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.
Tia says
those look like timbits! mmmm
Ingrid says
Yes, yes, more sticky !
~ingrid
Maria says
Great muffin flavor!
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.
The Food Hunter says
Yummy!
Cakebrain says
I must say…I'm a sucker for sticky buns and those look 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. 🙂
kat says
Yummy!
Katie says
These look the perfect sweet treats. Like mini sticky buns – yum!
easy recipes says
This recipe look amazing. Can I use almond instead of the walnuts?
Sylvie says
You're right, it's amazing how smells can just transport you right back to a place from your memory.
Lovely baking.
Abby says
No yeast! Praise be!
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.