Giant Vanilla Salted Butterscotch Sticky Buns
I have some news.
No, I am not writing a cookbook (I wish!) and no I am not getting married (only twenty, although my mom was married at eighteen).
Nope, yesterday my mixer broke.
I almost cried. I can’t live without my Kitchen Aid Mixer!
Especially, since I had big plans of dough making all day long.
Yeah, well that dough, did not happen.
What did happen was I called in my dad, who lately has been Mister Fix-it.
Oh, I had high hopes. I mean, he has brought lamps, heaters and chairs back from the dead. He even my re-did a topper for my brother’s truck, complete with a new plexiglass window and a lock!. Surely he could fix my mixer.
You guys, all he gave was more bad new.
Dad: “Well Tieg, I think I can fix it.”
Me: Yes, yes, yes! Literally, I jumped for joy.
Dad: “But I have to order parts and it’s probably going to take a while, so I would just buy a new one and then you will have two.”
Me: What???
See, this may not seem like a huge deal, but I am as cheap as they come and I just bought a crazy expensive new camera… and lens, that I am in the midst of trying to figure out (someone send help!).
And well, other things to go with the camera, and more things for the blog, and just too much for my brain to comprehend.
Ugh.
I kind of hate seeing my money go out the door. Oh, and the responsibilities of being an adult.
Anyway, it is prime time baking season and I have no mixer.
So you guys can totally say good-bye to all the Christmas cookies, cakes and cinnamon rolls.
It’s just not going to happen this year.
Ya Right.
I totally bought this one last night on Amazon. It’ll be here Wednesday. Free two-day shipping, thank God for Amazon. Especially up here where I live. I mean it’s not like I can just run out somewhere up here and go buy a new mixer. We do have a Target, but they won’t carry the big Pro 600.
Now I can make all the sticky buns in the world.
YES!
Although you can actually knead this dough by hand if your do not have mixer, surprisingly it is not that hard and sometimes I like hand kneading the dough. It is kind of relaxing. But I am a little weird.
These buns. They are really sticky and delicious. The dough is super soft and moist due to the mixture of milk, butter and greek yogurt. It is my all time favorite dough. And then the butterscotch. Oh man, the butterscotch is the best addition to sticky buns ever. Especially, if you add some chocolate chunks in there.
Oh yeah, I have so done that. It’s crazy good.
But since I was going for the breakfast theme, I decided to leave the chocolate out. Obviously, you can be super cool and add some. Either way, these sticky buns are the best because not only are they soft and doughy, but they are sweet and sticky and the dough could not be easier to work with. Oh, and the smell… Holy Moly, they smell amazing.
AND there is vanilla salt. Wow, this is so good. I am going to tell you all about it this weekend. It’s super easy to make and I now want to sprinkle it over pretty much everything. It’s vanilla-y salt!
Self control around them is clearly impossible. Be careful.
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Giant Vanilla Salted Butterscotch Sticky Buns
By halfbakedharvest
Course: Bread, Dessert, Snack
Cuisine: American
Keyword: buns, butterscotch, vanilla
These buns. They are really sticky and delicious. The dough is super soft and moist due to the mixture of milk, butter and greek yogurt. It is my all time favorite dough. And then the butterscotch. Oh man, the butterscotch is the best addition to sticky buns ever. Especially, if you add some chocolate chunks in there.
Ingredients
- 2 1/4 teaspoons active dry yeast I like Red Star
- 1/4 cup warm water
- 2 tablespoons light brown sugar
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter melted, stick
- 1 cup warm milk
- 1/4 cup plain greek yogurt
- 2 eggs
- 4 cups all-purpose flour
Filling
- 6 tablespoons butter very soft
- 1 cup light brown sugar
- 2 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 cup pecans chopped
- 2 tablespoons scotch or 1 tablespoon vanilla
Butterscotch Sauce
- 1 cup stick unsalted butter 1/2
- 1 cup light brown sugar
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 3 tablespoons scotch or 1 tablespoon vanilla
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
Vanilla Salt
- 2 tablespoon flaked sea salt
- 1 vanilla bean split and seeds removed
Instructions
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Place yeast and sugar into stand mixer with the dough hook attached. Add the warm water and gently stir. Let sit until yeast has doubled and is puffed and foamy on top, about 10 minutes.
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To the bowl add the melted butter, warm milk, greek yogurt and eggs, stir to combine. Add in the flour and knead the dough with the dough hook until the dough is smooth and forms a ball, about 5 minutes. Remove the dough from the bowl and oil the boil or use cooking spray. Place the dough back in the bowl and cover with plastic wrap. Let the dough rise in a warm area for about 1 hour or until doubled in size.
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While the dough rises make the butterscotch sauce. Melt the butter in a small sauce pot. Add the brown sugar, heavy cream and salt. Bring to a boil and then reduce heat to medium. Boil for 5-10 minutes, until the sauce has thickened and coats the back of a spoon. Remove from heat and stir in the scotch and set aside. If the sauce gets too thick add in a splash of cream to thin.
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When the dough is ready and doubled in size spray 2 muffins tins with cooking spray. Flour your workspace and roll the dough with a rolling pin until it’s thin and somewhat rectangular (about 9x24 inches), then brush with melted butter (you may not use all the butter) and generously cover with 2 teaspoons cinnamon and 1 cup light brown sugar. Ok, this is when would be best to add chocolate chips if you choose 🙂 Now drizzle on about 1/4 cup of the butterscotch sauce.
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Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
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Next roll up the dough. Starting with the end away from you, roll the dough into a line towards you. Slice the rolls into 18 to 24 slices and place them in the prepared muffin cups. I made 18 rolls, but they were BIG and popping out of the pan. Cover and let the rolls rise for about 15-20 minutes.
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Once the oven is hot place the muffin tins on two baking sheets and bake for 30 minutes.
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While the buns are baking add the pecans to a skillet set over medium heat and toast for 5-8 minutes or until toasted. Add two tablespoons scotch (or vanilla) and 1/3 cup of the butterscotch sauce, stir and remove from the heat.
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After 30 minutes grab the buns out of the oven and drizzle the pecans over the buns. Return the pans to the oven and bake another 10-15 minutes or until the tops are golden brown. Remove from the oven and let sit 5 minutes.
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Combine the salt and vanilla bean seed in a small bowl. Use your fingers to ingrain the seeds into the salt.
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Use a knife to carefully pop the buns out of the tins, they are going to be very sticky! If desired drizzle with more butterscotch sauce and then lightly sprinkle with vanilla salt. Eat while warm and gooey!
Oh and they are GIANT. You are welcome.
First of all, I am so sorry! When it rains, it pours. Omg you poor thing! Okay you want to know what’s REALLY WEIRD is that I own that mixer. I had it for about 2 mos before I decided I wanted a 7 qt. I barely used it. I was trying to sell it to a friend for 250 but she was not convinced she even needs a stand mixer. So if you know anyone who needs a cheap stand mixer, LMK! 🙂
These buns. Epic. Homemade butterscotch. And baked in a muffin pan. And that gorgeous log of dough. All need and bundled. That’s the type of thing that makes me happy to see 🙂
Hi Averie! I could be very much interested in your mixer, let me know!
Should I have gotten the 7qt? I almost did, but then I just went with the 6qt.
And thanks for the heads up about the flour! I hate when I forget ingredients. It’s added now! Glad you like the buns I almost did not post post them since I could no get the pictures exactly the way I wanted them (made them twice, but I needed to perfect the recipe anyway), but I am always super critical and the family thought I was crazy….but they kind of know nothing. LOL!
And p.s. I may be blind but I think you forgot to add the amt of flour. I always check that b/c I am a small batch girl and this doesn’t look like it makes tons…but I don’t see a numeric value.
It’s a huge bummer when your favorite tool breaks, but you are getting a brand new really nice mixer!
These buns are awesome. I’m pinning!
Thank you, Norma! 🙂
First of all, so lame about your mixer! But, yay for Amazon coming to the rescue!
I really need to stop coming to your page before I eat breakfast. It always makes my once loved bowl of oatmeal seem like such a let down…I mean, I could be eating these ooey gooey vanilla butterscotch sticky buns! These look to die for!
Oh man, I am sorry!! I seriously wish I could make one appear in front of you for breakfast. That would be awesome! Thanks Taylor! 🙂
Brilliant, T! I adore my favorite sweet dough for yeasted cinnamon rolls and sticky buns (with 2 secret ingredients), but now I can’t wait to use your recipe with Greek yogurt! LOVE butterscotch or caramel anything and appreciate your vanilla salted butterscotch “goo” here. Cannot wait to bake these bad boys! Thanks for sharing and enjoy that new mixer. Isn’t Amazon a life saver? Pinning! P.S. Yes, Averie is right. Check your recipe as it is missing the flour.
Thank you, Stacy!! And thank for the head up about the flour. I added it to the recipe this morning. I hate when I forget ingredients!
Glad to hear you have a new mixer on the way! These buns look amazing!!
Thanks so much, Marla!
Ok Tieghan these look amazing! That mixer looks amazing! By the way, what kind of camera did you get -I’m in the market for one and would love to know!
Thanks Kathy!!
I bought the Cannon 5D Mark iii. It is a power horse and I am still trying to figure out how to use it. LOL! Let me know if you have any other questions!
I feel like I’ll die if I don’t have these soon. OMG!
Ha! Thanks Katrina!
Vanilla Salt! OMG! Sorry about your mixer, and yes I LOVE Amazon! Looking forward to your new creations!
Thank you, Jenna!
When you were all, “no cookies or buns for you because my mixer broke,” I was all, “awwwww 🙁 ” and when you were like, “juuuuust kidding, I got a new mixer,” I was like, “yaaaaaay!!” There’s nothing worse in a food blogger’s like than an appliance breaking, so I’m glad you got the problem fixed. These buns are messing with my head. If you tell me something is giant, I am 200% going to want to pounce on it. SO good!
LOL! Thanks Julia! You comment totally made me smile! 🙂
I have that same mixer, it’s awesome. I know, I have an issue spending my money too. I just want to hoard it all!!! I bought a new camera a couple months back and it almost killed me. Oh what we do for food blogging!
Hah! You sound just like me or I sound just like you!
Thanks Mallory!
Omidais. I’ve been reading your blog for the longest while and I didn’t know you were 20. I just turned 20 the other day. You’ve got big buns and you cannot lie 😛 and they got butterscotch too. Yumm yumm!
Haha! Thanks Rochelle! And Happy belated birthday!
Sorry about your mixer! Amazon to the rescue! These look absolutely incredible and such beautiful pictures.
Thanks Chelsea!
These look amazing! Glad you got the mixer figured out… life without a kitchen aid (my life for the past 4.5 years since I moved away from home) is sad. Looking forward to all the goodies you’ll make with it!
Thank you, Erin!
oh no!!! that’s such a bummer about your mixer!!! thank GOD for amazon and prime 🙂 i just adore them! haha – these sticky buns look like the perfect post-mixer death treat! haha
I LOVE Amazon! 🙂
Thanks Julie!
Oh no!! That kind of stuff always seems to happen at the worst of the worst time. I had a similar moment last year when I had bought a coffee table on Etsy (wood cracked horribly within like two days), and then within 24 hours of that, my sofa broke. Oh yes, and then I learned our apartment building would start charging us utilities for the first time. UGH!
These buns look amazing! Can’t wait to hear about the vanilla salt (genius idea!). And congrats on the new mixer 🙂
UGH! Why does it all have to come at once?!? I am also being told I need to upgrade my computer now too. Not enough space!
Thanks so much, Laura!
When life gives you lemons get a beautiful shiny mixer!
Haha! That is one way to look at it! Thanks Linda!
Just so you know, getting married is an excellent way to get all new fancy kitchen stuff without spending a dime – I’m in the throes of engagement now and my kitchen has never been more stocked!!
Also, these look incredible!!! Salted butterscotch?! I die.
Ahh! Lucky you! Seriously, that is awesome. Now I need Mr. Right…
Thanks Christine! 🙂
When it rains it pours. But on the bright side, you get a new mixer! I have the same one, and I love it! These buns look amazing! Can’t wait for the vanilla salt.
Thank you, Jessica!!
That’s some mixer! Gotta love Amazon prime It’s the BEST. Vanilla salt – brilliant.
LOVE amazon prime!! Thanks Liz!
Mmmmmmmm! Looks AMAZING! Soooo oooey and gooey!
Thank you, Sophia!
You freaked me out Tieghan! You had me fooled for a minute. So glad you splurged on a new mixer. Can’t wait till you have both mixers going simultaneously. Maybe you should get another oven too. Pretty soon you’ll have a full commercial kitchen going 😉 As always, your sticky buns are the best in the business.
Haha! Thanks so much, Todd! 🙂
It’s a sad day when the mixer dies for baker. So sad. But so glad you got a new one.
I hear you. There’s so many things for those hard earned dollars! I’ve been wanting to upgrade to a professional KitchenAid for the last year or so but there’s just not enough yet.
Good luck with the new camera and lens. Which one did you pick?!? I’m in the market for a new lens. It’s so hard to choose!
Thanks Melanie!
I got both the 50 mm 1.4 and the Canon EF 24-70mm f/4.0L IS USM Standard Zoom Lens. I am loving the 50mm!
I make practically all of my recipes without a mixer, I know you’ll be ok until you get a new one!! Those buns are looking fantastic, love that caramel!
Thank you so much, Anna!
These look amazing as always Tieghan! I totally understand about the ‘being cheap thing’ I’m so cheap I won’t even buy a stand mixer! (That does have a bit to do with space constraints and college student needs-to-buy-airplane-tickets budget constraints as well). However, you said these could theoretically be mixed by hand, which makes me quite happy :).
Haha! Thanks so much, Rebecca!
These sticky buns look amazing! I love how they don’t look too overly-gooey like most sticky buns are.
AND SALT. Haha, awesome bro.
And you should write a cookbook.
I love kneading dough, too. Kitchen Aids look awesome, but I’ve never owned/used one before. I tend to do small batches. Because I have like three people to feed. ha.
Pinning this! Awesome sticky buns. Awesome.
Thanks Abbie! I love kneading dough by hand, but these days I have been doing a ton of dough! Thanks for pinning! 🙂
Oh my goodness, I’m so sorry about your mixer – such a tragedy but glad you have a new one on the way. And these buns – just incredible, I’m drooling!
P.S What camera/lens did you go with? I need to upgrade soon…
Hey Laura!
Thanks so much! I just bit the bullet and went all in and got the Cannon 5D Mark iii. I am using a 50mm 1.2 (thinking of actually downgradig to the 1.4 though), but bought the 25-70mm lens too. Everything was crazy expensive and to be honest I am SO lost and scared. LOL! Trying to figure out the AF points is HARD!! Hoping I will get it soon though!
Your poor mixer! Or really, poor you! Well, at least you’re getting a new one 😉 Lucky girl! And these buns look out of this world.
Thanks Ashley!
YOU ARE MY HERO!!!
🙂 Thanks Becca!
I’ll take a bowl of salted butterscotch, please! And I suppose a sticky bun to mop up whatever drips off the spoon. These look fantastic!
Thanks Jodye!!
I’m sorry – say WHAAA? I could binge on butterscotch right now!
Thanks Megan!!
Oh my gooodness, thank god for fix-it dads! My dad fixed my mixer too and I recently had to order a new attachment because my dough hook broke…at some point, I’ll have to just give in and buy a new mixer…but not yet! This one has been going strong for 20 years and it would do a darn good job of making me some sticky buns!
Whoa! 20 years! That is incredible! I had mine for 5.
Thanks Mimi!
Looks amazing!!
Thank you, Hari!
I have the 6qt mixer – it’s awesome (you really only need the 7qt if you make big batches of heavy-doughed bread often). I also have a 5 qt mixer in tangerine that I just can’t bear to let go of (because … it’s tangerine!). My 5-quarter had a pin malfunction once – I contacted KA’s support and they walked me through the fix over chat. They’re awesome. If your dad has any issues getting the thing back together, don’t hesitate to get a hold of them.
Thanks Karen!! I will call KA for help!
I would DIE. That’s why I have two – your dad is a smart man. What lens did you get???
These? Are fabulous!
Ha! The new one will be here next week and the parts for the old one will be here Saturday, so my I am doing ok for now. Although, the hand mixer kind of sucks.
I got the 24-70mm and the 50mm 1.4 and I am loving both of them!
Thanks Dorothy!
Boo for having to buy expensive new appliances, but yay for being able to still make cookies, ect!! I;m dying over these sticky buns!! Yum!!
Thank you, Jocelyn! 🙂