Maple and Pecan Cinnamon Rolls

When you've been with someone for 7 Christmases (I just googled that to see if it's a real life word, but it still doesn't look right) it's hard to know what to get them. This year I took the easy option and brought Mr Hef Book of Mormon tickets. We're both massive South Park fans so it seemed like an easy gift. The tickets turned in to tickets and a hotel, which then turned in to tickets, a hotel and some gift vouchers for The Breakfast Club (thank you mummy Allford). The Book of Mormon was incredible, I would thoroughly recommend it, unless you are easily offended, a couple walked out about 10 minutes in (they were oldies though, they don't like the swears so much). The whole trip was just lovely, we checked in to our hotel and had a quick trip to Hummus Bros, avoided the rain by having a nap and then took ourselves off to Patty & Bun. Because this was Mr Hef's Christmas present, I wanted to find somewhere that he would like (I would prefer a vegetarian restaurant, obviously, but I save those for my romantic trips with vegan Emma). He loves a good burger, so it seemed like the obvious choice. After my giant portobello mushroom burger, I couldn't fit in a peanut butter choc ice, which left me craving some kind of sweet treat when my burger had gone down. I remembered seeing a Cinnabon somewhere near the hotel, so after the show myself and Mr Hef ran through the rain trying to find it, by the time we found it, ordered and got back to the hotel I was soaked through (the Cinnabon was fine, I carried it under my coat as if it was a small child), but it was totally worth it. Warm cinnamony goodness covered with maple frosting and pecans. Mmmmmm. So basically, the story goes, one wasn't enough, so I made myself a whole batch. Here's the recipe... Enjoy!

Makes around 16

For the dough

1 packet of dry yeast
230 ml warm milk
75g golden caster sugar
110g butter
1 tsp salt
2 eggs
550g plain white flour

For the filling

75g melted butter
225g brown sugar
2 tbsp ground cinnamon

125g pecans

For the frosting

100g icing sugar

25g softened butter
50ml milk
1/2 tsp vanilla extract

2 tsp maple syrup 

25g pecans to decorate

1. Start by tipping the dry yeast in to the warm milk in a large bowl, add a tea spoon of the golden caster sugar and leave for around 10 minutes until it's all bubbly. 
2. Then pop the rest of the caster sugar, butter, salt and eggs and mix together with the yeasty milk with and electric mixer until well combined. 
3. Add the flour and fold it, mixing until it forms a dough. 
4. Tip the dough out on to a floured surface and knead for 5 minutes, until you have a lovely smooth dough. 
5. Pop the dough back in to the bowl, cover it with a tea towel and leave it in a warm place to rise for at least an hour (it should double in size).
6. Pre heat the oven to 200 degrees then tip to dough on to a floured surface and roll out in to one large rectangle! (21 inches by 16 inches).
7. Smash up your pecans quite small in a pestle and mortar/food processor/bag with a rolling pin.
8. Once it's rolled out brush the butter all over it, then mix the cinnamon, sugar and crushed pecans together and sprinkle it all over!
9. Cut up in to around 16 even sized slices, then pop them in to a greased 8inch baking pan (I put 7 around the outside and 1 in the middle, which fit perfectly!)
10. Then pop them in to the oven for 15-20 minutes.
11. While they're baking, make up the icing by creaming the butter and icing sugar together until smooth, then add the milk, vanilla extract and maple syrup and whisk up until smooth. 
12. When the rolls are golden brown, remove from the oven, cover them in icing and the rest of the pecans and enjoy! 

Posted in: Baking