When I was a young mom, I discovered how much joy a pan of warm, gooey sticky buns could bring to my family on a slow Saturday morning. I loved the idea of scratch-made bread, but life was busy, and I needed a shortcut. That’s when I found that using frozen dinner rolls gave me all the flavor and comfort without the extra hours in the kitchen. This sticky buns recipe has become one of my go-to hosting recipes, stress-free, delicious, and perfect for serving to overnight guests or at a holiday brunch.
Sticky Buns Recipe 🙌🏼
This sticky buns recipe is truly a lifesaver when you want something homemade without the hassle. It’s easy to put together since it starts with frozen dough, so you skip the time-consuming step of making bread from scratch. The overnight prep lets you do the work ahead of time, which makes mornings so much smoother. And when you flip that pan out of the oven, the gooey caramel topping makes these buns completely crowd-pleasing. For me, it’s the perfect recipe for stress-free hosting because I can serve something special without being tied to the kitchen.
Ingredient Notes
Here’s a quick overview of the key ingredients for this recipe. For the full list of ingredients and exact measurements, be sure to check the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
- Frozen dinner rolls: I like to use Rhodes, but any brand will work.
- Butter: You’ll need both softened and melted butter for this recipe.
- Brown sugar: Adds that deep caramel flavor.
- White sugar: For rolling the rolls in cinnamon sugar.
- Ground cinnamon: Essential for that warm spice vibe.
- Pecans and walnuts: Optional, but they add crunch. You can swap with almonds or leave them out for nut-free buns.
- Non-stick cooking spray: Keeps everything from sticking when it’s time to flip.
How to Make Sticky Buns Recipe
Prep Pan and Mix Brown Sugar Butter
I spray my baking dish with non-stick spray and sprinkle chopped nuts on the bottom. This way, when the rolls bake and flip, every bun is coated in gooey caramel and nuts.
Soften half of the butter, stir in brown sugar, and spread it over the nuts. This layer becomes the caramel sauce when baked.
Coat The Rolls and Let Rise
I melt the rest of the butter, dip each frozen roll, and roll them in a cinnamon-sugar mixture. Place them cinnamon-sugar side up in the pan with a little space so they have room to rise.
This is my favorite hosting trick; I cover the pan loosely with greased plastic wrap and leave it to rise overnight.
Bake and Flip
In the morning, the rolls are puffed and ready to bake while I make coffee. I bake them until golden.
Flip and Serve
Then flip the whole pan onto a platter while the caramel is still hot. That first moment when the sticky topping slides over the buns is always a little magical. Another yummy cozy morning pastry I like to serve is these Baked Applesauce Fritters, which are just as warm and inviting.
Variations, Substitutions, and Recipe Tips
Dietary Modifications
If you need these sticky buns to be dairy-free, just swap the butter for a plant-based version and double-check that your frozen rolls don’t contain dairy. For a lower-sugar option, reduce the white sugar in the cinnamon mixture by half; the caramel topping will still make them sweet and gooey.
Flavor Enhancements
I love adding a little orange zest to the cinnamon sugar for brightness, or swapping some of the brown sugar with maple syrup for a richer, cozy flavor. You can also blend in warm spices like cardamom or nutmeg to change things up.
Add-In Options
Try folding in raisins, dried cranberries, or extra chopped nuts if your family enjoys them. A drizzle of cream cheese glaze after baking can also give them that bakery-style finish.
Simple Substitutions
No pecans on hand? Walnuts, almonds, or even leaving the nuts out entirely all work beautifully. If you’re out of brown sugar, coconut sugar makes a nice swap. And if frozen bread rolls aren’t available, crescent rolls can be used — they’ll bake up lighter but still delicious.
Tips For Recipe Success
Give the rolls space in the pan so they rise evenly overnight without sticking together too tightly. Flip the buns while they’re still hot so the caramel flows over the top smoothly. And remember, even if the rolls look a little rustic, the gooey topping covers everything, and they’ll taste just as wonderful.
Hospitality Challenge
Make a pan of sticky buns the night before and invite someone over for a slow Saturday morning coffee, nothing fancy, just warm rolls and good company. Think of someone who might not usually get an invite: a neighbor, a single friend, or a new family at church. Let the smell of cinnamon and a simple table say, you’re welcome here. It’s not about impressing, just offering relaxed conversation and a place to belong.
Make it a Meal
If you want to make it a meal, make Fruit Salad Recipe With Honey Lemon Dressing, juicy, zesty, and perfect next to warm sticky buns. Add a hearty savory option like Recipe For Egg Bites At Starbucks to round out the brunch table.
More Breakfast Bread Recipes To Try
- Bakery-Style Orange Cranberry Muffins with Crumb Topping
- Tropical Sweet Pineapple Bread
- Wonder Bread Chaffle Recipe
- Quick Banana Bread Using Cake Mix Recipe
- Easy Sourdough Discard Biscuits: Flaky and Buttery
This sticky buns recipe with frozen rolls is the easiest way to get gooey, bakery-style buns at home without the fuss. If you have any questions about making this recipe, feel free to ask in the comments below. I’m here to help!
Sticky Buns Recipe (Using Frozen Dough Rolls)
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Ingredients
- 10 bread dough , frozen rolls, such as Rhodes, frozen
- ½ cup butter, 1 stick, divided
- ½ cup brown sugar
- ½ cup white sugar
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ cup pecans, optional, chopped
- ¼ cup walnuts, optional, chopped
- cooking spray, Non-stick
Instructions
The Night Before
Prepare the Pan
- Spray a 9-inch round deep dish pie pan with non-stick spray.cooking spray
- Sprinkle chopped pecans and walnuts evenly on the bottom of the pan.¼ cup pecans, ¼ cup walnuts
Make Brown Sugar Butter
- Soften ¼ cup butter in the microwave (about 10 seconds at a time until soft, not melted).½ cup butter
- Stir in the brown sugar until well combined.½ cup brown sugar
- Spread this mixture over the chopped nuts in the pan.
Prepare Cinnamon Coating
- Melt the remaining ¼ cup butter.
- In a small bowl, mix white sugar and cinnamon.½ cup white sugar, 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Coat the Rolls
- Dip each frozen roll in the melted butter, then coat it in the cinnamon-sugar mixture.10 bread dough
- Place the rolls and cinnamon sugar side up on top of the nut and sugar layer in the pan. Leave a little space between each roll to allow them to rise.
Let Rise Overnight
- Lightly spray a piece of plastic wrap or foil with non-stick spray and cover the pan.
- Leave it in a cold oven or on the counter overnight to rise (8 to 10 hours).
The Next Morning
Preheat the Oven
- Remove the pan from the oven if you stored it there.
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Take off the cover from the pan.
Bake
- Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, until the rolls are golden brown.
- Tip: If the tops begin to brown too quickly, cover loosely with foil for the last 10 minutes.
Flip & Serve
- Let the pan cool for 1 to 2 minutes.
- Carefully invert the pan onto a large plate or platter using oven mitts.
- Be cautious, the caramel sauce will be hot!
Serve Warm
- Let the sticky buns cool slightly before serving for the best gooey texture.
Gina’s Notes and Tips
Store: Keep leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days.
Reheat: Warm individual rolls in the microwave for about 15–20 seconds.
Freeze: Wrap tightly in plastic wrap and foil. Freeze for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge and reheat before serving.
I want to make these…do I place them with the sugar cinnamon topping facing up does that side go down on top of the nuts
Great question! You’ll want to place the rolls with the cinnamon-sugar side facing up when you put them in the pan. The butter and sugar mixture underneath melts into a caramel sauce while baking, and when you flip the pan after baking, that caramel and nut layer becomes the gooey topping that covers the buns. So yes — cinnamon-sugar up, nuts and caramel mixture on the bottom. Thanks for asking, I’m going to add this detail to the instructions to help others.