This sticky buns recipe uses frozen dough rolls for an easy overnight prep that saves time in the morning. The rolls bake up soft and fluffy with a gooey caramel-pecan topping that flips beautifully onto a serving platter. Perfect for holidays, church brunches, or cozy weekends when you want bakery-style buns without the extra work.
10bread dough frozen rolls, such as Rhodes, frozen
½cupbutter1 stick, divided
½cupbrown sugar
½cupwhite sugar
1teaspoonground cinnamon
¼cuppecansoptional, chopped
¼cupwalnutsoptional, chopped
cooking sprayNon-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.
Notes
Storage & Reheating
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.