Cinnamon Upside-Down Coffee Cake

Step 1

Prepare the Dough: Stir together yeast, salt, 2 cups of the flour, and 1/2 cup of the sugar in bowl of a stand mixer fitted with paddle attachment. Add warm water and 1/2 cup of the butter; beat on medium speed until completely combined and smooth, about 2 minutes, stopping to scrape down sides of bowl, if needed.

Step 2

Beat in eggs and 2 cups of the flour on low speed; increase speed to medium, and beat until thoroughly combined. Gradually add enough of the remaining flour to make a soft dough. About 1 1/2 cups. (Dough should remain soft and slightly sticky.)

Step 3

Turn dough out onto a heavily floured surface; knead until dough is smooth and elastic, about 5 minutes. Cover and let rest 10 minutes.

Step 4

Shape dough into a ball, and place in a bowl coated generously with cooking spray, turning to grease top of dough. Cover and let rise in a warm place (85ºF), free from drafts, until doubled in bulk, 1 to 2 hours, or cover dough and let rise in refrigerator overnight.

Step 5

Prepare the Nutty Topping: Combine pecans, brown sugar, melted butter, and corn syrup in a medium bowl. Spoon half of mixture into a lightly greased 9-inch square pan. Repeat procedure with remaining pecan mixture and another lightly greased 9-inch square pan.

Step 6

Punch dough down. Divide dough in half; shape each portion into a ball. Turn 1 portion out onto a lightly floured surface. Roll into a 15- x 9-inch rectangle. Stir together cinnamon and remaining 1/2 cup granulated sugar in a small bowl. Spread surface of dough with 2 tablespoons of the softened butter. Sprinkle dough rectangle with half of the cinnamon-sugar mixture. Roll up jellyroll fashion, beginning at long side. Firmly pinch edge and ends to seal. Cut into 15 (1-inch-thick) slices. Place slices, cut sides up, in 1 prepared pan. Repeat procedure with remaining dough, 2 tablespoons softened butter, and cinnamon-sugar mixture. Place slices in remaining prepared pan. Cover pans, and let rise until doubled in size, about 1 hour.

Step 7

Preheat oven to 350ºF. Bake rolls in preheated oven until golden brown and done, 25 to 30 minutes. Cool 2 minutes, and turn out onto a serving platter.