These pecan sticky buns with frozen bread dough taste like they came straight from a bakery.
With a homemade caramel pecan topping, they’re perfect for breakfast, brunch, or a sweet afternoon pick-me-up.
If you’re looking for overnight sticky buns with frozen rolls, you can assemble everything the night before and bake them fresh in the morning making them perfect for holiday gatherings or special occasions.
Check out all the other Cinnamon Roll Recipes for even more delicious gooey treats to try!
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Recipe at a Glance
Prep: 30 min | Cook/Bake: 30 min | Difficulty: Easy | Servings: 12
Main Ingredients: Rhodes frozen bread dough, brown sugar, butter, cinnamon, chopped pecans, maple syrup
Best For: Weekend breakfasts, holiday mornings, brunch with family
Make Ahead: Assemble the night before, refrigerate during the final rise, and bake in the morning after bringing to room temperature. (See recipe card for full instructions.)
Storage: Store covered at room temperature for up to 2 days or refrigerate up to 5 days; warm slightly before serving
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Table of Contents
- Recipe at a Glance
- Tried, Loved, and Rated 5 Stars!
- Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Kitchen Tool Spotlight
- Ingredients You'll Need
- Substitutions and Variations
- Step-by-Step Instructions
- Caramel Pecan Topping
- Insider Tips from My Kitchen to Yours
- How to Store, Freeze and Reheat
- Recipe FAQ's
- More Cinnamon Roll Recipes You'll Love!
- LOVE this recipe? SAVE it for Later!
- 🗒️Shopping List
- 📖 Recipe Card
- Food Safety Tips:
- 💬 Comments
Tried, Loved, and Rated 5 Stars!
"Excellent, easy to follow recipe! Came out perfect!"
~ Trina
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
If you’ve been searching for sticky buns made with frozen bread dough, this simple method gives you that classic, bakery-style result without making dough from scratch.
This recipe has been a longtime favorite in my kitchen, made even easier with the shortcut of frozen bread dough yet still delivering rich, caramelized pecan flavor in every bite.
• Make-ahead friendly: Assemble overnight and bake fresh in the morning
• Quick and easy: No need to make dough from scratch
• No yeast work required: Perfect if baking with yeast feels intimidating
• Customizable: Swap pecans for walnuts or almonds, or add cinnamon and nutmeg
• Great for gatherings: Ideal for brunch, holidays, or dessert
Looking for more Breakfast Recipes? Try my Cinnamon Roll Crescents, these French Toast Sticks, and even my Scrambled Egg Muffins with Bacon and Cheese. Yum!
Kitchen Tool Spotlight
Hudson Essentials Stainless Steel Measuring Cups Set (6 Piece Set)
Coloch 3 Pack Ceramic Baking Dishes, Rectanglar Bakeware Set Hand-painted Lasagna Pan Porcelain Serving Bakeware for Pasta, Chicken, Kitchen, Banquet, Microwave and Dishwasher SafeQEES Casserole Carrier For Hot or Cold Food,Casserole Carrier,Pie Carrier,Casserole Dish With Lid and Carrying Case,Insulated Casserole Food Carrier For Travel Party Picnic,Pioneer Woman Dish CarrierMaple Grove Farms Organic Pure Maple Syrup, Grade A Amber, 8.5 OunceZulay Kitchen 15.9 inch Professional Stainless Steel Rolling Pin - Lightweight Metal French Rolling Pin - Perfect for Baking, Fondant, Pizza Dough Roller, Dumpling
Ingredients You'll Need
Below is a quick preview of the ingredients you’ll need. For exact amounts, check the recipe card below. You can also use the "Shopping List button" to create a printable shopping list, or the "Get Ingredients button" in the recipe card to order groceries online.
Substitutions and Variations
- Use crescent roll dough for a shortcut or homemade brioche dough for a richer texture.
- Swap out the pecans for walnuts or almonds.
- Try adding raisins or dried cranberries, or mix in orange zest for a citrus twist.
- Try adding pumpkin spice to the brown sugar mixture when preparing them in the Fall.
- Want something smaller? These my recipe for Mini Pecan Sticky Buns are perfect for brunch or gifting.
This recipe has not been tested with other substitutions or variations. If you replace or add any ingredients, please let us know how it turned out in the comments below!
Step-by-Step Instructions
This section includes step-by-step photos and instructions to guide you through the recipe. For the complete printable version, scroll down to the recipe card below.
Step 1: On a piece of parchment paper, roll the dough into a rectangle about 24 inches long. Use a ruler!
Step 2: Spread the softened butter evenly on the dough. You don't want to use melted butter.
Step 3: Mix the brown sugar and cinnamon together. Then sprinkle it over the buttered dough.
Step 4: Roll the dough up and pinch to seal. Cut into ½- to 1-inch rolls. Allow them to rise for about 30 minutes.
Caramel Pecan Topping
Step 5: Combine the butter, brown sugar, milk, syrup, and salt in a small saucepan and simmer over medium heat for about a minute. Pour the sauce over the chopped pecans in a 9x13-inch baking dish.
Step 6: Place the cinnamon rolls on top of the pecans and sauce.
Step 7: Bake at 375°F for 25-30 minutes until golden brown. After cooling for 5 minutes, place a platter on top of the baking dish and carefully flip it over to transfer the sticky buns to the platter. Let sit a few minutes, then enjoy!
Insider Tips from My Kitchen to Yours
✔️ DO let the rolls sit in the caramel-pecan mixture for a few minutes after baking before flipping them onto a serving plate. This allows the topping to fully coat the rolls for a gooier texture and rich, bakery-style finish.
❌ DO NOT rush the rise time. If the dough hasn’t doubled give it another 30 minutes or the rolls may bake up dense instead of soft and fluffy.
How to Store, Freeze and Reheat
Refrigerate: Place any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to five days.
Freezer: Place the baked and cooled rolls in an airtight container for up to three months.
Thaw and Reheat: Allow the rolls to defrost overnight in the refrigerator before reheating in a microwave in 20-second intervals or warm in a 300°F oven for best results.
Recipe FAQ's
To view the answers, simply click on the down arrow (⬇) next to each question. If you have any other questions not answered here, please leave a comment!
To thaw frozen bread dough, place it in a greased bowl, cover, and refrigerate overnight for the best texture, or let it sit at room temperature for 2-4 hours until soft. For a faster option, place it in a warm (but off) oven with a damp towel, checking every 20-30 minutes until thawed.
You can find frozen bread dough in the freezer section of most grocery stores, usually near frozen rolls, biscuits, and puff pastry.
Yes, sticky buns freeze well. Allow them to cool completely after baking, then wrap tightly in plastic wrap and place in an airtight container or freezer bag. Freeze for up to 2 months. To serve, thaw overnight in the refrigerator and warm in the oven or microwave until heated through.
To make sticky buns from frozen bread dough, start by thawing the dough according to package directions. Roll it out, spread on the filling, and place the rolls over a prepared caramel pecan topping. Let them rise until puffy, then bake until golden brown and bubbly. Using frozen bread dough simplifies the process while still giving you soft, fluffy sticky buns.
More Cinnamon Roll Recipes You'll Love!
Check out my o#1 recipe for Cinnamon Rolls from Frozen Bread Dough.
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🗒️Shopping List
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📖 Recipe Card
Pecan Sticky Buns with Frozen Bread Dough
Ingredients
- 1 loaf Rhodes Frozen Bread Dough, defrosted
- ½ cup brown sugar, light or dark
- ¼ cup softened butter
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 2 cups chopped pecans
- ½ cup butter
- ⅔ cup brown sugar
- ¼ cup milk
- ⅓ cup pure maple syrup
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Method
- Turn the dough onto a sheet of parchment paper. Using a rolling pin, roll it into a rectangle about 24 inches long.
- Spread the softened butter evenly over the dough. In a small bowl, mix the brown sugar and cinnamon, then sprinkle the mixture over the buttered dough.
- Starting at one end, roll the dough up tightly, tucking in the ends and pinching to seal.
- Slice the roll into ½- to 1-inch sections—you should get about 12 buns. Place them on a sheet of parchment paper for about 30 minutes to rise while you prepare the pecan topping.
- Add the chopped pecans to the bottom of a 9X13 casserole dish.
- In a small saucepan over medium heat, combine the butter, brown sugar, milk, syrup, and salt. Stir constantly and let the mixture simmer for about a minute. Remove from heat and pour over chopped pecans.
- Place the cinnamon buns on top of the pecans and sauce.
- Bake in a preheated 375°F oven for about 25-30 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from the oven and let the buns cool for 5 minutes.
- Using oven mitts, place a serving tray or baking pan on top of the casserole dish and carefully flip the casserole dish over letting the buns slide out onto the tray. Be careful as the topping will be hot.
- Remove the casserole dish and scrape any leftover pecans still in the casserole dish on top of the buns.
- Let them sit for a few minutes before serving.
Nutrition
Notes
Tips:
- Be sure the frozen bread dough is fully thawed before rolling it out so it stretches easily without tearing.
- Chop the pecans evenly for better texture and even distribution in the topping.
- Allow the caramel mixture to cool slightly before pouring it into the pan so it thickens properly and coats the rolls as they bake.
Prep Ahead:
- Shape the buns the night before, cover tightly and refrigerate.
- In the morning, prepare the caramel pecan topping fresh, pour it into the baking dish, add the cinnamon buns on top and continue with the recipe as directed above.
Storage:
- Store leftover sticky buns covered at room temperature for up to 2 days or refrigerate for up to 5 days.
- Warm briefly in the microwave or oven before serving to soften the caramel topping.
Tried this recipe?
Let us know how it was!
Food Safety Tips:
- Ensure foods are cooked to a minimum internal temperature of 165°F (74°C).
- Avoid cross-contamination by using separate utensils for raw meat and cooked foods.
- Use separate utensils and surfaces for raw ingredients, especially eggs, to prevent cross-contamination.
- Always wash your hands thoroughly after handling raw meat.
- Refrigerate or consume food promptly; don’t leave it at room temperature for extended periods.
- Keep a close eye on food while cooking to prevent accidents.
- Choose oils with a high smoking point to minimize the release of harmful compounds.
- Maintain good ventilation when using a gas stove to ensure safety and comfort.
Trina says
Excellent, easy to follow recipe! Came out perfect!
Lois says
Thank you so much! I’m so glad the recipe was easy to follow and that your sticky buns turned out perfectly. That makes my day. I really appreciate you taking the time to leave a review!
RK says
Delicious, decadent, ooey gooey yum! However, the instructions failed to mention putting the rolls in the 9" x 13" dish! I know it's intuitive, but the instructions weren't complete.
Lois says
Whoops—great catch! I’ve updated the recipe card to include the missing step. So glad you enjoyed the recipe!
Esme Slabbert says
Drooling all over the screen, wow
Saw your awesome post at Love Your Creativity.