Pecan Sticky Buns #GalentinesDayParty

HAPPY GALENTINE'S DAY!!

What’s Galentine’s Day? Oh, it’s only the best day of the year. Every February 13th, Leslie Knope and her lady friends leave their husbands and their boyfriends at home and just kick it breakfast style. Ladies celebrating ladies. It’s like Lilith Fair, minus the angst. Plus, frittatas!

A few months ago Michael and I binge-watched Parks and Recreation. And we will never be the same-WE LOVED IT SO MUCH! So this year Galentine's Day really means something to me, because I love Leslie. And Ann Perkins. And April. And Donna. And the entire gang. Just like I love my food blogger gal pals, which is why we came together to celebrate this day of sisterhood and breakfast food! A big THANK YOU to Neighborfood and Gotta Get Baked for putting this thing together!

Waffles are Leslie Knope's absolute favorite, so I considered sharing some. But-I've already shared A TON of waffle recipes, and I've found my favorite waffle recipes. So I'm mixing it up with another breakfast treat that I know the Knope-ster would also dig: Pecan Sticky Buns! That are completely homemade, but pretty simple to make, and it only makes 4. Which is good because I, unlike Leslie, do not have triplets or a million friends and these are really best served fresh soooo 4 was plenty to split between Michael and I. But you can totally double the recipe if you need to!

These sticky buns are chewy and fluffy and smothered in a caramel-pecan mixture that it cooks in and is stuffed with. Nothing makes your mouth happy like something sweet and rich and nutty in the morning, or at least that's how I feel! Michael's response upon taking a bite was "mmmmmmm"...so ya know...even the fellas support these.

But today isn't about the fellas it's about the ladiiies! I have so many wonderful girlfriends thanks to this blogging community I'm a part of, and I'm lucky enough to have had the same exact best friend my whole life (my bestie Alex). I don't have a lot of friends but the ones I do have I really care about and nothing sounds better than being able to actually meet up with all my ladies for brunch. And bringing these sticky buns to the party. And then watching an old movie. That's the dream.

Check out the rest of the Galentines Day Party deliciousness!

• Caramel Cheesecake from That Skinny Chick Can Bake
• Hula Pie from Heather’s Dish
• Red Velvet Donuts from Blahnik Baker
• Strawberry Chocolate Chip Pancakes from NeighborFood
• Pecan Sticky Buns from The Cooking Actress
• Gin Lime Coconut Truffles from Food Lust People Love
• Red Velvet Chocolate Chip Cookies from Wallflour Girl
• Lavender Ice Cream from NinjaBaker
• Three Ingredient Valentine’s Day M&M Fudge from Big Bear’s Wife
• Smores Waffle Sticks from A Cookie Named Desire
• Cherry Chocolate Chip Cheesecake from Cookie Dough and Oven Mitt
• Chocolate Frosted Fudgy Brownies with Strawberries from Pineapple and Coconut
• Nutella Layer Cake from gotta get baked
  

Pecan Sticky Buns

From Dessert for Two

Makes 4 buns.

Ingredients:

Dough-

• 1/2 cup very warm (not hot!) water (110F degrees)
• 1 and 1/2 tsp. active dry yeast
• 2 tbsp. granulated sugar + a pinch for the yeast
• 2 tbsp. unsalted butter + extra for the bowl
• 1 and 1/2 cups all purpose flour + extra for rolling the dough

Filling-

• 1/2 cup chopped pecans
• 1/2 cup light brown sugar
• 1/4 tsp. salt
• 6 tbsp. unsalted butter, softened

Preparation:

• Spray 4 jumbo muffin cups or a small baking dish (such as an 8 inch cake pan) with nonstick cooking spray.
• Stir together the warm water and yeast in a glass measuring cup and add a pinch of sugar, stir until everything is dissolved and let sit in a warm place for 5-7 minutes, until the mixture is foamy (if the mixture doesn't foam then the yeast is dead and you need to start over.)
• While you wait for the yeast to foam up, melt 2 tbsp. of butter and allow to cool slightly.
• Measure flour into a large bowl.
• Add the cooled melted butter + 2 tbsp. sugar to the foamy yeast mixture.
• Stir the wet ingredients into the flour until a soft, shaggy dough comes together (I had to knead it by hand a couple times to fully incorporate everything). 
• Lift the dough with one hand while you use butter to grease the bowl. Place dough back in the bowl and turn to coat in butter.
• Cover loosely with a clean towel and let rise in a warm place for 45-60 minutes, or until doubled in size. (If your kitchen is cold you can turn your oven to 200F degrees for 5 minutes and then turn it off and place the dough in the warm, turned off, oven.)
• In a small bowl combine the pecans, brown sugar, and salt. Add 1 tablespoon to the bottom of the muffin cups or sprinkle ¼ cup of the mixture in the bottom of a small baking dish.
• Cut 2 tbsp. of butter up and divide evenly over the pecan filling in the bottom of the pan.
• After the dough has risen and doubled in size, flour a surface and roll the dough into a 10"x6" rectangle. 
• Evenly spread the remaining 4 tbsp. of butter over the rolled out dough and sprinkle evenly with the rest of the pecan mixture. 
• Roll the dough into a tight log, and slice into 4 equal pieces. Place each piece on its side (swirl side up) in a jumbo muffin cup or next to each other in a small baking dish.
• Cover with a clean towel and let rise in a warm place for 30 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 375F degrees. 
• Once the buns have risen, bake for 20-25 minutes, until golden. Let cool for a few minutes and then turn the pan upside down (onto a plate) and let the pecan caramel mixture drizzle over the tops of the buns. Serve immediately! (Best served fresh or on the day of baking but leftovers can be stored in an airtight container for up to 1 or 2 days).

These are definitely going to be made again.

Thanks for celebrating with us! How are YOU celebrating Galentine's Day?? 

Follow along with us today with the #GalentinesDayParty