Grandma's Old Fashioned Caramel Sticky Buns
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Grandma's Old Fashioned Caramel Sticky Buns
Description
This recipe begins with a soft dough created from flour, sugar, yeast, and salt, combined with a warm milk, water, and butter mixture, and enriched with beaten egg. The dough is kneaded until elastic and left to rise nearly double in size. While the dough is rising, a caramel sauce is prepared using packed brown sugar, light corn syrup, and butter, which is spread on the bottom of the baking pan and topped with chopped pecans to create a sticky, nutty layer.
The risen dough is rolled out on a floured surface and coated with a filling made from melted butter and brown sugar, with optional cinnamon and nutmeg spices for extra warmth. The dough is then rolled into a log and cut into buns, placed upside-down onto the caramel nut layer, so that after baking and inverting, the sticky buns are coated with caramel and nuts. Baking develops a tender crumb and a sticky, rich caramel topping.
These sticky buns bring the warmth of brown sugar and nuts in every bite, making them a comforting treat for breakfast or dessert, often paired with coffee or tea.
Brown sugar enthusiasts may appreciate exploring other recipes featuring this ingredient, and this recipe serves as a foundation to create various caramel-infused baked goods.
Ingredients
Buns
- 4 ½ - 5 ½ cups all-purpose flour divided
- ½ cup sugar
- 2 packages active dry yeast
- 2 teaspoons salt
- ¾ cup milk
- ½ cup water
- ½ cup butter or 1 stick
- 1 large egg room temperature, beaten
Caramel
- 1 ½ cups brown sugar packed
- ¾ cup light corn syrup
- ¾ cup butter room temperature
- 1 cup pecans more if necessary to cover the bottom of your pan, or your favorite nuts, chopped
Regular Filling
- ⅓ cup butter melted
- ½ cup brown sugar divided
Optional Filling
- 2 teaspoons cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon nutmeg
- ½ cup brown sugar packed
- 2-3 tablespoons butter
Instructions
Make the Buns
- In a large bowl, using a stand or handheld mixer, combine 1 ½ cups flour, sugar, yeast and salt. Set aside.
- In a small saucepan combine milk, water and butter.
- Heat gradually until butter melts and mixture is warm.
- Slowly add milk mixture to your large bowl with the flour mixture in it.
- Beat until smooth.
- Add the egg and enough flour to make a thick batter, about 3 cups.
- Beat until smooth.
- Next, prepare your work surface with flour and place the batter on top of the flour.
- Knead in the remaining flour until an elastic dough forms. You may not need all of the flour.
- Place the dough inside a well greased bowl and paint melted butter all over the top.
- Cover with a clean, damp towel and let the dough rise until it has almost doubled in size, about 1 hour.
- Punch in the middle of the dough at about the 40 minute mark. This will remove some of the air that has built up in the dough.
- When you are getting ready to bake your dough prepare a medium sized bowl with brown sugar, corn syrup and butter.
- Using a handheld mixer blend until smooth.
- Grease a 13x9 inch pan with butter and a 9 inch round or square pan as well, if needed. (You can also use three 9 inch square or round pans as well.)
- Pour caramel topping inside your prepared pan and make sure the bottom of the pan is covered.
- Sprinkle with pecans, as many as you want. We always make sure the bottom is basically covered in pecans. If you choose to omit the pecans this is the time.
- Again, punch in the center of your dough and divide the dough up into 3 even pieces. At your workstation flour your surface and roll out the dough until it is about 20 inches by 10 inches. A little more or a little less will not matter.
- You have the option of including more filling in your buns if you desire and I have included the recipe to use if you want to. You really should try Option 2 at least once!
Option 1
- Brush each dough rectangle with approximately 2 tablespoons melted butter and 3 tablespoons of brown sugar.
Option 2
- In a small bowl combine brown sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg. Paint the butter on and sprinkle brown sugar mixture all over.
- Using it makes your buns more sticky and ooey gooey good. The more brown sugar, the stickier the buns will be.
Roll them Up
- Roll up the dough, from the longer side, as tight as you can get it, into like a jelly roll.
- Pinch the ends together and cut into 1 inch slices.
- Place the slices into your prepared pan.
- Cover again with your clean, damp towel for another 45-60 minutes. The dough should again double in size.
- Preheat your oven to 350 degrees,
- Bake for 20-25 minutes or a beautiful golden brown.
- Allow to cool in your pans for at least 5 minutes and then flip upside down on top of parchment paper until it is cool enough to handle. This ensures that the caramel topping won't run off the buns.
- Serve warm. Enjoy!
Notes
- The caramel topping uses a blend of brown sugar, light corn syrup, and butter to create a sticky caramel layer.
- Pecans or preferred nuts can be used to cover the bottom of the pan before adding the dough for added crunch and flavor.
- The filling can include optional spices like cinnamon and nutmeg for added warmth and depth.
- This recipe is ideal for brown sugar lovers seeking a classic sticky bun experience.
Nutrition Information
Show DetailsNutrition Facts
Serving: 12Serving
Amount Per Serving
Calories 878 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 878kcal | 44% |
| Carbohydrates | 152g | 51% |
| Protein | 14g | 28% |
| Fat | 25g | 38% |
| Saturated Fat | 10g | 50% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 4g | 24% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 9g | 45% |
| Trans Fat | 0.5g | 25% |
| Cholesterol | 49mg | 16% |
| Sodium | 592mg | 25% |
| Potassium | 271mg | 6% |
| Fiber | 4g | 16% |
| Sugar | 71g | 142% |
| Vitamin A | 656IU | 13% |
| Vitamin C | 0.1mg | 0% |
| Calcium | 107mg | 11% |
| Iron | 6mg | 33% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.