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Easy Sticky Buns

Easy Sticky Buns

Easy Sticky Buns are soft, sweet, and irresistibly gooey with a rich caramel topping, tender dough, and warm cinnamon flavors. Perfect for breakfast, brunch, or dessert, this recipe uses simple pantry ingredients and basic baking techniques to create bakery-quality sticky buns that everyone will love.

  • Total Time: 2 hours 15 minutes
  • Yield: 12 sticky buns 1x

Ingredients

Scale

Dough Ingredients

  • 2 ¼ teaspoons active dry yeast (1 packet)
  • 1 cup warm milk (about 110°F / 43°C)
  • ¼ cup granulated sugar
  • ⅓ cup unsalted butter, melted
  • 1 large egg
  • 3 cups all-purpose flour
  • ½ teaspoon salt

Sticky Topping Ingredients

  • ⅓ cup unsalted butter
  • 1 cup brown sugar, packed
  • ½ cup chopped nuts (optional; pecans, walnuts, or almonds recommended)

Filling Ingredients

  • 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted (for brushing the dough)
  • ¼ cup granulated sugar (for sprinkling)
  • 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions

  1. Prepare the Dough: In a large bowl, combine warm milk, granulated sugar, and active dry yeast. Let sit for 5 to 10 minutes until foamy. Add melted butter, egg, vanilla extract, and a pinch of salt. Gradually mix in flour until a soft dough forms. Knead on a floured surface for 8 to 10 minutes until smooth and elastic. Place dough in a greased bowl, cover, and let rise until doubled in size (about 1 to 1.5 hours).
  2. Make the Sticky Topping: While the dough is rising, melt butter in a saucepan and whisk in brown sugar until thick and glossy. Spread this caramel mixture evenly in the bottom of a greased baking dish. Sprinkle chopped nuts over the topping if desired.
  3. Shape the Rolls: Roll the risen dough into a rectangle on a lightly floured surface. Brush with melted butter. Sprinkle cinnamon and granulated sugar evenly over the dough. Carefully roll the dough into a tight log and cut into 12 equal pieces. Arrange the rolls cut-side down over the sticky caramel topping in the baking pan.
  4. Second Rise and Bake: Cover the pan and let the buns rise for 30 to 45 minutes until puffy. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Bake the buns for 25 to 30 minutes, until golden brown on top and caramel is bubbling underneath.
  5. Cool and Invert: Let the sticky buns cool for about 10 minutes. Then carefully invert the pan onto a serving platter so the caramel and nuts coat the buns properly. Serve warm for the best experience.

Notes

  • Use warm (not hot) milk and butter to properly activate the yeast.
  • Kneading dough well develops gluten, giving a soft and fluffy texture.
  • Do not skip the second rise; it ensures lightness and better caramel coating.
  • Generously grease your pan to prevent sticking and allow easy flipping.
  • Cool the buns slightly before flipping to avoid messy caramel drips and maintain shape.
  • Author: Lina
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 30 minutes
  • Category: Breakfast, Brunch, Dessert
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: American
  • Diet: Contains gluten

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 sticky bun
  • Calories: 320
  • Sugar: 18g
  • Sodium: 180mg
  • Fat: 14g
  • Saturated Fat: 8g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 5g
  • Trans Fat: 0g
  • Carbohydrates: 42g
  • Fiber: 1g
  • Protein: 5g
  • Cholesterol: 55mg

Keywords: sticky buns, cinnamon rolls, caramel topping, breakfast buns, sweet rolls, homemade sticky buns