Cinnamon Pecan Rolls

I like baking bread so much that I think I may just give up on everything else.

That farmhouse bread?

It is seriously fool proof. I know you probably don’t believe me, and I get it.

I used to be terrified of using yeast, too. I tried all kinds of other bread recipes just so I wouldn’t have to use it, but it’s totally worth the little bit of time it needs to rise.

I promise – this recipe works, all the time, every time, without fail.

The best part about baking bread?

Well, there’s 3 things.

1. My house smells incredible.

2. I feel like I’m actually getting better at baking when the bread turns out without any major failures or freak outs (which are more common than you think).

3. The recipe makes enough for 2 loaves of bread…or 1 loaf of bread and stromboli or pumpkin spice swirl bread or these cinnamon pecan rolls.

 

A few weeks ago, I made my dough on a Saturday afternoon so I could bake our stromboli for dinner that night. Then I accidentally forgot about the other half of the dough and, after it almost exploded in the fridge, Nick and I decided we needed some cinnamon rolls Sunday morning.

Normally, I would have to plan ahead for these, and I kinda already did! The dough was made and had already risen. All we had to do was add the fillings, roll ’em up, slice, bake, and eat.

I will say…these rolls wouldn’t stand a chance against my favorite recipe that uses mashed potatoes, but they turned out really, really good.

Nick is fun to have in the kitchen when we’re making recipes like this: I’m normally a measure-r when it comes to sugar and nuts and things, and he’s not. I made my best guess on the fillings, but really, you can use as much butter and sugar and nuts or chocolate chips or whatever you want.

And the same goes for icing.

If you’re already having homemade cinnamon rolls, don’t worry about the amount of icing you have.

Just make sure it’s there, tangy from the cream cheese to balance all that sugar swirled in the dough.

I’m pretty sure I’ve got your weekend breakfast right here!

 

Cinnamon Pecan Rolls

Makes: 8-10 servings

Ingredients:

  • 1/2 recipe of my Farmhouse Bread (make the full recipe and freeze half or bake into a regular loaf of bread)
  • 4 Tbsp softened butter
  • 1/4 cup brown sugar
  • 1/4 cup sugar
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • 1/2 cup pecans, chopped
  • 4 oz. cream cheese, softened to room temperature
  • 4 Tbsp softened butter
  • 2 cups powdered sugar
  • 1 tsp vanilla

Directions:

  1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
  2. Roll the dough out into a large rectangle, about 1/4 – 1/2 inch thick.
  3. Slather the dough with 4 Tbsp of the softened butter, smearing to cover the top of the dough, all the way to the edges.
  4. Sprinkle the dough with the brown sugar, sugar, cinnamon, and pecans.
  5. Roll the dough up lengthwise.
  6. Slice the dough into 2-3 inch thick slices and place the rolls cut side down in a greased baking dish.
  7. Once all the rolls are cut and your dish is full, bake at 350 degrees for 25-35 minutes until the tops are golden.
  8. Remove the rolls from the oven and set aside.
  9. In a separate bowl, beat the cream cheese and softened butter together until light and creamy. Slowly add in the powdered sugar and vanilla until the icing is smooth and blended together.
  10. Drizzle the icing over the rolls and serve immediately.

22 comments

  1. Nice! I love how the filing is exploding out :). I think baking bread feels so rewarding!

  2. The smell of fresh baked bread is the best. These look amazing – I wouldn’t be able to stop eating them!

  3. Yum! Your house definetly would smell amazing :D

  4. This has “Christmas Morning” written all over it.

  5. OMG. This looks like heaven in a bite.

  6. I haven’t made cinnamon rolls since Christmas of last year – such a tragedy! I think I’ll have to make them again this year, but with your pecan addition :)

  7. See THIS looks amazing… but now you’ve gone and baited me by mentioning something crazy like mashed potato cinnamon rolls… where are these?!

  8. Nothing like having dough in the fridge just waiting to be used for an awesome recipe like this! I’m craving some of these now!

  9. Drizzling that icing over top of all those rolls is making me drool!! YUM!

  10. Aaaaand I’m starving.

  11. I’m totally making these for my family for Christmas morning. My dad LOVES pecans and cinnamon rolls, so this is a match made in heaven for him!!!

  12. I agree. There is something about getting better at bread baking that is really, really rewarding. I remember starting out and knowing NOTHING about yeast and wondering why things were never as big and puffy as I hoped. (I later realized it was a patience problem and I just needed to let it rise longer.) Have you tried your hand at challah or brioche yet? Definitely not as healthy as other breads, but I’m addicted to the subtle texture and I know brioche in particular has become my go to for caramel rolls and bread puddings. Delicious.

  13. I am SO afraif of baking bread…especially cinnamon rolls! For some reason when I think of baking cinnamon rolls from scratch I think of spending at least 3-4 hours on them!

  14. I wish I could bake as much bread as you. The only bread I’ve been able to make is quick bread cause yeast and I just don’t get along..

  15. i saw this and read “cranberry pecan rolls” in my head. must be telling myself that i need to throw some fresh cranberries in the mix ;) the tartness might go well with the sugary frosting!

  16. We have cinnamon rolls every Christmas morning at my parents’ house. Usually we have the ones from the can, but I’m looking into doing homemade this year…this recipe may be our winner!

  17. Oh, you naughty, naughty girl!! You know I don’t do anything with yeast, but I would love for you to come to my house and bake these for me! :-) Speaking of coming to my house…your room is lonely. xoxo

  18. Brandi, I love this post. I can smell the yeasty goodness of your kitchen from here! And the image of that huge bowl of rising bread is hilarious.

    It’s one of my mom’s and my traditions to bake cinnamon pecan rolls (aka “sticky buns”) each Thanksgiving, and it just wouldn’t be the same holiday without them.

  19. get outta here, these look amazing!

  20. Wow, these just scream: Christmas Morning Breakfast!!!! :)

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