Irresistibly Delicious and Easy to Make: A Guide to Creating Mini Pecan Rolls

Making this recipe for Pecan Rolls at home has its own set of advantages:

• Super fresh. There’s nothing like a warm, gooey pecan sweet roll right out of the oven in terms of alluring aroma and fresh taste.
• Control over the quality of ingredients used. You can choose the freshest pecans, the finest butter, and the best cinnamon to create the ultimate flavor profile.
• Customizable. You can experiment with different fillings and toppings to create unique variations (see suggestions below) that fit your tastes.
• Fun and rewarding. Unleash your creativity and enjoy the process of baking from scratch!

Here’s a detailed overview of how to prepare these tantalizing little rolls:

1. Prep baking dish.
   Using 2 tablespoons softened butter, generously butter 36 mini-muffin cups.
2. Prepare dough: combine dry ingredients.
   In a large mixing bowl (or bowl of a stand mixer), whisk together 1 cup of flour, sugar, baking soda, salt, and instant yeast. Set aside.
3. Heat buttermilk and oil, add to dry ingredients.
   In a small saucepan, heat the buttermilk and oil over medium heat just until it reaches 120 to 130 degrees. Add to flour mixture and, using the dough hook of an electric mixer, beat at medium speed for 2 minutes.
4. Add remaining flour, knead, set aside.
   Add remaining 1 1/2 cups flour and continue mixing until dough clings to hook and cleans sides of bowl. Continue kneading on low (or speed 2) until dough is smooth and elastic (1 to 3 minutes). Place dough on a floured surface and knead a few times, adding additional flour if dough is too sticky. When ready, it should feel like your earlobe or a baby’s bottom. Place in a greased bowl, turning to coat. Set aside in a non-drafty area while preparing topping.
5. Prep caramel topping.
   In a small mixing bowl, stir together water, 1/4 cup melted butter, and 1/2 cup brown sugar. Spoon around 3/4 teaspoon into each prepared mini muffin cup, using all of the butter mixture.
6. Add pecans.
   Sprinkle around 3/4 teaspoon chopped pecans on top of butter mixture.
7. Roll out dough, add filling.
   On a lightly floured surface, roll half of the dough into an 8 by 14-inch rectangle. Brush with 1 tablespoon butter. Sprinkle 2 tablespoons of brown sugar and 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon evenly over dough.
8. Roll up dough, slice into rolls, place in pan.
   Tightly roll filled dough into a cylinder starting with the long side away from you (so you will have a 14-inch long cylinder when it’s rolled up). Cut off rough or uneven ends, then cut cylinder into 1/2 to 3/4-inch slices (depending on the depth of your muffin cups) and place in muffin cups. Repeat with second half of dough.
9. Let rolls rise.
   Let rise in a warm, non-drafty place until they fill out the muffin cups and are close to doubled in size (around 45 minutes to 1 1/4 hour).
10. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
11. Bake, remove from pan.
    Bake rolls for 10 to 12 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool 1 to 2 minutes, then place a large piece of parchment paper or foil over the top. Place a large cookie sheet on top, and holding the muffin pan and cookie sheet together, flip them over, so the rolls end up on the parchment paper or foil. Quickly scoop any remaining pecans or sauce onto the rolls using a small spoon.

While these Mini Pecan Rolls are delicious as is, you can also get creative and add some different ingredients to make them your own. Here are a few ideas:

• Add a layer of melted chocolate or sprinkle some chocolate chips over the dough just before adding the cinnamon and sugar.
• Add dried cranberries or raisins with the cinnamon filling.
• You can also experiment with different spices such as nutmeg or cardamom to add a unique flavor profile.
   
  Feel free to use your imagination and create your own signature Mini Pecan Rolls!

While making pecan rolls doesn’t require any specialized equipment, having the right tools can make the process easier. Here are a few recommendations:

1. Mixing bowl, measuring cups and spoons
2. Stand mixer or hand mixer
3. Rolling pin
4. Rolling mat (optional)
5. Mini muffin tins (enough to make 36 rolls)
6. Sharp knife or unscented dental floss for cutting the rolls
7. Saucepan for heating the buttermilk and oil

These sweet rolls can be served as part of a breakfast, brunch or even as a dessert. Here are some ideas for brunch dishes to serve with them:

• Spicy Bacon Twists
• Green Chile Breakfast Casserole
• Christmas Morning Baked Eggs in Ramekins
• Hash Brown Sausage Casserole
• Roasted Zucchini Custard

These rolls are best enjoyed fresh out of the oven, but they can also be stored and reheated later:

1. Allow baked rolls to cool completely before placing in an airtight container. They will keep at room temperature for up to 2 days.
2. To reheat, place them in a rimmed baking dish and drizzle with melted butter. Cover with foil and place in a preheated 350-degree oven for 15 to 20 minutes.
3. You can also freeze the baked rolls. Wrap each roll individually in plastic wrap and place in a freezer-safe bag or container. They can be stored for up to 3 months. To thaw, leave them in the refrigerator overnight and reheat as described above.

To make these cinnamon pecan rolls ahead, you have a few options:

1. Make and freeze dough.
   Prepare the dough in advance (stopping before rolling it out), cover it tightly with plastic wrap, and place in the refrigerator. When you’re ready to bake, let the dough come to room temperature and continue with the recipe.
2. Refrigerate or freeze rolls before baking.
   After cutting the rolls and placing them in the baking dish with the topping, cover the dish tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate or freeze. When you’re ready to bake, remove the rolls from the frig/freezer, let them thaw (if frozen), and then rise at room temperature for around 2 to 3 hours before baking.
3. Prepare, bake ahead and reheat.
   Follow storing and reheating instructions in the section above.