Learn how to make these easy leavened caramel pecan cinnamon rolls. Fluffy dough with sticky caramel sauce and toasted pecans make the best caramel cinnamon rolls.
Ingredients
1cupwhole milk
1tablespoonactive dry yeast
1tablespooncanola oil
2 ½cupsall-purpose flour
4tablespoonsalted butter
½cuplight brown sugar
2teaspoonground cinnamondivided
11ozKraft caramel bits
½cuppecan pieces
Instructions
In a large mixing bowl, gently stir together the milk and yeast. Cover the bowl with a kitchen towel and allow the yeast to sit for five minutes, or until foamy.
Whisk in the canola oil, flour, and 1 teaspoon of the cinnamon until no dry clumps of flour remain. Mix with a wooden spoon or the dough hook on an electric stand mixer.
Place the dough onto a lightly floured surface. Knead for 5 minutes or use the dough hook on an electric stand mixer to knead on low-setting for 5 minutes.
Place dough into a lightly greased bowl. Cover with plastic wrap and set in a warm area to allow the dough to rise for 20 minutes. Dough should double in size.
Place the soft dough onto a lightly floured surface. Roll out with a lightly floured rolling pin. Roll into a rectangle shape.
In a small bowl, melt butter. Add brown sugar and cinnamon. Mix completely.
Spread the cinnamon mixture over the dough.
Carefully roll the dough up into a log shape. Cut into 16 equal pieces. Place the rolls into a greased 8x8-inch baking dish. cover with plastic wrap and let rise for 20 minutes.
Preheat oven to 350°F.
Place the baking dish into the middle rack of the oven. Bake for 20 minutes.
Make caramel sauce. Place caramel bits into a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave for 30 seconds, stir and microwave again until fully melted.
Spoon the caramel sauce over the cinnamon rolls. Sprinkle with pecans.
Bake for an additional 5 minutes.
Remove from the oven and serve immediately.
Notes
You can store these cinnamon rolls in the fridge or on the counter for up to five days.
The caramel frosting will harden a little bit if it sits for longer than about 15 minutes, but it will easily soften back up after 20-30 seconds in the microwave.
If you do not have canola oil, you can also use vegetable oil.
It is important to allow the cinnamon rolls to rise a second time after they are prepped to help ensure they are not too dense after baking.