Sticky Pecan Bites

It's early in the morning and the aroma of fresh coffee wafting through the house makes you realize you'd like a nice little something to go with that first luscious cup of hot java.  Maybe you have some new coffee beans you've ground and you're excited about a new brew.  Or maybe you'd just like something to take the edge off an early rise.  Something that is so easy there can be no resistance to the idea of making them on a whim as you greet the coming of a new day.

There's something about pecans and sticky buttery brown sugar concoctions that make just about everyone sit up and take notice.  The smell of cinnamon and gooey sugar gets all our neurons firing.  These little two-bite pastries capture a lot of that flavor and chewy goodness with very little effort on any given day of the week.

Instead of a yeast dough or pie dough, this is a very quick preparation similar to cream scones.  Once you slather the rectangle of dough with butter, a sprinkle of salt, cinnamon and brown sugar, you roll it up and refrigerate it so it firms up enough to slice easily.  Bake them and in just 12 - 15 minutes you suddenly have a snack plate full of delicious pastries that would also be great for a brunch or as a bite-sized sweet on a party tray.  And while these obviously don't have the richness of full-blown cinnamon rolls or sticky buns, their lightness and modesty provide their own sort of benefit.  This enticing little bite with that freshly brewed cup of coffee will no doubt send you happily on your way.



Bench notes:
- The recipe calls for pecan halves placed in the muffin wells but I chopped them coarsely for a different look and bite.
- I added some orange zest on top of the brown sugar layer before rolling up the dough.  I'd probably also add a pinch more cinnamon the next time or maybe a dot of allspice because I'm a slave to spices.
- To portion the pieces equally, the easiest thing to do is to cut the roll of dough in half, then cut each portion in half, then cut each portion into 6 pieces.
- You really do want to release the pastries from the pan straight out of the oven or the sugar hardens on the bottom and they will stick.  Just flip the pan over and they pop right out.
- I forgot to sprinkle the salt on top of the butter so I sprinkled the pastries after I baked them and turned them out.  In any case, salt really does add to the deliciousness so be sure to use it.



Sticky Pecan Bites
adapted from Chewy Gooey Crispy Crunchy Melt-in-Your Mouth Cookies by Alice Medrich
Makes 24 pastries

24 pecan halves
1 C flour
1 t baking powder
1/4 t salt + more for sprinkling
3/4 C heavy cream
1/2 C brown sugar, packed
1/2 t cinnamon
1 oz (2 T) butter, very soft + more for preparing mini-muffin pans

Grease a mini-muffin pan or pans with butter.  Place a pecan half in each muffin cup, top side down.

Whisk the flour, baking powder and salt together.  Make a well in the center and pour the cream into the well.  Stir together just until the dry ingredients are completely moistened and a soft dough forms.  The dough won't look perfectly smooth.  Set aside to let it rest for 2 - 3 minutes so the flour absorbs all the cream.

Mix the brown sugar and cinnamon together.

Place the dough on a lightly floured piece of parchment or a work surface.  Roll the dough out to a rectangle about 12" x 7" and 1/4" thick, lightly dusting with flour as necessary.  Using a small offset spatula or your fingertips, spread the dough with the soft butter.  Sprinkle with a pinch of salt.  Sprinkle the brown sugar and cinnamon, leaving a 1/4" border.

Starting at one of the shorter ends, roll the dough up tightly and press the seam to seal.  Place the roll seam side down and gently stretch it to lengthen it slightly to about 12".  Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

Cut the roll of dough crosswise into 24 equal pieces.  Place each piece in a muffin cup, cut side up.  Bake until browned, 12 - 15 minutes, rotating the pan(s) from front to back halfway through the baking time to ensure even baking.  Immediately turn the pastries out onto a sheet of parchment on a heatproof surface.  Serve warm.