Overnight Apple Sticky Buns
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These Overnight Apple Sticky buns are the perfect way to start a morning, especially since all the preparation is done the day before. So, make that second cup of coffee, read the newspaper (do people still read newspapers?), or enjoy some quiet time to yourself while the sticky buns bake. I guarantee once all those sleepy heads smell the apples and warm spices baking in this recipe, they will come running. These are so good they'll even set the table and do the dishes!
This time of year, I’m usually just starting to see the bottom of the bushels of apples that I insisted on picking earlier in the Fall. I plan and plan and always wind up picking too many. Once the canning is done, and I have made all our family favorite apple recipes at least once, I try to get creative and find new ways to use up the remaining apples. Adapting my favorite cinnamon roll recipe by adding apples and some additional spices was an excellent use of apples and time since this is a make-ahead recipe!
I want that warm right out of the oven bun for breakfast, not lunch, so I revised this recipe specifically to prep ahead of time! Homemade sticky buns or cinnamon rolls always sound like a great idea, until you start adding up the prep time, rise time, assembly time, a second rise time, then the actual bake time - then you realize it is lunchtime and you're still working on making breakfast! Since the preparation is all done the night before, you can take this recipe from the refrigerator to the table in 40 minutes.
I'm probably breaking some golden rule of bakers everywhere, but I use this recipe for both cinnamon rolls and sticky buns. The sticky bun and the cinnamon roll might differ in appearance, but I feel they are similar enough that the dough and the basic instructions are interchangeable. You can leave the apples out of the filling step, and skip the topping step and the result will be an amazing cinnamon roll. Once you top it with a thick layer of cream cheese icing of course! I love both breakfast pastries equally! I love the yeasty spiral of both of them, for me, it all just comes down to one decision. Do I want to lick that thick cream cheese icing off the bottom of my plate or the dark brown sticky caramel and nuts!
These overnight apple sticky buns are soft, fluffy, and buttery. Adding the tart apples and apple pie spices in the center, plus the crunchy caramelized pecan layer on top, takes these cinnamon rolls to the next level of delicious! The perfect combination of flavors and textures and the perfect start to a cold morning!
These get flipped and this becomes the bottom
This started out as the bottom, once flipped becomes your top
I hope you try this recipe! It is a wonderful choice for a holiday breakfast, brunch, or just a weekend breakfast!
Overnight Apple Sticky Buns
Ingredients
Instructions
- In the bowl of a mixer, combine yeast, 1 teaspoon sugar, and warm water. Gently mix together. Set aside until mixture starts to foam. Approximately 6-8 minutes.
- Once mixture foams, add milk, butter, salt, egg yolk, the remaining 1/4 cup of sugar, and flour. Mix on low until dough starts to pull away from the sides of the bowl and the dough looks smooth and elastic.
- Transfer dough to a large greased bowl. Cover with plastic wrap store in a warm place to rise.
- While the dough is rising, prepare topping and filling.
- Once the dough has risen, approximately one hour, turn the dough out onto a floured surface. Sprinkle some flour onto the rolling pin. Roll dough out to a 12x18 rectangle, making sure that the dough is rolled evenly.
- Spread the filling mixture on top of the dough, leaving a one-inch border around the rectangle.
- Starting with one of the long ends, roll dough in a tight log. Place seam side down on cutting board. Slice log into 12 equal slices and place in the 9x13 on top of the topping mixture.
- Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 12 hours or overnight.
- When ready to bake. Heat oven to 375 degrees. Bake buns 30-40 minutes or until the dough starts to lightly brown and the centers of each roll are set.
- Remove pan from oven, cover with a large baking or serving tray and flip over onto the tray so that the nut mixture is on the top and the cinnamon rolls are on the bottom.
- In a small bowl, combine brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, cardamom, and allspice.
- Add melted butter and mix together.
- Peel, core, and chop apples. Gently fold into the sugar mixture. Set aside.
- Grease the bottom of a 9x13 pan, set aside.
- In a saucepan, over low heat butter, brown sugar, corn syrup, and honey. Stir until butter is melted and ingredients are incorporated.
- Pour the sugar mixture into the bottom of the 9x13 pan.
- Sprinkle with chopped nuts. Set aside.
Notes
This is the perfect make-ahead breakfast dish to serve to guests without having to get up early or spend too much time in the kitchen.
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