Sticky Cinnamon Buns: A Sticky Sweet Adventure in Every Bite

3 hrs.

Medium

Servings: 12 rolls

Discover how to make Sticky Cinnamon Buns with gooey nut-caramel sauce and rich cinnamon swirls—step-by-step ingredients and instructions for irresistible homemade sticky buns.

There are few aromas as nostalgic and irresistible as warm cinnamon baking in the oven. Whether it transports us back to slow weekend experiments or prompts a spontaneous craving on a Tuesday afternoon, cinnamon has that uncanny ability to go from humble spice jar to kitchen rock star. That’s exactly the vibe of these Sticky Cinnamon Buns—rich, gooey, sweet, and decadently spiced with generous swirls of cinnamon in every bite.

This isn’t your ordinary roll. These sticky buns are a little sticky, a little spicy, and a whole lot of awesome—perfect for anyone who wants to stretch their baking horizons without feeling like they’ve signed up for a bread-making degree. Trust us: once you master these, you’ll be sneakily offering to bring the buns to every brunch, celebration, and “just because Tuesday.”

Ingredients for Next-Level Sticky Cinnamon Goodness

These Sticky Cinnamon Buns balance tender dough with a gooey nut-caramel sauce and rich, aromatic cinnamon-sugar swirls that make every bite a moment. Here’s what we need:

For the Dough

3 large eggs
⅓ cup cane sugar
¾ cup buttermilk or ½ cup yogurt mixed with ¼ cup milk
2 tsp salt
2 tsp instant yeast or 2 tbsp fresh yeast
6 tbsp unsalted butter, melted
4 cups all-purpose flour, plus extra for dusting

For the Nut-Caramel Sauce

4 tbsp unsalted butter
⅔ cup brown sugar
3 tbsp buttermilk or yogurt mixed with milk
1 cup nuts of your choice, toasted and coarsely chopped
Pinch of kosher salt

For the Filling

⅔ cup brown sugar
1 tbsp ground cinnamon
2 tbsp unsalted butter, melted

Step-by-Step: How to Build These Sticky Magic Rolls

We’re going to break this down in a way that feels friendly—even if you’ve only ever made toast before. There’s no judging here, just rolls coated in glorious cinnamon bliss.

1. Make the Dough

First, whisk those eggs like you mean it. Add the cane sugar, buttermilk (or yogurt milk combo), salt, yeast, and melted butter to the bowl. Mix until everything is combined—don’t worry if it looks clumpy at first. Add the flour and stir with a wooden spoon until a shaggy dough forms.

Now comes the part that separates the amateurs from the sticky-bun pros: kneading. Flour your surface, dump the dough out, and knead it for a few minutes until it’s smooth and elastic. It feels silky when you’re done—and that’s when you know you did it right.

Pop that dough back in the bowl, cover it, and let it rise at room temperature until about double in size. We’re talking soft, puffy, “can’t wait to roll you out” kind of dough.

2. Nut-Caramel Sauce Time

In a small saucepan over medium-high heat, melt the 4 tbsp of butter. Once melted, stir in the brown sugar until it dissolves and begins to bubble. Then add that splash of buttermilk (or yogurt milk mix), stir, and toss in your toasted nuts and a pinch of salt. This is the gooey, slightly crunchy layer that will make your buns truly sticky—a glorious contrast to the soft dough.

Pour this mixture evenly across the bottom of a baking dish. It will later form the caramelized top once inverted after baking.

3. Roll, Fill, Slice

Turn the risen dough onto a floured surface and use a rolling pin to shape it into a rough rectangle about 16 × 12 inches. Brush it with the melted butter, then sprinkle the brown sugar and cinnamon filling over the surface. That swirl of cinnamon is what makes each bite rich and aromatic.

Roll the rectangle tightly into a log. Use a sharp knife to slice it into 12 even pieces. Nestle those coils swirly-side up into your prepared baking dish so they’re snug and ready.

4. Proof and Bake

Cover the dish again and let the buns rise until they’re noticeably puffy—this could take another couple of hours depending on your kitchen’s warmth.

Then slide the whole thing into a preheated 350°F oven. Bake until the buns are golden brown and perfectly risen.

Once they come out, let them rest for about 5 minutes. Now for the fun part: invert the pan onto a serving platter so that the nut-caramel sauce becomes the glossy, sticky topping.

Serve warm—and maybe grab a napkin because things get deliciously messy.

Why These Sticky Cinnamon Buns Deserve a Spot in Your Rotation

These buns are the kind of treat that bridges breakfast, dessert, and everything in between—thanks to that gooey swirl of cinnamon, sweet nut-caramel sauce, and tender dough. Mixing up a batch is also a subtly satisfying kitchen ritual: proofing dough, swirling sugar and cinnamon, and smelling that warm, spicy scent as they bake is basically edible therapy.

Whether you’re impressing friends or just treating yourself for no reason at all, these sticky buns are a reminder that sometimes the best culinary adventures happen at home, with hands in flour and a little bit of patience.