Description
These Crescent Caramel Rolls are a delightful treat combining the flakiness of crescent roll dough with a luscious homemade caramel and cinnamon sugar filling, topped with pecans for an optional nutty crunch. Perfect for breakfast, brunch, or a sweet snack, these rolls bake up golden and gooey, then are inverted to coat each piece in a sticky caramel sauce.
Ingredients
Scale
Caramel Sauce
- 5 tablespoons butter, softened (for caramel)
- ¾ cup brown sugar
- ¼ cup water
- ½ cup chopped pecans (optional)
Rolls
- 2 cans (8 oz each) refrigerated crescent rolls
- 3 tablespoons butter, softened (for spreading on dough)
- ¼ cup sugar
- 2 teaspoons cinnamon
- ¼ cup brown sugar (for sprinkling on dough)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Set your oven to 375°F (190°C) to get it ready for baking the rolls.
- Melt Butter in Pan: Place an ungreased 9×13-inch baking pan in the oven and melt 5 tablespoons of butter directly in it.
- Add Caramel Ingredients: Stir ¾ cup brown sugar, ¼ cup water, and optional pecans into the melted butter, mixing well. Set this pan aside for now.
- Prepare Dough Rectangles: Separate each crescent roll can into 4 rectangles by pinching the perforations closed to form solid pieces.
- Butter Dough: Spread the remaining 3 tablespoons of softened butter evenly over each crescent dough rectangle to help the sugar mixture stick and add richness.
- Mix Sugar and Spice: Combine ¼ cup sugar, 2 teaspoons cinnamon, and ¼ cup brown sugar in a bowl, then sprinkle this mixture evenly over the buttered dough rectangles.
- Roll and Slice: Starting at the shorter end of each rectangle, roll tightly into log shapes. Slice each log into 4 pieces, yielding a total of 32 rolls.
- Arrange Rolls: Place each roll cut side down in the prepared pan atop the caramel mixture, arranging them neatly.
- Bake: Bake rolls at 375°F for 20-25 minutes, until they turn golden brown and the caramel mixture is bubbling.
- Invert and Serve: Immediately after baking, invert the pan onto a baking sheet to release the caramel rolls with the sticky sauce covering them. Serve warm for best enjoyment.
Notes
- If you prefer a nut-free version, omit the pecans without affecting flavor much.
- Ensure rolls are packed tightly in the pan to prevent spreading too much during baking.
- Serve these rolls warm; they can be reheated briefly before serving to re-melt the caramel sauce.
- Use unsalted butter for better control of saltiness.
- Refrigerated crescent rolls can be substituted with homemade dough for a more artisanal feel.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Breakfast, Dessert, Snack
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
