Father's Day Maple Bourbon Pecan Sticky Buns

1. In a large bowl or the pan of a bread machine, combine the flour, yeast, sugar, salt, and potato flour or flakes. Add the butter, milk and egg. Mix until the dough comes together, then knead at medium-low speed with a mixer or by hand for 6 minutes, until smooth and supple.
2. Cover and let rise until nearly doubled, 60-90 minutes. If using a bread machine, set on the dough cycle and let it complete its course. 

1. While the dough is rising, set up the pan and topping. Grease a 9 x 13 Casserole pan. 
2. Separately, combine the syrup, butter, and bourbon (if using). Heat until the butter is melted, then pour into the casserole pan and tilt to evenly coat the bottom.
3. Sprinkle the pecans over the syrup mixture.
4. Mix the sugars and salt together, and sprinkle evenly over the nuts. Set the pan aside.

1. In a medium bowl whisk together the sugars, cinnamon, flour, and salt. Stir in the melted butter until the mixture looks like wet sand.

1. After the dough has risen, tip it out on a lightly greased work surface and gently press out to a 12 x 16-inch rectangle, with the long side facing you. Sprinkle the filling mixture over the dough, leaving a ½-inch space bare on each long side, but covering the dough all the way out to the short edges. 
2. Roll the dough up from the long side without pulling or stretching it. Pinch the seam together to seal. 
3. Use a sharp knife or a 16-inch length of unflavored dental floss to cut the dough into 12 equal pieces.
4. Place the rolls, cut side up on top of the filling in four rows three across. Cover the pan and let rise for 40-60 minutes while you preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. When ready to bake, the rolls will have expanded and be puffy-looking but not be quite doubled. A light touch should leave a dent in the dough that doesn’t bounce back. 
5. Uncover the dough and bake for 30-35 minutes, until a center roll measures 190 degrees F when measured with a digital thermometer. 
6. Remove from the oven and place a large tray over the top of the pan. Carefully flip the pan and tray over together. Let the pan sit for a minute so gravity can put the topping on the rolls before lifting the pan off the tray. Scrape any stray topping back over the tops of the rolls. Serve warm. 

Originally published on the Lodge website.