Apple Raisin Pecan Sticky Buns & Life Balance

Good Morning!  Welcome to your own personal snow globe!

My plans were to go to the gym today, but after seeing what I would have to drive in to get there - plans were quickly replaced by the craving to try these delicious cinnamon bun-esque recipe I trolled recently.  Plus I get a cheat day on weekends (quickly becoming cheat weekends. whatever.) might as cheat with these!

 I mean, just look at them!  So, so, Delicious!  Put the workout on hold.  These sticky, sweet, comforting buns are the new plan of the day.  

 First I chopped-up 2 Ambrosia apples, you can peel them first, if you'd prefer...I left the skins on and tossed them in the brown sugar and butter on a parchment covered pan. Covered the apples with foil, and baked for 15 mins.  Whilst they are baking, you can make the dough!

 Rolled out my dough, into a rectangle - mine was definitely longer than 9 inches, but there was a lot of ingredients!  Add the brown sugar, cinnamon, raisins, pecans, and top with baked apples.

 I forgot to take a picture before they went into the oven picture, but this is what they look like when they came out.  The house smelled so wonderful, and my tummy was grumbling in anticipation!

Truth?  Once I drizzled the sauce on top of the buns, I ate them directly out of the casserole dish with that spoon.  I used my husbands plate to take a picture of a sticky bun on a plate, but none of mine made it to one.  Ahhhh, confessions.

I allowed myself to digest while I folded and but away a couple loads of laundry, and then I made my way to the basement for a workout.  Because that, my friends, is how I created my life balance today.

Apple Raisin Pecan Sticky Buns

Recipe adapted from: Shutterbean

2 apples cored and sliced 

1 1/4 cups plus 1 tablespoon packed brown sugar

3/4 cup butter, softened

2 cups flour

1/4 cup granulated sugar

1 tablespoon baking powder

3/4 teaspoon salt

2 large eggs

1 cup milk - I used 2%

1/2 cup chopped pecans

1/2 cup raisins, or other dried berries/fruit.

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

2 tablespoons honey

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees . Grease a 9-inch ish baking pan/casserole dish. Place the apples, 1 tablespoon brown sugar and 1 tablespoon butter on a parchment-paper-lined baking sheet; toss to coat. Cover loosely with foil and roast until tender, 15 minutes. Lower the oven temperature to 350 degrees .

Meanwhile, blend the flour, granulated sugar, baking powder and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Add 5 tablespoons butter and mix until crumbly.

In a small bowl, whisk the eggs with 1/2 cup milk, then mix into the dry ingredients.
On a lightly floured surface, roll out the dough to form a 9-inch rectangle. 

In a small bowl, mix 1/2 cup brown sugar, the pecans and cinnamon. Cut up 2 tablespoons butter and dot the dough. Sprinkle the brown sugar mixture on top and cover evenly with the roasted apples. 

Roll up the dough, jelly roll-style, and cut crosswise into 9 slices; place the slices cut side down in the prepared baking pan. Bake until golden, 35 to 40 minutes. 

In a saucepan, bring the remaining 4 tablespoons butter, 3/4 cup brown sugar, 1/2 cup milk, 1/2 teaspoon salt and the honey to a boil, stirring. Whisk until reduced, about 2 minutes. Let cool slightly. Drizzle the sauce over the warm buns.

Enjoy!