easy sticky buns

Houston, TX
Updated on Nov 8, 2025

I love baking with puff pastry. It gives these sticky buns an incredible crispness, and the melted butter, sugar, and cinnamon soak into the pastry. The aroma is amazing when they are baking. You can also use sliced almonds in this recipe.

Blue Ribbon Recipe

These easy sticky buns are a shortcut recipe that uses puff pastry rather than a dough to create a wonderful treat. The rolled puff pastry is filled with butter, brown sugar, ground cinnamon, and raisins. You can taste the warm cinnamon spice, which is a nice contrast to the sweet pops of raisins. On top is a gooey and sweet topping. The crunchy pecans caramelize in the brown sugar and butter mixture. This is a simple sticky bun recipe that can be whipped up quickly in the morning.

prep time 25 Min
cook time 30 Min
method Bake
yield 12 serving(s)

Ingredients

  • 12 tablespoons unsalted butter, room temperature
  • 1/3 cup light brown sugar, lightly packed
  • 1/2 cup pecans, chopped in very large pieces
  • 1 package frozen puff pastry, defrosted
  • FOR THE FILLING:
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 2/3 cup light brown sugar, lightly packed
  • 3 teaspoons ground cinnamon
  • 1 cup raisins

How To Make easy sticky buns

  • Combine the 12 tablespoons of butter and 1/3 cup of brown sugar.
    Step 1
    Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, combine the 12 tablespoons of butter and 1/3 cup of brown sugar.
  • Place 1 rounded tablespoon of the mixture in each of the 12 muffin cups.
    Step 2
    Place a 12-cup standard muffin tin on a sheet pan lined with parchment paper. Place 1 rounded tablespoon of the mixture in each of the 12 muffin cups.
  • Distribute the pecans evenly.
    Step 3
    Distribute the pecans evenly among the 12 muffin cups on top of the butter and sugar mixture.
  • Unroll and slightly roll puff pastry.
    Step 4
    Lightly flour a wooden board or surface. Unfold 2 sheets of puff pastry and roll out slightly.
  • Brush with butter and sprinkle with brown sugar and cinnamon.
    Step 5
    Brush the whole sheet with the melted butter. Leaving a 1-inch border on the puff pastry. Sprinkle each sheet with 1/3 cup of the brown sugar and 1 1/2 teaspoons of the cinnamon.
  • Sprinkle with raisins.
    Step 6
    Sprinkle 1/2 cup raisins over each sheet.
  • Roll up the pastry and cut into 6 pieces.
    Step 7
    Starting with the end closest to you, roll the pastry up snugly like a jelly roll around the filling, finishing the roll with the seam side down. Trim the ends of the roll about 1/2 inch and discard. Slice the roll into 6 equal pieces, each about 1 1/2 inches wide.
  • Place in the muffin tin, repeat with the other puff pastry, and bake.
    Step 8
    Place each piece, spiral side up, in 6 of the muffin cups. Repeat with the second sheet of puff pastry to make 12 sticky buns. Bake for 30 minutes until the sticky buns are golden brown to dark brown on top and firm to the touch.
  • Cool for 5 minutes.
    Step 9
    Be careful-they're hot! Allow to cool for 5 minutes only.
  • Carefully invert the sticky buns to cool completely.
    Step 10
    Invert the buns onto the parchment paper. Ease the filling and pecans out onto the buns with a spoon and cool completely.

Nutrition Facts

(per serving*)
calories: 255 kcal, carbohydrates: 29 g, cholesterol: 36 mg, fat: 17 g, fiber: 2 g, protein: 1 g, saturated fat: 9 g, sodium: 11 mg, sugar: 18 g, unsaturated fat: 7 g
*Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Nutrition information is estimated.

Discover More

Category: Sweet Breads
Collection: Breakfast In Bed
Method: Bake
Culture: American
Ingredient: Flour

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