Make these visually striking rhubarb sticky buns for a unique spring breakfast. The tart rhubarb balances the sweet glaze, offering a fresh alternative to traditional cinnamon rolls.
Author:emilyharrison
Prep Time:20 min
Cook Time:35 min
Total Time:55 min
Yield:12 servings 1x
Category:Breakfast
Method:Baking
Cuisine:American
Diet:Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
1 package (14.4 ounces) refrigerated sweet roll dough
1 cup chopped fresh rhubarb
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup water
1/4 cup (4 tablespoons) unsalted butter
1/4 cup packed light brown sugar
2 tablespoons light corn syrup
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 cup chopped pecans or walnuts (optional)
Instructions
Prepare the rhubarb filling: In a small saucepan, combine the chopped rhubarb, granulated sugar, and water. Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until the rhubarb softens and the mixture thickens slightly, about 8 to 10 minutes. Remove from heat and set aside to cool.
Prepare the sticky topping: In a separate small saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Stir in the brown sugar and corn syrup. Bring the mixture to a simmer and cook for 1 minute, stirring constantly. Remove from heat and stir in the vanilla extract. Pour this mixture evenly into the bottom of a 9×9 inch baking pan. Sprinkle the chopped nuts, if using, over the topping.
Prepare the rolls: Unroll the refrigerated sweet roll dough onto a clean surface. Gently flatten each roll slightly. Spread the cooled rhubarb filling evenly over the surface of the dough pieces.
Roll and cut: Roll the dough up tightly into a log. Slice the log into 12 equal pieces. Place the cut rolls, cut-side up, snugly in the prepared baking pan over the sticky topping.
Bake: Preheat your oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Cover the pan loosely with foil and bake for 20 minutes. Remove the foil and bake for another 5 to 10 minutes, or until the tops are golden brown.
Cool and invert: Let the buns cool in the pan for only 5 minutes. Place a serving plate upside down over the baking pan. Carefully flip the pan and plate over together to release the sticky buns onto the plate. Serve warm.
Notes
For a brighter pink color, you can add one drop of red food coloring to the rhubarb mixture before filling the rolls.
If you prefer a less tart flavor, increase the granulated sugar in the rhubarb filling by 2 tablespoons.
You can substitute maple syrup for the corn syrup in the sticky topping for a different flavor profile.