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Why You Will Love This Soft Homemade Cinnamon Rolls with Caramel Pecan Topping Recipe
Fall baking season is officially in full effect, and if you want a soft, sweet, and comforting cinnamon roll recipe, this one needs to be on your list!
If you know me, you know that baking is one of my biggest struggles. So when I was able to create these beautiful cinnamon rolls from scratch, I knew I had to share exactly how I did it with y’all. These cinnamon rolls are soft, fluffy, sweet, and finished with a buttery vanilla icing, caramel, and chopped pecans.
Whether you are a well-seasoned baker or a struggling baker like me, this recipe is easy to follow. So grab your measuring cups and your apron, and let’s get into it!
Ingredients
- Whole milk and active dry yeast: These work together to activate the yeast and create a soft, fluffy dough.
- Sugar and sea salt: Sugar adds sweetness to the dough, while salt balances the flavors.
- Vanilla extract and eggs: Add flavor, richness, and moisture to the dough.
- Unsalted butter: Adds richness and helps create a tender, soft dough.
- All-purpose flour: Provides the structure for the cinnamon rolls.
- Cinnamon, brown sugar, and nutmeg: This classic combination creates the sweet, buttery, warmly spiced filling. The nutmeg is totally optional but adds an extra layer of cozy flavor.
- Smucker’s caramel and chopped pecans: The sweet caramel adds a delicious finishing touch, while the pecans add a little crunch and nuttiness.
- Powdered sugar, melted butter, vanilla extract, and milk: These ingredients come together to create a smooth, sweet vanilla icing that’s perfect for drizzling over the warm cinnamon rolls.
How to Make Soft Homemade Cinnamon Rolls with Caramel Pecan Topping
Start by combining the warm milk and active dry yeast in a small bowl. Give it a quick mix and let it sit until the yeast has activated. Once the yeast is ready, pour it into the bowl of a stand mixer along with the sugar, vanilla extract, sea salt, melted butter, and eggs. Mix until everything is well combined.
Slowly sprinkle in the flour while the mixer runs on medium speed. Continue mixing until the dough comes together into a smooth dough ball. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and gently shape it into a ball.
Lightly oil the stand mixer bowl and place the dough back inside. Cover it with a damp towel and let it rise in a warm place until it has doubled in size. I like to let my dough rise in a warm oven with the light on.
Once the dough has doubled in size, punch it down and transfer it to a lightly floured surface. Use a rolling pin to roll the dough into a large square.
Spread softened butter evenly over the surface of the dough, then generously sprinkle with ground cinnamon and brown sugar. I also like to add a little nutmeg for extra warmth, but this is totally optional.
Now for the fun part! Use a pizza cutter to cut the dough into strips. Starting at one end, gently roll and tuck each strip until you have a beautiful cinnamon roll. Repeat until you’ve worked through all of the dough.
Place the cinnamon rolls into a lightly oiled baking dish and let them rise again until doubled in size. I’m using my super cute pumpkin-shaped baking dish, which is perfect for fall baking!
Once the rolls have doubled in size, bake at 350°F for 25 to 30 minutes, or until golden brown and baked through.
Let the cinnamon rolls cool for about 15 minutes before drizzling them with the vanilla icing and caramel. Finish with chopped pecans, then dig in!
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Tips for the Best Soft Homemade Cinnamon Rolls with Caramel Pecan Topping
- Make sure your yeast activates: Let the milk and yeast sit until the yeast becomes foamy or visibly activated before moving on to the next step.
- Use room-temperature eggs: Room-temperature eggs incorporate more easily into the dough and help everything mix together evenly.
- Don’t add all the flour at once: Slowly adding the flour makes it easier to control the dough’s texture and prevents you from accidentally making it too dry.
- Give the dough time to rise: The dough should double in size during the first rise. A warm, draft-free environment will help it rise properly.
- Don’t skip the second rise: Letting the shaped cinnamon rolls rise before baking helps create soft, fluffy rolls instead of dense ones.
Variations & Substitutions
- Skip the pecans: If you’re not a fan of nuts, simply leave them off.
- Try walnuts: Chopped walnuts would also be delicious with the cinnamon, caramel, and icing.
- Add extra spice: Add a little extra cinnamon or nutmeg for an even warmer fall flavor.
- Use cream cheese icing: Swap the vanilla icing for your favorite cream cheese frosting for a classic cinnamon roll combination.
- Skip the caramel: The cinnamon rolls are delicious with just the vanilla icing if you want to keep them simple.
Other Recipes You Will Love
If you loved this, you have to try my Cinnamon Roll Banana Bread!
Soft Homemade Cinnamon Rolls with Caramel Pecan Topping
Description
These soft homemade cinnamon rolls are sweet, fluffy, and topped with vanilla icing, caramel, and pecans. The perfect cozy fall baking recipe!
Ingredients
Dough Ingredients
Filling
Caramel Pecan Topping
Icing
Instructions
-
Combine the milk and active dry yeast in a small bowl. Mix and let sit until the yeast has activated.
-
Add the activated yeast mixture, sugar, vanilla extract, sea salt, melted butter, and eggs to a stand mixer. Mix until combined. Slowly add the flour while mixing on medium speed until a smooth dough forms.
-
Turn the dough onto a lightly floured surface and shape it into a ball. Lightly oil the mixing bowl, place the dough inside, cover with a damp towel, and let rise in a warm place until doubled in size.
-
Punch down the dough and roll it into a square on a lightly floured surface. Spread softened butter over the dough, then generously sprinkle with cinnamon and brown sugar. Add a little nutmeg if desired.
-
Use a pizza cutter to cut the dough into strips. Starting at one end, gently roll and tuck each strip to form the cinnamon rolls.
-
Place the rolls in a lightly oiled baking dish and let them rise again until doubled in size.
-
Bake at 350°F for 25 to 30 minutes, or until golden brown and baked through. Let cool for about 15 minutes.
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Mix together the powdered sugar, melted butter, vanilla extract, and milk to make the icing. Drizzle the icing and caramel over the cinnamon rolls, then top with chopped pecans.
Nutrition Facts
Servings 8
- Amount Per Serving
- Calories 390kcal
- % Daily Value *
- Total Fat 18g28%
- Saturated Fat 9g45%
- Cholesterol 55mg19%
- Sodium 270mg12%
- Total Carbohydrate 53g18%
- Dietary Fiber 2g8%
- Sugars 28g
- Protein 6g12%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily value may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.
