I am all about smells. There is something about the sense of smell that evokes feelings or memories. I went out to my car last night, and for the first time, it actually really felt like fall – all because of the smells. I could smell the leaves, and there was something burning in the air that smelled like the candles inside of a jack-o-lantern. Ahh, how I love the emotions that brought on!
These muffins brought along a lot of feeling as well – all because of the smell they filled the house with as they were baking. The melting sugar, the orange, the cinnamon – it felt like the holidays in my house!! These probably could have tasted horrible, and I would have still wanted to make them, just to fill my house with that scent!
Recipe notes:
- I would probably double the amount of the “sticky” mixture next time – there just wasn’t enough!
- As I was typing out the recipe, I realized that I put the cinnamon sugar mixture on the tops of the muffin pan, not in between two layers of the batter. Ooops! It still worked out!
- My biggest complaint with these is that I didn’t know how to serve them. The sticky side up? That was kind of difficult because the other end was rounded. But I wouldn’t want to leave the sticky side on the bottom….
- This is a perfect, quick alternative to sticky buns. You get kind of that same feeling, but much easier and quicker than having to wait for the dough to rise!
Recipe rating: 4 out of 5
Orange-Honey Sticky Bun Muffins
from Family Circle All-Time Favorite Recipes
makes 12 muffins
1/2 cup walnuts
1/3 cup packed brown sugar
2 tablespoons butter, melted
2 tablespoons honey
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Batter
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 tablespoons butter, melted
1/4 cup honey
2 teaspoons grated orange rind
1 egg
2/3 cup milk
1 tablespoon sugar
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 cup chopped raisins, optional
Heat oven to 375F. Line a baking sheet with foil. Coat a standard 12-muffin pan with nonstick cooking spray. Divide walnuts evenly among cups of muffin pan. Combine brown sugar, butter, honey and cinnamon in a small bowl. Spoon 1 rounded teaspoonful into each muffin cup.
Prepare batter: Combine flour, baking powder and salt in a medium-size bowl. Blend butter, honey, orange rind and egg in another medium-size bowl. Beat in milk. Stir flour mixture into milk mixture just until combined. Spoon half of batter into muffin cups.
Combine sugar, cinnamon and raisins (if using) in a small bowl. Sprinkle over muffins. Top with remaining batter. Place pan on foil-lined baking sheet.
Bake in the preheated oven for 22 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the centers comes out clean. Cook pan on rack for 5 minutes. Invert muffins onto waxed-paper lined tray. Spoon any sticky mixture left in pan over muffins.
eatme_delicious says
Ohh I've never thought of making cinnamon rolls in bun shapes like this. Makes it much easier! They look delicious. I would serve them sticky side up but yea it is annoying that they're round on the bottom and would fall over.
Abby says
No yeast! Praise be!
Sylvie says
You're right, it's amazing how smells can just transport you right back to a place from your memory.
Lovely baking.
easy recipes says
This recipe look amazing. Can I use almond instead of the walnuts?
Katie says
These look the perfect sweet treats. Like mini sticky buns – yum!
kat says
Yummy!
Grace says
yeast-free sticky buns? sign me up! and to me, it's always a good idea to go ahead and double any glaze/frosting/sticky-topping-goo. 🙂
Cakebrain says
I must say…I'm a sucker for sticky buns and those look yummy!
The Food Hunter says
Yummy!
Barbara says
Nothing in this world I like more than sticky rolls so I'll double the sticky mixture! I like the orange and honey flavors a lot.
Maria says
Great muffin flavor!
Ingrid says
Yes, yes, more sticky !
~ingrid
Tia says
those look like timbits! mmmm