Sticky Buns

It was my turn to bake for a favorite group of volunteers at church – the perfect opportunity to try a recipe from my new cookbook, Barefoot Contessa: Back to Basics by Ina Garten.  I love this cookbook – so many beautiful photos!  I made a double recipe, and the caramel-y, sticky buns were a big hit with the volunteers and my family.

Ingredients

3/4 c. unsalted butter, at room temperature
1/3 c. light brown sugar
1/2 c. pecans, roughly chopped
1 pkg. frozen puff pastry, thawed
2 T. unsalted butter, melted and cooled
2/3 c. light brown sugar
3 t. cinnamon
1 cup raisins (I may try combining golden raisins and craisins next time)

Directions

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.  Place a 12-cup muffin tin on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.

Combine 3/4 c. butter and 1/3 c. brown sugar; divide among the 12 muffin cups.   Top the butter-sugar mixture with pecans.

On a lightly floured surface, unfold one sheet of pastry with folds going left to right.  Brush with 1/2 of the melted butter, stopping 1-inch before the top.  Sprinkle with 1/3 c. brown sugar, 1 1/2 t. cinnamon, and 1/2 c. raisins.  Starting with the side closest to you, roll the pastry snuggly, jellyroll style.  With seam side down, trim 1/2 inch from the ends and discard.  Slice into 6 equals pieces.  Place each piece cut side up (and down) into a muffin cup.  Repeat with the second sheet of pastry to make 12 rolls.

Bake for 30 minutes or until golden and firm to touch.  Cool for 5 minutes and invert onto the parchment paper.  If necessary, top with filling and pecans.  Allow to cool completely.

Lois Britton

An accountant by trade and a food blogger since 2009, Lois Britton fell in love with Polish cuisine during the years she lived in Poznań, Poland. As the creator of PolishHousewife.com,  she loves connecting readers with traditional Polish recipes. Lois has a graduate certificate in Food Writing and Photography from the University of South Florida. She is the author of The Polish Housewife Cookbook, available on Amazon and on her website.