed or dissolved in a small amount of lukewarm warm water (105- 110°F).
Active dry yeast (granular) is typically sold in individual packets or small glass jars. If using the latter, just make sure to refrigerate it after opening so the yeast stays fresh and active.
When turning the dough out onto the counter to roll out, use plenty of flour. If the dough is sticking to your hands or the work surface, add more flour.
I usually dredge the dough I’m using in flour before starting.
Yes, you can. Increase the dough, smear, and caramel by 50%. That means rolling out the dough to a 12″ x 12″ area to work with.
No. you don’t. If you have nut allergies they can be omitted. You can use raisins instead of nuts if you prefer.
More Brioche Recipes You’ll Love!
No-Knead Brioche Pecan Caramel Rolls
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups lukewarm water
- 1½ tablespoon granulated yeast (2 packets)
- 1½ tablespoon coarse sea salt or kosher salt
- 8 eggs lightly beaten
- ½ cup honey
- 1 ½ Cups unsalted butter melted (3 sticks)
- 7½ cups all purpose flour
Caramel Topping
- 6 tablespoon unsalted butter softened
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup brown sugar
- ¼ cup Karo syrup or Honey
- 30 Pecan halves (or as many as needed)
Filling for Rolls
- 8 tablespoon unsalted butter
- ½ cup sugar
- 2 teaspoon cinnamon
- ½ cup toasted and chopped pecans (optional)
- pinch of ground black pepper
Instructions
- Mix the yeast, salt, 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 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*
- For topping cream butter, salt and brown sugar spread evenly over the bottom of a 9-inch cake pan, then scatter pecan halves over the topping and set aside.
- 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 cream butter, cinnamon and sugar, then spread the mixture evenly over the dough and if you're using pecans in the filling add them now by sprinkling them over the filling.
- 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*
- Serve the rolls and get ready for rave reviews
Brian @ A Thought For Food
That’s a work of beauty, my friend.
Lacy
Oh my!! These pecan rolls were AMAZING!!
Stacey @ Four Points Foodie
Chef – these look amazing… they jump off the page and I want one right now with my morning coffee!
deana@lostpastremembered
In one of those, well DUH moments, I wondered where you had been since your post hadn’t changed for weeks… now I know. Great way to find you with those rolls.. one of my favorites.. like sticky buns that I treat myself with once in a while at Amy’s bakery in Chelsea Market… often still warm from the oven they are FABULOUS. Perhaps I should treat myself to a whole pan of them!!! Great looking recipe Dennis
Rachel @ My Naturally Frugal Family
These look amazing! I wish I had read this post sooner and made this for breakfast today…well there is always tomorrow 🙂
Eating Deliciously
These were fantastic! I’ve never tried making brioche dough but you’ve inspired me,
Tobias @ T and Tea Cake
Yeast has not been my friend so far. I’ve tried and it either came out flat or dry or flat and dry. But your words give me hopes and motivation and this looks just delectable! 5 day, you say? I can freeze it, you say? I am SO going to make this!
Cheers,
Tobias
Chef D
yeast has never been my friend either, the trick is to make sure its not old and your water is not too hot, other than that with these recipes its foolproof!
Sandra
Tasty, yummy to infinity and beyond! That first picture is a mouthwatering 3D experience.
Alison @ Ingredients, Inc.
These look divine. I would love one this morning!
Tanya - Three Square Meals
Beautiful! Somehow I am now craving pecan rolls and coffee!
Stephanie @ Eat. Drink. Love.
Dennis, as always, this looks amazing!! I would love one of these rolls with my morning coffee!!
Amanda
These were seriously amazing! Great recipe!
Tina@flourtrader
That picture does say it all, simply delicious. We all want that wonderful end result but sometimes do not want to spend all day in the kitchen- we just want others to think that. The secret of that “extra” dough in the fridge is safe with me!
Mandy - The Complete Cook Book
these were heaven on a plate!
Have a happy week.
🙂 Mandy
Sylvie @ Gourmande in the Kitchen
I love that book, it’s so easy and versatile. I’ve made the brioche dough before but never tried anything like this – must try!