Texas Trash Sticky Buns with Hawaiian Rolls
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Texas Trash Sticky Buns turn a package of Hawaiian rolls into a sweet and salty treat packed with pecans, pretzels, coconut, graham crackers, caramel bits, and chocolate chips. Sweetened condensed milk holds the filling together, and a quick bake gives the tops lightly browned edges.
Texas Trash Sticky Buns
There’s a little of everything in these rolls. You get soft bread, crunchy pecans, salty pretzels, and pockets of chocolate and caramel. They’re rich enough for dessert and easy enough for a weekend brunch.
The best part is the shortcut. Start with baked Hawaiian rolls, fill them, and pop the pan into the oven. There’s no dough to knead or rising time to work around.
What are Texas Trash Sticky Buns?
Texas Trash Sticky Buns are Hawaiian sweet rolls stuffed with a mixture of sweetened condensed milk, pecans, pretzels, coconut, graham crackers, caramel bits, and mini chocolate chips. The filled rolls bake in a buttered dish until heated through and lightly browned.
The name reflects the sweet-and-salty mix of the filling. If you like the combination in my Royers Texas Trash Pie, this recipe brings those flavors to soft sweet rolls. We love the flavors so much, I also made Texas Trash Bread Pudding.
Why you’ll love this recipe
- Starts with prepared rolls. No homemade dough or yeast needed.
- Bakes in 15 to 20 minutes. A convenient option when you want a warm treat.
- Has plenty of texture. Pecans, pretzels, and graham crackers balance the soft bread.
- Works for brunch or dessert. Serve with coffee or add them to a holiday breakfast spread.
- Uses one bowl for the filling. Stir everything together before filling the rolls.
Ingredients and helpful notes
For the best Texas Trash Sticky Buns, follow these tips.
- Hawaiian rolls: Use the original, unsliced sweet dinner rolls. Their soft texture makes it easy to press a cavity into each one.
- Sweetened condensed milk: This thick, sweet milk binds the filling. Make sure the label says sweetened condensed milk. Evaporated milk is not a direct substitute.
- Chopped pecans: Small pieces are easier to distribute and spoon into the rolls.
- Pretzels: Crush them coarsely so you keep some texture. Measure after crushing.
- Sweetened shredded coconut: Adds chewiness and sweetness throughout the filling.
- Graham crackers: Coarsely crush them before measuring. A few small pieces are fine; they don’t need to become a fine powder.
- Caramel bits: Use baking caramel bits rather than caramel sauce, which would change the consistency.
- Mini chocolate chips: Their small size helps distribute chocolate throughout the filling.
- Butter: Melt it in the baking dish before adding the rolls.
How to make Texas Trash Sticky Buns
The full, printable recipe is at the bottom of this post.
- Prepare the pan
Preheat the oven to 350°F. Melt the
butter in a 9×13-inch baking dish and spread it across the bottom. Arrange the Hawaiian rolls on top. - Make room for the filling
Cut an X into the top of each roll. Gently press the center down to make a cavity, keeping the bottom of the roll intact.
- Stir together the filling
Combine the chopped pecans, crushed pretzels, coconut, crushed graham crackers, caramel bits, and mini chocolate chips with the sweetened condensed milk and stir until everything is coated.
- Fill the rolls
Spoon a heaping tablespoon of filling into each cavity. Divide any remaining filling among the rolls, mounding it on top as needed.
- Bake
Bake for 15 to 20 minutes, until the rolls are heated through and the exposed filling is lightly browned.
Let them cool briefly before serving. The melted chocolate and caramel will be hot.
Tips for soft rolls and a loaded filling
Texas Trash Sticky Buns are really easy to make; here are a few additional tips.
| Tip | Why it helps |
|---|---|
| Keep the bottoms of the rolls intact | Helps hold the filling inside |
| Chop pecans into small pieces | Makes the mixture easier to spoon into the cavities |
| Coarsely crush pretzels and graham crackers | Keeps some texture in the filling |
| Start with a heaping tablespoon per roll | Helps distribute the filling before adding the rest |
| Check the pan at 15 minutes | The rolls are already baked and only need heating |
| Loosely cover with foil if browning too quickly | Protects the bread while the centers heat |
Don’t wait for the filling to become firm throughout. It should still be sticky when warm, with lightly browned areas on top.
Serving ideas
Serve these sweet-and-salty sticky buns warm with coffee and fresh fruit. For brunch, pair them with eggs or a savory breakfast casserole to balance the sweetness.
They also make an easy dessert. Set out small plates and forks; the sticky filling makes these easier to enjoy seated than on the go.
For another shortcut breakfast, try my Hawaiian Roll Cinnamon Rolls and Hawaiian Roll Sticky Buns.
Make-ahead tips and leftovers
For the best texture, chop the pecans and measure the ingredients ahead of time, then mix the filling and assemble the Texas Trash Sweet Rolls shortly before baking. Pretzels soften as they sit in the wet mixture.
Let leftovers cool, then cover and refrigerate. Rewarm individual rolls in short microwave intervals until warm. The pretzels will soften after storage, so freshly baked rolls have the best texture.
Texas Trash Sticky Buns Frequently Asked Questions
No. This recipe uses fully baked Hawaiian rolls, so you can fill them and bake immediately.
No. The filling goes inside and on top of the rolls. Serve them upright from the baking dish.
No. These rolls get their flavor from pecans, pretzels, coconut, graham crackers, caramel, and chocolate. You can add cinnamon if you prefer.
Yes, though mini chips are easier to distribute in the small cavities. Larger chips may make the filling a little harder to spoon into the rolls.
It should be soft. The sweetened condensed milk, melted chocolate, and caramel create a sticky filling. Look for heated centers and lightly browned tops rather than a completely firm filling.
Using premade rolls is the perfect cooking hack. Here are more quick recipes with Hawaiian rolls.
Texas Trash Sticky Buns
Items in blue & underlined below can be clicked for more detail or to purchase.
Ingredients
- 1 can sweetened condensed milk
- 1 cup chopped pecans
- ½ cup coarsely crushed pretzels
- ⅓ cup sweetened shredded coconut
- ½ cup coarsely crushed graham crackers
- ⅓ cup caramel bits
- ⅓ cup mini chocolate chips
- 1 package Hawaiian Rolls
- 4 tablespoons butter
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350℉. Melt the butter and pour it into a 9×13-inch baking dish. Place the rolls on top.4 tablespoons butter, 1 package Hawaiian Rolls
- Cut an X in the top of the rolls and push down to create a cavity.
- Mix the pecans, pretzels, coconut, graham cracker crumbs, caramel, and chocolate chips with the sweetened condensed milk.1 cup chopped pecans, ½ cup coarsely crushed pretzels, ⅓ cup sweetened shredded coconut, ½ cup coarsely crushed graham crackers, ⅓ cup caramel bits, ⅓ cup mini chocolate chips, 1 can sweetened condensed milk
- Fill the cavities in the rolls with a heaping tablespoon of the pecan mixture.
- Bake in a 350 degree oven for 15 to 20 minutes until heated through and the trash mixture is lightly browned and caramelized.
Notes
Nutrition
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