Directions

1. For the Dough:
2. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together 2 cups flour, sugar, yeast, and salt.
3. In a heat-safe bowl, combine the water and butter (cut into tablespoons). Heat in the microwave for 30 sec - 45 seconds, until warm to the touch but not hot. The butter will not melt completely. Pour into the dry ingredients with the egg and mix with a wooden spoon.
4. Add in 2 additional cups of flour and mix. It should turn pretty thick and sticky at this point. Add in ½ cup of flour and mix again. It should now turn shaggy and become difficult to stir. Once it reaches that point, set the spoon to the side and use your hands to mix and knead the dough. It will be sticky, so add another ¼ cup of flour and continue to mix and knead by hand. It should turn into a smooth mass that’s soft and tacky. To check consistency of the dough, press a clean finger into the dough. If your finger sticks, add another ¼ cup of flour and knead. If it does not stick, then shape it into a ball and let it rest uncovered for 10 minutes. The dough will puff up but not quite double in size.
5. For the Maple Pecan Filling:
6. While the dough rests, make the filling by mixing the butter, brown sugar, cinnamon, and maple syrup together with a fork. It should form a soft paste consistency that’s perfect for spreading.
7. For Shaping & Baking:
8. Place the dough on a lightly floured surface and pat it into a rough rectangle shape. Roll it into a 15x15 inch square using a rolling pin.
9. Spread the filling into a thin and even layer, leaving about 1/2 inch border all around the outside of the dough. Sprinkle with an even layer of the chopped pecans.
10. Roll the dough up into a log. Place your hands at each end of the log and give it a gentle squeeze in to compact the log of dough. It may have stretched out a bit during the rolling process so this brings it back together.
11. For best results, use unflavored dental floss to cut the rolls. If you don’t have floss, you could also use really thin sewing thread. If using a sharp knife, gently saw back and forth and try not to press straight down into the rolls. This will squish them into an odd shape. Using the floss, slide it under the roll and toss both ends of the floss over top. Pull them through to create a cut. Cut off the two ends of the log and then cut the remainder into 12 pieces. Cut the entire log in half, then cut those two halves in half to create 4 segments. Cut each of those 4 segments into 3 rolls to get a total of 12.
12. Place the rolls in a buttered or greased 9x13-inch dish (you could also use two 9″ round pans, placing 6 rolls in each). It’s OK if the rolls are touching. *See notes for overnight instructions.
13. Place in a warm spot and cover with a towel to rise for 1 hour. If you live in a colder climate, preheat the oven to the lowest temperature. Once it’s ready, turn the oven off and place the rolls inside. This creates a warm environment for the rolls to proof.
14. Preheat the oven to 350°F (first remove the rolls if you proofed them inside) and check on the rolls. They should have doubled in size and now take up the entire dish.
15. Bake for 25-30 minutes or until the tops are a light golden brown. While they cool, make the icing.
16. For the Maple Icing:
17. In a small bowl, whisk together all of the ingredients (minus the water). If you like a more thin icing, add the water. Otherwise, keep it as is. Drizzle onto the warm rolls and enjoy!
18. Notes:
19. For Overnight Cinnamon Rolls: After shaping the rolls and placing in the baking dish, cover the rolls with plastic wrap and place in the refrigerator overnight. Before baking the next day, allow the rolls to rest at room temperature (covered) for about 45 minutes. They may not puff up but that’s OK. Continue steps for preheating oven and baking.