Mini pecan cinnamon rolls made with frozen bread dough are a delicious treat for any occasion. These mini sticky buns are quick and simple to make, with just a few ingredients and hardly any prep time.
Once they come out of the oven, the scent of cinnamon and sugary sweetness fills the air. Serve up these little mini cinnamon rolls warm from the oven.
You can customize them with different nuts or flavors to make something truly unique, that is sure to satisfy every craving!
Check out my list of other best cinnamon rolls that also use Pillsbury refrigerated rolls as well!
I'm sure by now you've noticed that I post a lot of cinnamon roll recipes here on the site. And that's for a very good reason...my family loves them!
And the good news is, there are quite a few easy to make cinnamon roll recipes that can help you enjoy the taste of homemade rolls without working with yeast.
The pecan topping for these sticky buns is very similar to the pecan praline topping I use for my Homemade Fluffy Waffles.
Make sure you check out my Homemade Cinnamon Rolls using Biscuits. This recipe uses canned refrigerator biscuits as the dough base for cinnamon rolls.
Table of Contents
- Rhodes Cinnamon Rolls
- Rhodes Frozen Bread Dough Near Me
- How to Defrost Frozen Bread Dough
- Helpful Kitchen Tools
- Main Ingredients Needed
- Recipe Variations and Substitutions
- Step-by-Step Directions
- How to Slice Cinnamon Rolls
- Top Tip
- How to Make the Pecan Topping
- Baking Instructions
- Before You Begin!
- Storing, Freezing, Thawing and Reheating Tips
- Recipe FAQ's
- Try these recipes next...
- 📖 Recipe Card
- 💬 Comments
Rhodes Cinnamon Rolls
These mini pecan cinnamon rolls are another recipe that start out using Rhodes frozen bread dough. The very first recipe posted here using Rhodes Frozen Bread Dough were the Frozen Bread Dough Cinnamon Rolls.
Rhodes Frozen Bread Dough Near Me
You should be able to find Rhodes frozen bread dough in the freezer section of your local grocery store. My local Walmart sells it also. However, if you're having problems finding it, check out the store locator on the Rhodes website.
How to Defrost Frozen Bread Dough
The night before you plan on making this recipe, remove the 1 loaf of bread from the freezer and place in a covered plastic container that has a little flour sprinkled on the bottom.
We don’t want the dough to stick while it’s defrosting. Place the container in the refrigerator overnight so it defrosts completely.
Helpful Kitchen Tools
Muffin Pan, 24 Cup MiniMore Information3-Piece Measuring CupsMore InformationNordic Ware Prep & ServeMore Information7 Pc Kitchen Gadget SetMore InformationCeramic Mixing Bowls for Kitchen,More Information
Main Ingredients Needed
Here's a quick overview of the ingredients for this recipe. Find the exact amounts and click the Instacart button to easily add them to your cart – all in the printable recipe card below!
Recipe Variations and Substitutions
You could replace the frozen bread dough with pizza dough (store-bought or homemade) for a thinner, crispier base.
Mix in chopped apples or pears for a classic fall flavor combination. Or try dried cranberries or cherries for a touch of tartness.
Instead of the pecans, try chopped walnuts, almonds, or hazelnuts.
Step-by-Step Directions
Step 1: Turn the dough out onto a piece of parchment paper. Using a rolling pin, roll into a rectangle about 24 inches long. Spread the softened butter on top of the dough.
Step 2: Combine the brown sugar and ground cinnamon together. Then sprinkle it on top of the dough.
Step 3: Starting at one end begin rolling the dough up tightly. Making sure you tuck the ends under and pinch close.
How to Slice Cinnamon Rolls
Step 4: Since we're making mini pecan cinnamon rolls, I sliced the roll into ½ to one inch slices. I was able to get 24 cinnamon rolls.
Top Tip
For easy slicing, I recommend using an electric knife. If you don't have one, a serrated knife will also do the trick!
Step 5: Let the dough rest on a piece of parchment paper while you prepare the pecan topping.
How to Make the Pecan Topping
Step 6: In a small saucepan, melt the butter with brown sugar, milk, syrup, and a pinch of salt over medium heat. Stir constantly until the mixture simmer gently for about a minute.
Step 7: Take the saucepan off the heat and mix in the chopped pecans. Spoon about a tablespoon of this pecan mixture into each well of the greased mini muffin pan. Don't worry if you have some leftover – it's delicious reheated and drizzled over pancakes or waffles!
Baking Instructions
Step 8: Place the tray of mini cinnamon rolls in a preheated 375 degree oven for about 12 to 15 minutes or until golden brown.
Honest review? They don't look pretty, right? But just wait until you get them out of the muffin pan...don't forget to turn them upside down!
Step 9: Carefully remove the mini pecan cinnamon rolls from the muffin pan and place them on a serving tray inverted. You want the pecan topping to be on the top.
Before You Begin!
If you make this recipe, please leave a review and star rating. This helps my business thrive and continue providing FREE recipes.
Storing, Freezing, Thawing and Reheating Tips
Refrigerator: Let the cinnamon rolls cool completely before storing them in an airtight container or resealable bag in a single layer. Refrigerate both the rolls and the topping for up to 3-4 days.
Freezer: To freeze leftovers, ensure both the cinnamon rolls and topping have cooled completely. Wrap each roll tightly in plastic wrap and then in foil. Store the topping in an airtight container or freezer-safe bag. Label and date everything, then freeze for up to 2-3 months.
Thawing and Reheating Tips: Thaw overnight in the refrigerator or reheat from frozen in the microwave in short bursts (about 15-30 seconds) until warmed through. For a crispier texture, reheat in a preheated 350°F oven for a few minutes.
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!
Cinnamon rolls are not as dense as a sticky bun. They also have a cream cheese frosting while sticky buns have a lot of nuts.
Place the frozen dough on a plate and cover with plastic wrap. But first you should spray the plate and the plastic wrap with non-stick baking spray so the dough doesn’t stick as it defrosts. Microwave the dough on high for 25 seconds. Remove the dough, flip and return to the microwave for another 25 seconds. You can also use the defrost setting for 3 to 5 minutes.
Try these recipes next...
- Bread Machine Overnight Cinnamon Rolls – easy recipe with dough that starts off in the bread machine! Don’t let your fear of baking with yeast keep you from enjoying homemade cinnamon rolls.
- Homemade Cinnamon Rolls using Biscuits – that’s right biscuits. Two cans of refrigerator biscuits turned into cinnamon rolls. Delicious!
- Crescent Cream Cheese Cinnamon Rolls – flaky refrigerator cinnamon rolls stuffed with a cream cheese cinnamon filling then topped with a sugary glaze.
📖 Recipe Card
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Mini Pecan Cinnamon Rolls
Equipment
Ingredients
For the Cinnamon Rolls:
- 1 loaf Rhodes Frozen Bread Dough; defrosted
- ½ cup brown sugar; light or dark
- ¼ softened butter
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
For the Pecan Topping:
- 2 cups chopped pecans
- ½ cup butter
- ⅔ cup brown sugar
- ¼ cup milk
- ⅓ cup pure maple syrup
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Turn the dough out onto a piece of parchment paper. Using a rolling pin, roll into a rectangle about 24 inches long.
- Spread the softened butter on top of the dough.
- Combine the brown sugar and ground cinnamon together. Then sprinkle it on top of the dough.
- Starting at one end begin rolling the dough up tightly. Making sure you tuck the ends under and pinch close.
- Slice the roll into ½ to one inch slices. You should be able to get 24 mini rolls. Place the rolls on a sheet of parchment paper to rest while you prepare the pecan topping.
- Combine the butter, brown sugar, milk, syrup and salt into a small saucepan over medium heat. Allow the mixture to simmer for a minute while stirring constantly.
- Remove from heat and stir in the chopped pecans.
- Now put about a tablespoon of the mixture into each of the wells of the mini muffin pan that’s been sprayed with non-stick baking spray.
- Place a mini roll into each muffin pan well on top of the pecan filling.
- Place the tray of mini cinnamon rolls in a preheated 375 degree oven for about 12 to 15 minutes or until golden brown.
- Remove from the oven and allow to cool for a few minutes.
- Carefully remove the mini pecan cinnamon rolls from the muffin pan and place them on a serving tray inverted. You want the pecan topping to be on the top.
Notes
How to Defrost Rhodes Frozen Bread Dough:
- The night before, remove the 2 loaves of bread from the freezer and place in a covered plastic container that has a little flour sprinkled on the bottom. We don’t want the dough to stick while it’s defrosting.
- Place the container in the refrigerator overnight so it defrosts completely.
Note:
- You most likely will have some of this mixture left over, don’t worry! It tastes great warmed up on top of pancakes of waffles.
- I used a small teaspoon to help remove the rolls from the muffin pan.
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JoAnn R Peterson says
How do I adapt this recipe to only make 12 regular size rolls, not mini?
Lois says
Simply slice the "log" into 12 even slices instead of the 24 as shown in the photo. Enjoy!
Lisa F says
I wonder if these could be frozen for a few weeks after being made ?
Lois says
Yes! I have freezing tips for cinnamon rolls in this post here: https://walkingonsunshinerecipes.com/freezer-friendly-cinnamon-rolls/