Announcements, Recipe

pecan sticky buns

by deb Jump to recipe, comments

Long after our son turned one, two, and then three; a good while after my first cookbook was published, which I liked to refer to as my “second” baby, much to the disappointment of grandparents, who were hoping for the kind they could snuggle with; a sizable amount of time after we’d more or less accepted that we’d be a family of three and three only, and thus made a few decisions that might make a fourth human seem a tiny bit poorly planned […adored new apartment with no space for a fourth resident, a second cookbook and expanding midsection racing towards competing deadlines, details] and a couple months after our son started kindergarten and I was a little gloomy because I guess this meant the baby days were really behind us, the craziest thing happened.

toast your nuts, please (!)
simmering the dark caramel

In five months, give or take, I’m going to have to give up these stretchy waistband pants and accidental afternoon naps for good, or so I hear, but not without a fight. But before then, oh boy, I think we’ve got a rather fun spring/summer ahead, and nobody, not a single human on earth is more excited than the future big brother, who has already declared his agenda of teaching the baby the ABCs, to read, to play soccer and to always let it have cookies before dinner, even if it doesn’t eat its vegetables.

an unapologetic amount of goo

As any parent of more than one small human probably could have warned me, past experience is absolutely no predictor of future ones and, lo, this pregnancy so far has been nothing like the first. You see, the first time, I liked food the whole time. Sure, I had some weird obsessive cravings — all the grapes! all the broccoli slaw! a lot of the peanut butter! — but there wasn’t a whole lot that would cause me to pale and panic that I might not make it out of the room before something terrible happened, as I discovered would be the new normal at a birthday party I took my son to at the start of my 5th week, when steaming boxes of soft pizza arrived inside the warm, windowless room. Pizza? What kind of monster enjoys eating pizza?

flattered filledrolled sliced and ready for 2nd proof

It didn’t get much better from there. Cooked vegetables? No. Things with spice? Absolutely not. Meat? Get it away from me. 95% of the things I cooked from October to January, five minutes after I cooked them? It’s better we don’t talk about it. It’s been dark times for this so-called food writer, someone who previously took for granted how easy it is to talk about food when you’re genuinely excited about it. And while I’d say that now, well into the 4th month, things are better — I ate braised beef with garlic this week, whoa — I hope you’ll forgive me if I exclusively devote this space for a while to the new acceptable categories of food: Things You Can Put Butter On, Things That Taste Like Bread, Things That Taste Like Peanut Butter and Oh My God, Is That Chocolate Cake? Give It To Me Right Now.

in the morning
from the oven
pecan sticky buns, upended

Thus today, without apology, classic sticky buns, which are as much of a play on that bun/oven bit as they are a joke on me, who frequently wails to my husband, usually after touching a grimy, gummed-up booster seat/lunchbox sleeve/iPhone recently borrowed and returned, “I hate sticky things!” To which he says “And yet you had a kid anyway.” Apparently, I have not learned my lesson. I mean, thank goodness.

pecan sticky buns
pecan sticky buns

One year ago: Chocolate Peanut Butter Cheesecake
Two years ago: Italian Stuffed Cabbage
Three years ago: Lasagne Bolognese
Four years ago: White and Dark Hearted Brownies
Five years ago: Ginger Fried Rice and Chocolate Souffle Cupcakes with Mint Chocolate Cream
Six years ago: Alex’s Mom’s Stuffed Cabbage and Toasted Coconut Shortbread
Seven years ago: Seven-Yolk Pasta Dough and Best Chocolate Pudding
Eight years ago: Sour Cream Bran Muffins and Mom’s Chocolate Chip Meringues

And for the other side of the world:
Six Months Ago: Raspberry Swirl Cheesecake
1.5 Years Ago: Kale Salad with Pecorino and Walnuts
2.5 Years Ago: My Favorite Brownies
3.5 Years Ago: Tomato Salad with Crushed Croutons

Pecan Sticky Buns
Dough adapted from Alton Brown; goo from Bon Appetit, the rest from trial and error

Now that we’ve gotten the news out of the way, let’s talk about why these are the best sticky buns I have ever made, eaten or dreamed about. Maybe predictably by now, most sticky buns haven’t held my interest for long because they were so assaulting in their sweetness, I feared my teeth would exit my gums in protest. What I always wanted, and what I’m striving for here, is more of a contrast. We’re going to be abstemious everywhere — holding back on the sugar in the dough itself, the cinnamon-sugar filling and pretty much everything that isn’t kale slaw the day we make these — so that we can be completely unapologetically obscenely decadent with the amount of pecan goo we drench the final buns in. This caramel is everything I am always hoping I’ll find at the end of a sticky bun: dark with brown sugar and honey, stretched and enriched with cream and butter and balanced with just enough salt and deeply toasted pecans that there will be no other recipe for me, ever. This is where the sticky bun studies stop.

Note: I used this same dough recipe in the Cranberry Orange Breakfast Buns, but here, I tested it with both kinds of readily available yeast; both work wonderfully, with a few adjustments, noted within the recipe. In short: active dry yeast needs to be proofed for 5 minutes before you begin, but it completes the first rise in half the time. These can be made in one day/afternoon or you can overnight them for the last rise.

Yield: 12 buns. This recipe could be halved and baked in a 9-inch round or 8×8-inch baking pan.

Dough:
1 packet (7 grams or 2 1/4 teaspoons) instant or active dry yeast
3/4 cup (175 ml) milk
1 tablespoon (10 grams) granulated sugar
6 tablespoons (85 grams) butter, melted and cooled to lukewarm
4 large egg yolks
1 large whole egg
3 3/4 cups (470 grams) all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting counter
1 teaspoon coarse or kosher salt
Oil or butter to coat bowl

Caramel:
1/2 cup (1 stick, 4 ounces or 113 grams) unsalted butter
3/4 cup (145 grams) dark brown sugar
3/4 cup (175 ml) heavy cream
1/3 cup (110 grams) honey
1/4 teaspoon coarse or kosher salt

Filling:
1/4 cup (50 grams) packed dark brown sugar
2 tablespoons (25 grams) granulated sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon coarse or kosher salt
1 1/2 tablespoons (20 grams) unsalted butter, melted
1 1/2 cups toasted and cooled, chopped pecans (divided)

Make the dough: If using active dry yeast, it first needs to be proofed: warm milk to lukewarm, about 110 to 116 degrees F. Place in bottom of large mixing bowl or bowl of stand mixer. Stir in 1 tablespoon sugar and yeast and set aside for 5 minutes. It will look a dissolved and slightly foamy.

If using instant yeast, simply stir it into cold milk along with sugar.

Continue with either type of yeast, whisk in butter, yolks and whole egg. Add half the flour and combine with the dough hook of a stand mixer or a wooden spoon, if mixing by hand. Add salt, then second half of flour and continue to mix until a craggy dough forms. If using a stand mixer, knead for 5 to 7 minutes on low until a stretchy, elastic dough forms. If kneading by hand, do so for 5 to 10 minutes on a floured counter. Lightly oil or butter your large bowl (for the stand mixer, I scoop the dough out long enough to oil it, then use the bowl again) and let dough rise until doubled, about 1 to 1 1/2 hours for active dry yeast or 2 to 2 1/2 hours with instant yeast.

About 45 minutes before the dough has doubled, prepare your caramel base: Melt butter in a medium heavy saucepan over medium heat. Stir in brown sugar, cream, honey and salt. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to medium-low and simmer until caramel is golden brown and glossy, about 3 to 5 minutes. Pour into a the bottom and up the sides of a deep 9×13-inch baking dish and let the dish cool down in the fridge while you assemble your rolls.

Roll out and fill buns: In a small bowl, stir sugars, cinnamon and salt together. Remove slightly cooled caramel base from fridge and sprinkle it with 1 cup pecans.

Turn the risen dough out onto a floured work surface and roll it into a rectangle that is 18 inches wide (the side nearest to you) and 12 or so inches long. (It’s okay if it goes longer/thinner, but try to keep the width at 18″.) Brush the dough with the melted butter. Sprinkle it with the filling and then 1/2 cup pecans. Roll the dough into a tight 18-inch long spiral. Using a sharp serrated knife, very, very gently saw the log into 1 1/2-inch sections; you should get 12. Arrange the buns evenly spread out over pecan-caramel base.

Proof buns: Cover with plastic wrap and proof at room temperature for another 1 to 2 hours, until they press tightly together in the pan and look puffed again. Or, you can refrigerate the buns overnight, and up to 16 hours. If chilling overnight, remove from fridge 1 hour before you’d like them to bake. Heat oven to 350°F (175°C).

Bake buns: Bake your buns until they’re puffed and golden (the internal temperature should read 185 degrees F), approximately 30 to 40 minutes. If they brown too quickly on top before the centers are baked, cover dish with foil for remaining baking time.

Let rest in pan on cooling rack for 2 to 3 minutes, then carefully and quickly invert onto a large serving tray, nudging any caramel left behind in the pan or puddled in the center of the buns back evenly over the tops and sides. Eat warm. Store any leftovers in the fridge, rewarming slightly.

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894 comments on pecan sticky buns

  4. Candice

    Congratulations!!! As the mom of an only who’s approaching five who hopes some day we’ll be lucky enough to have another, I am SO VERY EXCITED for you guys!

    And these sticky buns look delish!! Love the bun in the oven pun. :)

  14. Angela M.

    I was just thinking about some awesome Sticky Bun’s I had in a place in Alaska and that it would be cool to try and make some.

    Also, Congratulations!!! Two kids in a household is an awesome experiene for anyone. I should know, I am a second kid and broke that mold, so to speak. :)

  17. Lydia

    Oh my goodness, CONGRATULATIONS!!
    My mom always says that kids typically come into your life at the moments/ways when you aren’t expecting them, and she has 5 (some adopted and some biological) so she would know. ;) So excited to make these sticky buns, and also for your adorable new bun to grace the webpage in a few months.

  21. Rachel

    The warmest congratulations to you and your family! What a precious way to announce! I too remember trying to write about and photograph food during those first few months, taking breaks to run to the bathroom, and you should be complimented for making it this far, so gracefully, with so many adoring readers!

    Blessings to the sweet little bun on the way!

  23. gabby

    What great news! I’m 8 weeks along myself and am also surviving on a strictly bread, peanut butter, and cake diet. These are right up my alley. Congrats!

  29. Catherine

    I saw ‘Sticky Buns’ and ‘News,’ thinking… “This looks familiar…” and lo it did not disappoint! Mazel, Deb, Alex, and Jacob!!! So exciting!!!!!

  32. Karen C.

    Congratulations! Your pregnancy aversions and tastes are the same as mine. Both girls. I would have ate all those sticky buns alone. :)

  36. Ires

    Oh I’m so unbelievably excited for someone I’ve never met. Congratulations!! Also, you’re a witch we’ve recently made your pretzels and slow and low oven chicken (from site)- AND the sesame-turkey meatballs from your book (our 5 and 2 year olds loved them!) and they continue our record of every recipe we make of yours being absolutely delicious. Can’t wait to make these!
    So wonderful – and thank you!

  45. Molly

    B’sha’ah tovah! Such wonderful news. Aside from food not holding the same interest and delight, I hope you’re feeling great. And I am selfishly excited as this means we’ll have kids basically the same age! So now I can read all future blog posts and a. wonder how on earth you’ve found the time to blog with two children, and b. nod along as the babies develop and become little people at the same pace. (Most likely.) This second one for me is like the first, food is delicious and I’m set to gain the the same ungodly amount of weight. Congratulations to the whole SK crew. I hope Alex and Jacob are doing all the dishes.

  46. Yinny

    Congratulations! Poor you, hope you’re going to be able to eat everything again soon! And the sticky buns are on the to do list for tomorrow, can’t wait!

  50. Allison

    Congratulations! I’m four weeks away from my due date and have hated food the entire time. It seriously sucks to have no appetite. I hope yours gets better!

  54. Éowyn S Somers

    Congratulations!!!! My two are 5.5 years apart and adore each other! I’m sure Jacob will be an amazing big brother. Warmest wishes for a healthy baby and happy family of 4!

  55. Lauren

    Congratulations! You’ll manage it all beautifully and have an adorable baby, a new cookbook and an ecstatic big brother to show for it. And even if you go dark for a bit here and there when things get really busy, your fans will be right here waiting for you and supporting you 100%.

  56. Jamie KP

    I’ve never commented though I’ve been reading for a few years now but this made me smile through my crummy morning. I may or may not have aww-ed for a minute too. Congratulations!!
    Also, sticky buns make 87% of crummy days better (though I may have to find a way to throw some chocolate into/ onto them).

  59. Alissa

    I actually said “Yay!” out loud to my empty living room when I read this! I absolutely love baby announcements like this – congratulations to your growing family.

  61. Nancy in CA

    Squeeeeee! Mazel tov! What wonderful news, but so sorry about your tricky tummy! Hope as the new baby grows, so does your food tolerance.

  62. Jill

    Congratulations! My oldest is a couple months older than yours, and I have 3 smaller ones (but my ‘babies’ are about to turn 2, wah). I am DONE with newborns at my house but that makes me all the more excited to ‘meet’ your new little one in a few months. Yay babies!

  68. Julie N

    Congratulations!! Wonderful news…so happy for you. Sounds like you’re having a girl with the aversion to meat. (that’s probably an old wives’ tale but thought I’d throw that out there. :) Enjoy the pregnancy and thank you for the sticky bun recipe. They look DIVINE!!

  69. Allyn

    Congratulations! And time to get creative with space in that apartment.
    I looooooove sticky buns, and am seriously considering replacing the pecans with some toasted pumpkin seeds (the joys of marrying into food allergies), because I really need these in my life.

  76. Allison

    Congratulations! I am due about the same time as you – first time around though. And I have had the same problem – I am huge food lover and have been “subsisting” on pasta, toasted bagels with butter and the like. These buns will be the first thing I make on Saturday morning. Congrats again!!

  78. Naomi

    This is wonderful news! I am due in September and thus selfishly hope the baby food section of the site will have some new recipes with the advent of another SK Baby. Congratulations! Now if I only had the energy to make these sticky buns.

  79. Heather

    Congratulations! And can’t wait to try the recipe. I made the Cranberry orange ones and they were fabulous. Pecan and caramel? Sign me up, pronto!

  80. Amy

    So excited for your family! I’m due around the same time as you with my second, and I feel the same way about food this time. It is all iiiiiicky, except for tomato sauce and cheese, of which there can never be enough. I drowned my poor husband in tomato sauce.

    Let’s both go take a nap now! It’s been a long morning.

  83. Stacey

    Deb! Congratulations to you and Alex! And these look delicious. They might be the first thing I make when I’ve recovered from breaking my ankle.

  84. Jillian

    Congratulations!!!! This is such wonderful news. I just (well, not “just” anymore… 8 weeks ago) found out we’re expecting our first. I’m with Naomi (and others, I’m sure) in selfishly hoping lots of babyfood recipes are to come!

  87. Elly

    Hooray!! I was so hoping this would be the news attached to a new sticky bun recipe! I started reading your blog while I was in college (you helped teach me to cook for myself – thanks!) and before Jacob was born, so I remember rejoicing with you the first time too. :) So happy for you and Alex… and Jacob, of course!

  88. Jacqueline

    Wonderful news! Congrats to you and the whole family!

    Also, thanks for sharing this lovely recipe, I must make these as soon as humanly possible. :D

  90. Deanna

    I’m so excited for double the adorable kid pictures! You guys make the cutest kids. And I just realized my weekend pickling should include pickled grapes. I haven’t made them since you first posted the recipe, and I miss them.

  91. Mary

    GAAA!!! Congratulations!!!! I am pregnant with my second, too (due August)! During first trimester I had such issues with food aversions that at one point I tried looking back at what you posted during that period with Jacob for inspiration. If only I knew I just had to look at the present! Anyway, I’m not sure if I’ve ever posted before, but I’m an avid reader (when I’m not in the first trimester). I am slowly working my way through making every recipe in your cookbook. I am strangely in love with the wild rice casserole.

  92. Stephanie

    Congratulations! And yes, two is so much harder than one, but oh so much more enjoyable. There is just so much love.

    I’m not pregnant, but I always want anything butter and bread.

  93. Sarah

    So many congratulations Deb!!!! I’m also the mom of an only boy (who bears a passing resemblance to your boy). I’m so happy you are all getting what you want. :) can’t wait for more carbs!

  95. Sue T.

    Congratulations to the three of you! I was so hoping this would happen. Funny how tummies are different during each pregnancy. Your recipes were still wonderful, though, even if you couldn’t eat them!

  96. Heidi C

    OH MY GOSH! Congratulations Deb and Alex and big brother Jacob!!!! I love love love the bun in the oven post. Didn’t you do the same with Jacob? How sweet. :)

  97. Cathy @ Chief Family Officer

    It often happens when you least expect it! Congratulations, and hope you feel better soon! (But, just so you’re prepared, this *might* last the whole pregnancy. I kept waiting for the nausea to go away the second time around and it never did. Totally worth it though – hang in there!)

  99. marty

    Congratulations! And, just as I was having the same “oh, my god, is that chocolate cake? Give it to me right now” moment, your sticky buns pic showed up in my fb feed. And I’m certainly not pregnant. This must be a sign for me to get my apron and start baking.

  106. hamletta

    Congratulations! I’ve been a fan since before Jacob, even!

    And I’ll have to make these for my aunties, to whom I owe a visit. They are from Philly, and give zero F’s about cheesesteak, but take their cinny buns very, very seriously.

  107. Annie

    Oh I’ve been waiting for this news forever! I am so happy for all of you, particularly Jacob. Kids that cute should have cute siblings to increase the beauty quotient of the world!!!

  109. Jackie

    CONGRATS!!!! So happy for you guys Deb. Best wishes for a happy and healthy pregnancy.

    Your announcement is just as adorable as the rest of them have been. You are way too cute!

  110. Kailee

    Congrats!!! So excited for your sweet family!

    With my first, my cravings were virtuous: grapefruit, soft boiled eggs, avocados. With my second, I once bought an entire German chocolate cake after going into our favorite bakery for a biscotti. I craved sweets day and night, and have a deliciously sweet 2 year old to show for it.

  115. Meagan M

    Yay….congrats!!!!!!! Maybe it’s because I’m also pregnant but I cried when I saw the picture of Jacob wearing his big brother shirt-so sweet!!!

  117. Melissa H

    congrats! My kiddos are 5.5 years apart (not exactly by design but that’s how it worked) and I wouldn’t trade it for anything. Such a perfect gap getting to enjoy each babyhood and seeing the relationship between big/little and in the future only one in college at a time. ;). So wonderful!!

  118. kasey

    Congratulations! :) I’ve been following your blog for a very long time and it’s been so wonderful to see how your family has grown! :D I can’t wait for the new recipes this new addition will inspire. Thank you for sharing the happy news with all of us.

  119. Kelly

    Congrats! I’m 18 weeks into my 2nd pregnancy and have had the exact experience- the first time I could eat anything – this time Italian bread with butter, pretzels and saltines! Bravo to you for maintaining a cooking blog during those first 4 months! These buns look delicious!

  123. ruth

    Mazel tov!!!! So exciting. I can’t believe how fast Jacob has grown up, by the way. When I started reading your blog, I was a newbie cook and you were making Jacob’s 1st birthday cake. Eep! So excited for your growing family – and of course the adventures of cooking for 4 instead of 3. :-) Congratulations!

  126. Michy

    Congratulations to you guys! I’m glad to hear that you like food again. I, too, had a different reaction with all three of my kids when it came to food. All the best!

  131. v

    Congratulations! I am avid reader and love cooking and am also 33 weeks in… I am experiencing the same issues (i.e. all food is gross) and am very much looking to feeling more normal. I mean, it’s great to only eat carbs and all, but I used to LIKE vegetables. ;)

  133. Sarah

    Deb,

    Congratulations! You allude to going through a tough time getting to #2. You’re an excellent writer. There are so many of us suffering from secondary infertility. I don’t think this is the platform, but I do think you should share your story in another place. It would mean the world to people who suffer silently and feel alone.

  139. Cindy Anderson

    OMG! First time to post, but have been following you since before Jacob was born! I so enjoy your posts & have your cookbook! This is GREAT news and I am so thrilled for all of you!

  140. sara forte

    I’m finding that the plans I don’t plan seem to work out better than the ones I do. You are all going to have a wonderful (albeit maybe cozy) time in your new apartment! I am so thrilled for you all! Congrats to you both and Jacob for what is certainly going to be his pride and joy.

  144. leslie @ definitely not martha

    Congratulations! Having two is a crazy adventure. Wishing you all the best. :)

    I think our minds were in the same place this week – I just made and posted tarte tatin rolls (similar idea to sticky buns, but with caramelized syrup and apples). I think it would work well with pecans in it too.

    There something so wonderful about caramel, squishy dough and cinnamon in the winter. YUM!!!!!!!

  153. Sophie

    That’s wonderful news- I actually shed a little tear of joy when reading this at my office desk in London! :-))) (I have been following your blog for 6 years or so, but really felt this was the best occasion to leave a first comment…)

  159. Tovah

    Congratulations! I’m 8 weeks into my second pregnancy as well, and boy howdy are we on the same page re: food. Last time: everything. This time: bread and your cocoa brownies recipe (twice this week! seriously!). Wishing you an easy-enough rest of the way! x

  160. Courtney

    Congratulations! Wonderful news! I am 7 weeks pregnant with my second and lying on the couch during my lunch break as I write this! Second time around has been a bit harder for me thus far! I love your blog Deb! You are fabulous! So happy for you and your family. Sticky buns are giving me insane cravings right now btw…

  162. Jessica G

    I’ve been waiting for this recipe, Deb, a long time. My dad is going to be delighted with these.
    What a wonder that you posted it on the same day as your big news! So happy to hear that you are growing your clan. More sticky buns for everyone!

  163. Sarah

    This internet stranger is ridiculously excited for your family and little bun! Many congratulations! My mother (of four, two years apart each), says the biggest difference was not zero to one, but one to two, but the phrase “go play with your sister” was a lifesaver.

  164. Yet another Anna

    Congratulations!

    I do appreciate your new food groups, though, and won’t find coping with them a hardship.

    I hope things go more happily in months to come.

  165. Liz

    Congrats! I’m in the third trimester of baking my own little sticky bun – and empathize on the food hating. I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to eat quinoa again after eating it once in the first trimester and hating it so much for no apparent reason. Rock on with your bread with butter!

  166. Laura

    Congratulations!! So exciting. As a parent of two I can confirm that your life is about to get crazy, but also you are going to have countless incredibly wonderful moments.

  167. Michelle

    Congratulations!! I was thinking about making a batch of cinnamon buns to bring to work on Monday, as I just hit 13 weeks today, had my NT yesterday, and think it’s about time to share the news.
    I haven’t had any food aversions, but have I eaten my body weight in fruit…yes. Yes, I have. Have I eaten tater tots for dinner for a week straight? Don’t judge! Have I lost my ability to smell or eat popcorn? Let’s not even talk about that.

    Also, I might be able to commiserate with you about summertime pregnancy :) I’m loathing it already…womp womp

  168. Wendy

    Congratulations on the soon to be new addition to your family.

    A hint for gently cutting cinnamon rolls is to use unflavored dental floss. Simply slide the dental floss under the dough, criss-cross on the top side and pull. You will have a nice clean cut with very little pressure on the dough.

  170. Lily

    Wowie! So exciting-congratulations! As a fellow grossed-out by food right now pregnant lady, I am thrilled that you will be devoting this website to those food groups.

  171. Taylor

    I knew it! There have been hints here and there and you’ve been a little quiet lately. Congratulations! I hope you love food again very soon and are able to enjoy all the things. In the meantime, I will DEFINITELY be eating these buns!

    Taylor

  176. Char

    A huge congrats!! My daughter is two and often wonder when would be a good time to consider having a second! I actually like the idea of her being older, out of diapers, and more independent. All the best, and I’m sure your son will be the best big brother :)

  177. Johanna

    Mazel Tov! You’re right. All your parenting skills with the first are no match for the second. Yet, the practice child thrives and the vildechaya is terrific!

  181. Lindsay

    Congratulations Deb! I hope you can feel the love and warmth coming at you from all over, as you have so many people who adore, respect, and learn from you. My heart overfloweth for you and your family.

  184. Serial

    YAAAY! Congrats!

    I’m pregnant too (41 weeks pregnant — taps chubby fingers impatiently on table) and our acceptable food lists are very similar. All of the peanut butter. I couldn’t eat much meat for the first few months, let alone cook it. I still can’t eat any seafood unless it was literally caught TODAY.

  185. karen on the coast

    I have been WAITING for this news for some time — SO tickled for you!
    When baby is here, you won’t know who to photograph first: baby’s sweet expressions or Alex’s beaming face or the doting big brother love in Jacob’s eyes: he was made for this, you know…love his reaction, and what a great way to break the news to him with that shirt

    Love your cravings, I have found a way to combine a sliced bran (or chocolate) muffin with peanut butter, red currant jelly, a drizzle of
    chocolate sauce (from the hot chocolate days) and dollops, I mean
    dollops of whipped cream. It is my Sat morning breakfast rationale
    and carries me through the day.
    Congratulations and blessings to you, Deb!

  186. Kate

    You don’t know me from Eve, but I am sitting here crying happy tears for you!! When you posted a few months ago about having an announcement but then saying you, too, were bummed that it wasn’t *that* kind of an announcement, I was heartbroken for you. I’m so glad that this turned out to be this kind of announcement! Congratulations!!

  187. Emily

    If the youngest Perelman looks anything like Big Brother did, good luck keeping the baby modeling agencies away later this year! Big congratulations!

  194. Linds in NYC

    I’m your prego twin! Due with #2 in June and this pregnancy has been a doozie. With my son I ate salmon, kale and quinoa almost everyday for 9 months and was in the gym the night before he was born – this one has been a steady constitution of naps, PB&J, and chocolate .. lo and behold, it’s a girl! (hence all classic-old-wives-tale girl pregnancy symptoms) … could you be having a girl too?!

  197. Anna

    My sister and I are 5 years apart, and while we had some trying times during our respective adolescences, we’re now best friends. Jacob looks so excited, I’m sure he will be a wonderful big brother! I’m currently yearning for #1, and with me at 33 and hubby at 40, I wonder if we’ll be able to have two, so I’m so happy for you that you are getting your second after thinking it might not happen! Many congratulations to all of you, I can’t wait to see pictures of that sweet face this summer!

  198. CS

    Wow! Congrats on Jacob becoming a big brother! Now you and your hubby will each have someone to push your wheelchairs when you’re old and Jacob will have someone to commiserate with! …and we’ve been scouring the planet for the best sticky bun recipe so will be trying these out soon!

  200. Earlene

    I’m one of your quiet fans that doesn’t say much when it comes to making comments, but I have to say, Congrats to you guys!!! How exciting to have a new baby around the house, to enjoy and love!! Many blessings are sent your way!

  208. Caitlin

    Yay, this is such exciting and wonderful news! (Seconding Sophie… I’ve never left a comment before but just had to this time!)

  209. Alexis

    Congratulations! Sounds like your second pregnancy has been like mine was – if it wasn’t bread or crackers with cheese or butter, I was simply not interested. Good luck, enjoy the next few months! Sounds like you have a wonderful sibling-to-be to help you out!

  211. Kathryn

    Just what I needed to cheer my evening after a particularly grim day in the office! Congratulations!!! Just a teeny bit jealous though…

  212. Sharon

    Congratulations! I’m so happy for you and want to tell all my friends, even though we have never met. There is no joy like that of internet friends :) I too am looking forward to more sweet recipes :)

  213. Sally

    I am THRILLED FOR YOU! My kids are 5 1/2 years apart, and it is the BEST age difference (we tried for 2 years before I got pg again). Aside from the occasional obnoxious person (that’s SUCH a big age difference, to which I respond, I was infertile (! and they shut up!)), it has been nothing but positive – my girls adore each other, play with each other, and rarely feel competitive.

    ENJOY!!!!

  217. Lisa Cohen

    Congratulations Deb!!! What great news!! Glad to hear that you are feeling better and gaining your appetite! Bring on the chocolate cake!! Hoping you have a smooth rest of the pregnancy!

  223. kathy

    I’m so very happy for the THREE of you! Great that Jacob won’t be an ONLY CHILD. Both my daughter and I are only children; both bossy, always want our own way!

  224. Sara

    So excited for you!!!! My first pregnancy was a dream compared to this one. Congratulations and I’m looking forward to all the things you can put butter on!

  226. Clare

    Congratulations! As someone who is secretly (shhh don’t tell the boss) in my first trimester with my second, I’m supporting your love of baked goods in its full takeover of this site. During my first pregnancy, I had all the food aversions you mentioned. All vegetables tasted like dirt. Meat was disgusting. I lived off of bagels, yogurt, peanut butter and fruit. For this second one, I’m starting down the “gross, meat” path, but other things are seemingly ok. Except pizza – it smells so gross.
    Here’s hoping for the best second trimester and a tolerable third.

  227. Susan

    Congrats! Were the nuts in this bun recipe Freudian in nature? Ha! Don’t worry, it’ll be great. At least, you have a 5 year old human and an elevator in the building this time! Any less on either count would just add to the adventure.

    Speaking of nuts, this is my favorite edible bun. You can keep the cinnamon rolls and coffee cakes, I’ll choose these every time. Sticky in a deliberate way!

  230. ElaineSL

    Deb, I realize most of us don’t really know you, except from what you generously share here, but I did pick up that you were wishing to have another child. Can I please say that I am totally thrilled for you and your family, and I am sending a big virtual hug to you all? If you were in the room, it would be a real hug, and you’d see my moist eyes. Congratulations! And, thank you for this recipe. Despite my loving to bake, I’ve always been yeast-phobic. In a couple of weeks I’m finally taking a class on yeast doughs, and then it will be all sticky buns all the time (well, maybe a challah or brioche occasionally.) Mazal tov!

  231. Kelly

    Wow! Yay! My sister and I are 6.5 years apart, and it was so , so great for us. We are adults now and the closest of friends. Congratulations! Babies are the best thing ever!

  234. karina

    Congratulations! It’s funny to hear your story – because ours is almost identical! We’re having a very miraculous surprise second baby boy join our family this June. Big brother will be *almost* six and he’s thrilled out of his mind! Also, the sticky buns look soooo good!

  236. Beeta @ Bee & Co.

    Congratulations on the new baby! That’s so wonderful and exciting. I think pecan sticky buns are the perfect way to embrace and celebrate your new pregnancy. These remind me of the ones at the Tavern in Brentwood, California – they look beautiful! I’ve been meaning to make them for awhile now, so your post was a perfect reminder. Thanks for sharing! xx

  240. Elisabeth

    Congratulations! 6 year olds make AWESOME big brothers, by the way.

    I also had no problems with food during pregnancy #1, and then had severe food aversions during pregnancies #2 and #3. The food aversions did go away eventually, although the third pregnancy also left me too tired to cook most of the time :(

  242. Jess.

    Oh my goodness, Deb. Thank you for sharing this wonderful news with us! I’m just so, so happy for you. YAYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!!!!! Just love you all. superXOX

  247. MelissaBKB

    Congratulations!!! The first time I visited your site was the day of Cinnamon Swirl Buns + So Much News and I have loved following you since!!!

    I actually just made sticky buns for the first time last week from an allrecipes recipe and was really disappointed – way too sweet, caramel too hard, massive waste of good pecans (and also made me question my bread skills). Then I made your challah Sunday and felt way better :D Can’t wait to redeem myself with these!

  249. SallyO

    Oh my goodness, what a wonderful post. Congrats to you and Alex. Another huge congrats to Mr. Big Brother, who I’m sure will be the best big brother ever. Just look at how he’s starting out. This all put a ridiculous smile on my face. The buns look pretty good too.

  251. Sarah

    Congratulations! I’ve been a reader for eons and it just makes my day that good things are happening to good people. I wish you a healthy and happy remainder of your pregnancy. Congrats to all three of you!

  252. JanetP

    Congratulations!! I skimmed the very beginning to make sure, and now have to go back to actually read your post : ) I started reading your blog when you announced your first bun in the oven (I think that was the very first post I read). Awww!

  253. Mariam

    Literally screamed!!
    Congratulations! So happy for you and your beautiful family.
    Thank you for all the joy you bring into mine with your wonderful recipes.

  256. KimEllen

    Mazel Tov! As a long-time fan, but rare commentor – I couldn’t help but add to the many happy felicitations.

    As I made Baked Potato Soup for friends on Sunday, and they were heaping on the praises, I was just reminded of how much I love this blog! Mushroom tart is already on the menu for Oscar party. So thanks as well as congrats!

  257. J

    Many congratulations, and my deepest sympathies on the food aversions. I’m 8 weeks pregnant with my first, and it’s been a wild few weeks over here. I went from a person who will literally eat anything, in any quantity, at any time, to gagging over ritz crackers. As a food lover it’s almost as hard emotionally as it is physically. I’m impressed you were even able to cook meals before feeling repulsed by them – lately when something has popped into my head as something I may, actually, be able to consume, the feeling fades as soon as I rush to the store. Oh well, I hear it’s worth it in the end :-)

  260. Aarthi

    Huge Congratulations! Is it freakish or adorable that I remember that you announced Jacob’s impending arrival with cinnamon buns and the new little one with pecan buns ;)

  264. Linda

    Hooray!! Congratulations on your new addition, for being a great writer, and for being someone for whom we’re all so happy!! Also for your amazing genes. Jacob was THE cutest baby; we can’t wait to meet his sibling!

  265. Wendy

    Deb, I have goosebumps! My heart is completely full with this news. I could not be more happy for you and your family. It’s as it was meant to be. Enjoy, enjoy, enjoy!

  266. Naomi

    Congratulations! I started reading your blog when I was pregnant with my first son 2.5 years ago, so I think it’s crazy now that I’m going to have my second only a month before you! Very excited to hear about your upcoming experiences cooking for 4 :) And totally with you on the all carb and butter diet, though after I got past the first trimester fortunately far fewer foods are making me gag.

  269. Meg

    I am so excited for you and your family! As the second kid and six years apart from my older sister, I must say it turned out well for us. :) Good luck, and bring on the carbs!

  272. Liz

    Congratulations! I too, have followed you for years but never commented. We enjoy so many of your recipes. My second child was born the same day as Jacob, so I always enjoy seeing pictures of him.

  273. Jane

    Deb, I am so insanely excited for you, it feels like my best friend just told me she was pregnant. Haha! Congratulations and I’m totally okay with having nothing but carbs for the next few months. Look after yourself xxx

  275. mrs r

    Oh happy day!! More wonderful baby photos in the future! Jacob could not be cuter, but he’s getting (almost) past the “eat him all up” phase and a new edible creation will be a wonderful addition to the site!

    You were ahead of me by about 6 months in the progeny department, and my son Athan and I frequently checked in on how quickly Jacob was growing while we were eating our morning yogurt or oats. We were quicker on the ball with our number two (he’s 2.5 now and more of a delight than I ever could have imagined) and are roughly 6 weeks away from welcoming our third (and last!), also a boy. Cheers to you and your wonderful family, from one U.S. coast to the other!

  282. Gail

    Are you still reading these posts saying nothing but YAY! and CONGRATULATIONS! I hope so – because I’m adding my own now. Hooray! Yippee! :)

  283. Kate

    Congratulations Deb and Perelman family! I was so so nauseous with my second (I think it’s because she was a girl, but what do I know?). Wishing you a happy and healthy rest of your pregnancy!

  284. Saara

    Ahh, what amazing news, congratulations! I’ve been reading your blog for years but have never commented before, but what better time could there be than this? I just love your writing and the photos, most of all of your gorgeous little munchkin. I was so happy for you when you announced the arrival of little Jacob into this world, and having since then become a mother myself will be even more excited to hear of the arrival of this new little life. All the best to you and your family, I can’t wait to get some lovely baby updates in just a few months time!

  287. Jenn

    Recipe question: I don’t understand this line “1 teaspoon coarse or kosher salt (if sugar reduced, then 1t even)” Is there supposed to be a heaping somewhere in there? Also I don’t see mention of reducing sugar on the sugar line? And congrats!

  288. Catharine

    Congratulations! I am heading into my second trimester and am having the exact same cravings/aversions as you. Carbs are my new best friend!

  290. meg

    Congratulations!! How exciting- isn’t it wonderful that life can go and surprise you like that?!
    I’ll have to pin the upcoming recipes for later as I am in the “get down to goal weight now!!” phase of family planning…as in, must get down to goal weight before I go and get knocked up again. We’ll see what happens first, especially with all of the delicious valentine’s day chocolate recipes and now these sticky buns popping up all over the inter-web!

  293. TanjaK

    Congratulations! That is lovely news. Especially since you’ve been craving what I crave every day- and I am not pregnant. So there. Bring on the bready and the chocolaty.

  295. Daria

    Congratulations!! I couldn’t get enough peanut butter or lemonade when I was expecting. These look so good, and I’m glad you are feeling better.

  296. Leah

    Congratulations!!! And completely concurring that pregnancy #2 feels nothing like #1 to me (and to put old wives’ tales to rest, babies are of the same sex, so differences can’t be explained on that account). Glad you’re feeling a little better!

  298. Laura Drummer

    I knew the second I read the headline you had another bun in the oven…I’m starting to worry I might be a little obsessed with SmittenKitchen. :-)

  300. Preethi

    Oh Deb, I’m just so, so thrilled for you. Maybe that’s weird from a stranger, but I am. I remember when you mentioned in passing some of the struggle in having another little one, and this news just makes me so happy. Hearty congratulations!

  301. Biz

    Congrats! I hated eating red meat when I was pregnant with my daughter and CRAVED Asian food. My now almost 23 year old hates red meat, and Asian food is her favorite – she blames me for not introducing red meat to her in the womb! :D

  302. Liz

    Adding my congratulations to the Family Perelman!! And what fun that Jakob is so happy to be a big brother – thanks for sharing all of this good news!

  305. Emily

    Ahhhh! Awesome!! I had similar food aversions for most of my pregnancy – I still can’t really stomach fish over a year post-pregnancy (unless, of course, that fish is in a fried sandwich… that I can handle). What is it about all things bread and butter that taste just so dang good during pregnancy… and what is it about almost literally everything else that makes them so nauseating? My poor husband took it personally every time I deemed a dinner he made too… much.

    Anyway, WOOO!

  308. Sorcha

    B’sha’ah Tovah. I hope the food aversion passes soon. With my first one I lived in a block of flats and on Fridays when everyone was cooking I used to lock myself in a room with a scented candle and cry because I couldn’t stand the cooking smells. It did eventually get better so hopefully yours will too.

  309. Carla Huysmans

    a second angel on the way! congrats!
    And thanks for letting us join in the pregnancy fun with sticky buns!!
    I never made sticky buns, i think it’s real American, but they look so so good.
    I can as well try and give birth to sticky buns this weekend ;-)

  310. karin

    I thought it was so cute when you did a sticky bun recipe to announce your son, so when I saw this on Instagram yesterday I had a suspicion! Congrats.

  313. Caren

    Congrats!!!!!! So happy for you and your growing family. Here’s hoping to some new baby puree posts next spring???? I loved the first ones :)

  320. Melissa T.

    Congratulations on your new baby! I just received your cookbook for Christmas and love it! Been following your blog since last Fall when I found your pie crust recipe. Thanks!

  321. Beth

    congratulations! And those buns look amazing! I made cinnamon buns for the first time a few weeks ago, this recipie would really be stepping up my bun game!! I like how you keep the dough less sweet so you can amp up the sauce!

  322. Binsy

    Congratulations Deb!!!!! I remember how you announced Jacob’s news with cinnamon rolls (or something similar). So now, everytime you post these items, I’m going to be scanning down really quickly for awesome news :) So happy for you and your family.

  326. Martha

    Oooo YAY! Mazel tov!
    I have to admit that my favorite part of reading Smitten Kitchen is when you link to photos of Jacob. I’m so excited you’re going to have another wee one!!

  328. Jen

    Congratulations, Deb!!! I’m so glad you shared this sweet news with us!! I’ve been following for a few years and never commented, but wanted you to know how how very happy I am for your family! Looking forward to sweet carbs and baby pictures :) Also, I’ve made the orange cranberry buns loads of times and they’re a family favorite, so I’m delighted to try this new flavor!

  331. AmyL

    Yay! But boo for linking to the corn strata which I now want desperately but can’t have for months. But seriously, congratulations.

  334. RT Boyce

    1) nthing the Congrats!
    2) it would be SO nice to have complementary lists of recipes that use up multiple yolks/whites, to make sure the excess from one recipe gets used promptly in another

  335. mare

    YUM they look so delicious, and you cannot discuss chocolate cake and chocolate chip cookies enough! (is there such a thing??) Congrats!!

  340. Helena Mouta

    Congratulations! I’ve been following you for a long time and enjoyed watching your son grow as much as I’ve enjoyed your recipes (many of which I’ve tried and continue to make regularly). You see, I have a boy nearly the same age as yours (he was born October 10,2009) and it’s fun to see the parallels in their development. It’ll be just as much fun to watch your new baby (and how your boy deals with his little brother), especially since I have a new baby as well, another boy, now just over 4 months old. I just know you’ll love having a second child and your boy will be the best big brother ever, just like my boy is! All the best to all of you!

  343. Becca

    Congratulations!!!! I freaked out about going from one to two because I thought I wouldn’t have enough love for both of my kids. But it’s just like everyone tells you — your ability to love just multiplies. And seeing my older boy with his little brother just kills me.

    So so happy for your family. :)

    Also, sticky buns!! <3

  344. Mindy

    Congratulations!! And thank you for the perfect sweet breakfast treat recipe for my birthday, tomorrow! I can’t wait to see the adorable baby pictures you start posting this summer. Many blessings for the rest of your pregnancy!

  345. Janet

    No wonder everything you’ve been posting over the past couple of months has just seemed to hit the spot! We have number 2 on the way, also due this summer, and also completely unlike with my first (also a boy) I had been super queasy at the thought of many (well most) kinds of food. (Luckily it eventually got better. Chicken has now finally made it back on my nice list). Congrats! My guess is you’re also having a girl. We just found out we are. :)

  346. MacMummy

    Very, very happy for you all! Enjoy those naps while you can :-)

    Love these buns – I’ll be making them with my daughter next week. Half term fun.

  347. rebecca

    Congratuations!! I’ve read your blog since you were a dating blogger and I was barely a college student. I’ve made several of your recipes and I still sometimes read one of your posts from thesmitten because it sums up some feelings about love so incredibly well — and I recommend your blog to almost everyone who asks me what brunch recipes they can make ahead. Your blog is the only one I’ve read for so long, so I’m extremely happy to congratulate you! Thanks for everything…

  350. Jenn

    Congratulations!!! Peanut butter was a first trimester staple for both of my pregnancies. The cafeteria manager of the school where I taught was the first coworker to know that I was pregnant the second time. He raised his eyebrow and smiled as I paid for my pb&j.

  354. Jen

    Congratulations! As one who is also expecting at the end of next summer, I have similarly spent the past few months looking at my favorite food blogs and thinking, “what kind of monster would eat that!?” Here’s to loving food again someday. And to chocolate cake for dinner in the meantime.

  357. Julie

    B’sha’ah tova ([the baby should be born] at a good time)! Hope you’re feeling good! Jacob will be a great big brother and you’ll see how amazing everything is again the second time around! It’s all truely a miracle!

  361. Sarah

    Deb, I am over-the-moon excited for you and your family! I am not sure if you’re planning to find out the sex of the baby, but I would absolutely LOVE to see a gender reveal recipe of some sort– not necessarily a cut-the-cake-to-find-out-the-color; I know you are endlessly creative! Heartfelt congratulations from the bay area (and a devoted blog reader who will be making your brownie roll-outs for Valentine’s Day :)

  368. gretchen

    Congratulations! That’s exactly how it happened for us, and while life is crazy at times, I wouldn’t change a thing. Wonderful news. Very happy for you.

  369. Jori

    Yay!!! Congratulations!! So happy for you and your family. And seriously, I think there needs to be a Pregnancy category in the recipe index…containing all of the mentioned preggo-happy food groups.

  372. JP

    Now that I can breath again and really read the recipe, I am supposing that the butter in the dough is unsalted too? Mainly I ask this because I always use salted butter, even though most recipes these days use unsalted. So I am always using less salt to compensate. Pretty sure that you would use the same kind of butter all the way through the recipe, but just have to check to be absolutely sure. These rolls look so yummy. Nothing says love like homemade buns, be they cinnamon, orange or sticky. Thanks for the great recipe!

  375. deb

    AAAAH! Thank you all so much for the cheers. You’ve made this so much more fun. You’ve made my day. Now that I’ve caught up reading — to be completely honest, I had an OB appointment this afternoon and then I fell asleep; I’m clearly a bastion of productivity in my 2nd trimester — I can answer some questions.

    Gender — We didn’t find out with Jacob and we are not going to this time. You’ll be the second or third to know, promise. :)

    Age gap — Love to hear about all of yours or siblings with a similar one. It wasn’t part of the plan (though, neither was a 1 or 2 year gap, and then at year 3, there was almost a year of book touring and associated craziness and that just about brings us up to today) but I have a good feeling about all of it. Especially because of big brother’s enthusiasm. He has literally told “the whole town” (his words, not mine, but completely accurate).

    Food aversions — Well, on the plus side, at least it stems the tide of weight gain, right? Although, I feel like I’m going to “pop” any week now and we know there’s no dignity on the scale after that.

    Now, about the recipe:

    Jenn — Whoops, that was my own recipe testing note I forgot to remove. Now fixed, just ignore.

    Use up those egg whites — This post is a little out of date but it will definitely give you some delicious recipe leads. I actually haven’t tested this recipe using 3 whole eggs or 2 whole eggs and 1 yolk instead of 4 yolks and 1 whole, but I have a feeling it would work okay, just maybe be a little less rich. If someone does, leave a comment; it’s always helpful to know.

    Baking dish — A recent purchase from Crate and Barrel. Oven-safe, dishwasher-safe, very deep sides and inexpensive on sale; we’re quite happy with it.

  376. Meagan

    Yay!! & yum! I just about shouted to my family, ” my friend Deb’s having a baby!” Held my tongue bc, well, they usually laugh when I mention you, and remind me that I haven’t actually met you. But you feel like my friend! And you give me awesome recipes like a friend too. Congrats friend!

  379. Leigh

    Yeah! Our children are adopted so I never thought we would have more than one. We were fine with it and so was our son, but it has been the best thing ever for all of us, but especially for him. When we went to China to adopt our daughter we brought our son with us. It was so overwhelming when they handed her to us. She was screaming, we were crying and after 5 minutes Oliver just said can’t we just take her back to the hotel. We asked the officials and they said of course. He has been looking out for her ever since then. Two kids are an adjustment. It so wonderful and great fun. Most of the time. Life is good. Enjoy it. The best part of adoption is you can drink through the whole thing. At least you can enjoy the sleep.

  380. Meagan

    Oops! Just saw your request for ages. We have six, kids that is. Smallest gap:18mo largest 34 mo. They’re all friends, most days at least. Age seems to have less to do with companionship than the love and kindness factor. My mantra to them: these ppl (your siblings) are your best friends & you’ll have them your whole life. Love them.

  381. Sarah

    Congratulations! You get to stop qualifying every announcement with, “No, not that.” :) I’m adding my voice to team girl- though each of my four had different cravings, meat was consistent with the boys. Here’s hoping the little one let’s you have your appetite back soon!

  386. Anna

    Congratulation!! Have been reading you for a very long time, but commenting for the first time. Your wonderful news made my day, can’t stop smiling )))

  388. Diana

    Congratulations!! So exciting!! As a new grandparent, I know how thrilled your parents must be! And big brother….he’ll be the best one ever!

  389. KathyD

    Congratulations! We have 2. The pregnancies were totally different; the kids are totally different. The best thing is that the second kid lets you off the hook – all the things that the first one does that make you think, “oh, no – I’ve totally screwed up raising this kid” suddenly go away when you have the second kid, do the same things, and the kid is totally different. You realize that’s just who they each are, and you have surprisingly little to do with it.
    Best wishes for a happy and healthy pregnancy, and a happy and healthy child!

  390. Beth

    So excited for you and your husband! I’ve been following your blog for ages and have so enjoyed all the sweet pictures of Jacob. Looking forward to seeing more cute pictures of 2nd Baby Smitten Kitchen!

  393. KZ

    I’ve been reading for so long and am only finally posting to say congrats. I also have a kindergartner and have very recently had a second (they are just over 5 years apart), and I have to say I am surprised every day at the delight of it all. The age spread has turned out to be an absolute blessing (as has the baby, of course!). Best of luck to you as you navigate the wonderful territory ahead!

  400. Tara

    Congratulations Deb!!! Such a beautiful growing family. Wishing you all the best!! Can’t wait to see pics of the newborn. I’m 15 weeks along and I’m thinking of bringing some of those buns to work to officially announce in another couple weeks (once I can’t hide it anymore!)

  401. TLD

    I’ve been a long time lurker since my daughter was born five years ago, and I wanted to say congratulations!

    This recipe is going to be trouble for me if I can’t resist making a thousand of them.

  402. Jessica

    Mazel!! I’m looking forward to a new batch of recipes that can be made while wearing a newborn strapped to you in an ergo. I know from recent experience your mushroom lasagne fits that bill! So happy for you and your fam!!

  403. Erin

    Congratulations! And yet, I feel you. As a Lover of food, and a Lover of this blog, I, too, know the misery that is prolonged, acute morning sickness. I did the math once, and realized I had thrown up roughly 300 times during the first three years of my marriage. But I do have two small humans to show for it. Glad there are buns of all sorts in your (our) future.

  405. CM

    So happy for you!! Our 4-year age gap has been great — it was so nice when we had a newborn and the older one was able to fend for himself a little. My own brother is 6 years older and I remember him picking me up and putting Band-Aids on me when I was little. It will be great.

    Have you tried any recipes from Joann Chang’s Flour cookbooks? I use her brioche dough for any sort of sweet bread/bun/doughnut and it’s perfect.

  408. JPoon

    CONGRATULATIONS!!! I’ve been a longtime follower of your work – it’s so funny with these blogs because you rarely get the chance to meet the author in person. I absolutely love your style of writing and YOUR recipes – it has fueled my passion and desire to reinvent recipes on my own. Having had Joann Chang’s pecan sticky bun, I must say that this looks phenomenal – and I look forward to trying this recipe out!

    Again – best wishes to you and your growing family!! :)

  409. Nancy in Vancouver

    Wonderful news- Congratulations!!!

    My older sister and brother are 6 and 8 years older than me- my older sister did lots of babysitting of me and my little sister when she was young and thought we were adorable. Then, she promptly forgot about us in her teenage years- when we thought she was the coolest person on the planet. And now, we’re best friends as adults.

    Yay for you and your family- and age gaps!

  414. Leslie

    the magic of social media speaks to me tonight of all nights. I have followed, and enjoyed, and cooked with you for years. Literally minutes after being saddened by the news about David Carr, my heart is lifted about the happy news from you. So thrilled for you and your family!

  415. Sona

    Congratulations Deb! BIG,BIG fan- first time commenter- I am so thrilled for you! We are expecting our first this September and may I say- How, oh HOW, did you cook and eat through your first 3 months???? I feel like I might cry every single day over the sheer torture of having to cook AND eat. Its like I would subsist on fruits alone if I could :( I am really going back to your posts from Oct-to date to see how you managed to cook all these exciting things, Deb!

    I mean I cannot for the life of me stand most food items without breaking into a sweat and a sob, all at the same time. And I am food-obsessed person who has no qualms in catching hold of unsuspecting people and giving them a long, long lecture on different ways to spruce up some dish they would have mentioned by chance a good half hour ago.
    Now- I yell at the husband, friends and family to please for the love of god not mention food. Please tell me this gets better….

    Rant apart, many congratulations to you and your lovely family. Wishing you a smooth and happy pregnancy for the next 5 months.

  416. wendy

    Super exciting news Deb! We must be due about the same time. I completely understand the food aversion thing, altho I feel like I might be making up for it now! We’re having another heatwave here (Melbourne, Australia) this week and all I feel like is ice cream – oh my poor thighs! Thank goodness it is too hot to turn on the oven much less bake these delicious looking morsels, as bread in any format also goes down a treat!

  419. Karina

    Congrats! My sons are almost five years apart and they were inseparable until the older one turned 16 and started driving! I still read every one of your posts even though I was diagnosed with Celiac disease and no longer eat delicious yeast breads such as these sticky buns…but somehow just looking at the pictures and reading the recipe is almost as much fun as making and eating them! Thank you Deb!

  422. Marcia

    Awwwww! And more Awwwww, what sweet news. I have two grown up boys 5 years apart. The big brother was loving and protective, and in some ways, a third parent.
    He could always read to his little brother, and they remain good friends.
    Both pregnancies were very pukey, Food was awful. I could eat bread and toast, and fresh fruit. That’s it , with one weird exception… Grey’s Papaya Hot Dogs ! Which should have made me sick, and sat just fine.
    SOO happy for you all. Q: How is a baby’s head like a sticky bun? A:They both smell delicious ! Much love.

  423. Mimi

    Congrats on the great news! Your son (and your family) must be so excited. IMO, he’s at a great age to become an older sibling.

    Quick question: Is it possible to substitute other nuts for the pecans or just leave out the nuts? I was planning to make this for friends, but one friend has a deep dislike of pecans. To be honest, I’ve never encountered sticky buns without pecans… Feel like it’s sort of like chocolate chip cookies without the chips which aren’t really chocolate chip cookies. But maybe I’m wrong. Your thoughts?

  424. Marnie

    Congrats & best wishes, Deb! And to think I’ve been reading your blog in various incarnations since before you and Alex were a couple. Hope the rest of your pregnancy is as easy as possible.

  425. Amber

    I saw the ‘news’ part and immediately thought “Another baby! Yay for Deb!” How exciting! Exhausting yes but that’s part and parcel of it. Another baby to cuddle and I am sure Jacob will be a cool big brother. As we say in my part of the world, “mashAllah” (God be with you)

  427. Pam_P

    Mazel tov!! It couldn’t happen to nicer people! You make the cutest kids and I’m grateful you choose to share them with us, thank you

  430. Elizabeth

    SO THRILLED for you all at this wonderful news! lots of love and congratulations from a devoted fan in Cape Town, South Africa – xxxxxxxxxx

  435. Natalia

    Congratulations Deb!!!! When I was expecting my second child, someone said to me, that it would be nothing like the first pregnancy, and that the child will be nothing like the first one. I never believed in old wives tales, but for me that became totally true. The pregnancies were similar, I lived on digestive biscuits and strawberries for the first trimester and a little more, but I had to add mood swings, bad back and cross swollen feet and indigestion… I dunno so strange. And if my first child was an angel, slept through the night from month 1, was a delight to breast feed and her crying was barely noticeable the second was a slap on the face. She was also an angel, but she didn’t cry… she screamed and when I say scream I mean scream!! She was a torture to breastfeed and I grew more white hairs during the first year than ever before…It was a tough first year, but so worth it, I look at them together and I am so happy and they both fill my hearts in so many different ways, and even though they are very different and five years apart, they love each other to bits.. So enjoy the journey, and whenever it gets tough, think about how they are going to love and lean on each other in the future and how proud you and your husband will be.

  437. Melinda W.

    Congratulations! I’m looking forward to seeing how your recipes change. I wonder if your next cookbook will be much different than the last based on your changed cravings. :)

  439. Sarah

    Congratulations Deb! I just started crying while reading this over my bowl of muesli which tastes like cardboard… yep, I’m 5 weeks pregnant with baby number 2 and feeling emotional and hideous! These buns will hopefully rectify any nausea when they arrive as a Valentines treat tomorrow.

  443. Tova

    Oh Deb, congrats!!!. And congrats for making it through to month 4. It’s all gravy from here!!. Haha. Mine are 4.5 years apart, and I love the split. Most of the time. You may get those comments like,. “I wish baby was camouflaged, then we wouldn’t have to pay any attention to her,” but you learn to take them in stride. I am such a huge fan, I tell my family, “this is Deb’s take” on this meal or that, and they know just who I mean!. Can’t wait to try your sticky buns!!. And that beef braise w/ tomato looks like Sunday’s dinner. Yum!!. Enjoy the 2nd trimester. It’s the fun part!!

  444. Penny

    Looooooong-time lurker. AMAZING NEWS!! If pregnancy brings out these recipes, you should have a bevy of children! I just wrote “cream” on the shopping list for this afternoon…..

  446. Anita

    Many congratulations Deb!
    I can think of few things I’d rather “eat for two” than pecan sticky buns. :-)
    Sending you every good wish.

  448. Madeleine

    Deb, I’ve never commented but adore your blog (you practically taught me how to cook!) and HAD to say congratulations!! When I saw that ” + news” I was really funnily hoping this is what it was but figured you had any number of exciting projects happening — this is, of course, the best news ever! Mazel tov to all of you :)

  449. Sheila

    Congratulations! So thrilled for you all. I am due in June, and am very excited about this recipe as it contains all my current preferred food groups: bread and sugar :)

  450. Kmac

    Congratulations!!!
    Since the SK cookbooks count as children too this is actually baby #4 ;)
    All the best, and much love from across the pond x

  454. Patricia Pond

    Long time blog reader, first time commenting; I am so excited for you! Somehow before I read this week’s posting, i knew what the good news was! Big congrats, be healthy and well, have a wonderful pregnancy, and please keep baking!

  458. Sue in UK

    Big Congratulations from one of your older, overseas readers – Mom to a singleton who’s now 36 and envious as #2 did not happen for me. However, a new baby is always a joyful thing and am sending you and your family lots of wonderful wishes for your new future as a foursome.

  459. Alli

    Deb, B’sha’ah Tova! I noticed some of your hints months back – what a wonderful surprise, I am so so happy for you! Like many other commenters, I’m just about as far along as you (for me its my first and second at once with twins – so 0 age gap, oops) and can’t wait to hear about your journey at the same time!!

  460. Dahlink

    Best Valentine’s news ever!

    Our boys were more than 7 years apart, so I know from personal experience what a thrill this must be for you. It’s a great feeling when that new person comes along to complete your family.

  461. Marisa Janusz

    So thrilled for you and your family! And eager to see how this plays out on smitten kitchen… Love following you through the journey. As for age gap, we have three at 14, 8, and 4. And they have their own roles in life and family, which is suitable to the super independent types that they are. They also help A LOT with the little guy, and essentially free me up to do whatever it is I want to do (mainly troll your site and cook dinner?). But really, the space has worked well for us. Congrats!!

  465. Amy S

    This is my 1st post, but what a better time to do it! Congrats!! And it sounds like a girl is in your future with that sweet tooth :) I loved your cookbook and can’t wait for the next!!! Maybe the 3rd will be an all desserts/sweets/all good things carbs?? :)

  467. Pam

    Congratulations! It took us 2x the first time and 5 years the second time! I gave away all my baby stuff and turned up pregnant 2 months later! Nothing worse than wanting another and not being able to!

  468. Maria

    Congratulations! Fantastic news.
    I am breastfeeding my 3 months milk protein intolerant baby. Which means no milk byproducts for me (any animal milk, oh joy). Nowadays, I live vicariously through your blog, counting the days I have left to be able to cook and enjoy again this kind of recipes and making a mental list of all the things I’m going to cook (and eat) as soon as my baby weans.

  469. Anne

    Congratulation to you all!
    Bets are open right??? With all the sickness and all and my past experience (1 girl and 1 boy), I’m betting on a girl this time.
    Yep. Was really sick for 15 weeks for my daugter, nauseous all the time… and for my son, barely anything.
    All pregnancies are different but I bet the little one is a girl. ;0

    All warm fuzzy hugs to you though.

    Anne.

  470. Tex

    Congratulations! What a wonderful blessing for you and your family. Thank you so much for blessing us with your recipes, techniques, tips, etc.

  472. Susan

    Congratulations! also the sticky buns look awesome!
    My daughter and son are 6 years apart (now 29 and 23, time flies let me tell you) It was a bit difficult doing family stuff together because of the age difference. But they are unique individuals which both my husband and I appreciated. We never pitted one against the other. I think this is important whatever the age difference.
    The funniest thing my daughter said to me when I was pregnant “I want a brother, no sisters!” Ha! phew on that one.
    They are best friends now though not when they were growing up. Alot of bickering then.
    And I don’t know how I would have done it without my husband. He was and is great with our children.
    Good luck and enjoy both your children, they are amazing!

  474. Sarah

    Yes! Congratulations! My mom always said the greatest gift you can give your child is a sibling. I agree. I’m so happy for you guys!

  477. Carrie

    Yay, Deb, that is awesome news! I am pregnant with my first (due in August), and I have enjoyed your blog/cookbook for a long time. Keep up the good work!

  479. ann gibert

    Congratulations. I wanted tuna salad and grapefruit juice for lunch EVERY DAY for three months. I don’t like grapefruit juice and am not all that fond of tuna. The baby girl (whos now nearly 30, loves tuna salad. I did’t have a lot of other food issue with the first baby, nor with the second, although I do remember having to summon the hubs to take over a pan of scrambled eggs one day, as the smell just overwhelmed me and sent me dashing out of the room. Ours, to are five years apart.

  481. Olivia

    I’m so glad I took a minute to read your post this AM! Congratulations…hoping your queasiness means an extra sweet baby girl is in your future. So happy for you and your family.

  483. A

    I find it a little odd that I’m so excited about this: I mean, I’ve never met you, after all. Even back when Hurricane Sandy came through, my very first thought was, “Oh no! Is Deb okay?” I’ve read almost every blog post for five years and eaten almost everything in your cookbook, but does that really count as “knowing” you?

    Meh. I’ll embrace the oddity of blogger-reader relationships.

    Because, AAAAAHHHHHH!!!!! I’m so excited for you!!! : )

  489. Dooner

    Hang on tight girl cause your life will never be the same! It gets a lot busier and time devoted to your passion will wane. sorry to break the news! Enjoy your new bundle of joy and look forward to posts as you continue through this journey! xo

  490. Carly

    Congratulations! My pregnancy with my son was ALL OF THE BREAD with a side of pineapple, and i still remember my sister telling me, screw it– you want a bagel for all three meals? do it.

  492. Michael

    Thanks for the other side of the world shout out! It’s 99 degrees F in Rio, so that Kale salad is looking pretty great right about now ;)

  494. Wendy

    So excited for you!!! My boys are now 6 and just turned 1. We were a little nervous that the 5 year gap might a little big, but it is working great so far. Huge hugs and congrats!

  495. Mary

    Deb – Lucille Ball, late in her life, was asked if she had any regrets – Never had there been a more accomplished businesswoman in the US, a more famous actress, etc., etc., etc. Her answer: My only regret was that I didn’t have more children.
    You will always be grateful you are having this little one ;-)))) Best decision. Ever!!!
    Sooo very happy for you and your family!!!

  496. Hannah

    I let out an, “Awww!” upon reading the news. Congratulations! Says so much about you, your blog and writing that we all feel like a friend is having a baby!

  497. Molly F.C.

    CONGRATULATIONS! As someone who has never met you, I too was ridiculously excited as I read the title and opening sentences of this post. I have 3 children. First two are 17.5 months apart (my husband rounds it to a year and a half apart which I correct because hey, he wasn’t carrying those babies :) ). Our son came 6 years after the second girl. Have had it both ways, the distance between babies, and there’s beauty in both. I will say that knowing that the Boy was our last child has made me cherish his childhood. I couldn’t volunteer in the school classrooms as much as I wanted until the Boy because I had baby/ies at home. The older sisters, now teens, babysit brother on occasion. It is all good. Thanks for sharing the news & keep those recipes coming (when you can).

  500. Anne Talley

    Hooray! Hooray! This is great news! I was just wondering the other day if you all were going to have another.

    My sister and I are five years apart. My mother always said she had two “only” children ;)

    I hope it’s a girl!!

  504. Shannon

    Am I a total weirdo that this is making me cry? And we’ve never met! Although somehow it feels as though we almost have, considering I’ve been reading your blog since 2007 or 2006, I can’t remember which. Happy, happy day!

  505. Helen Bellafiore

    I was in precalculus class when I read this, and got so excited I started laughing! (Probably adding to the already strange thoughts people have about me, haha) Congratulations!!!!

  509. MaggieToo

    Since you probably don’t really need Congrats #508, here’s congratulations to all of *us* for getting to PUT BUTTER ON THINGS for the next couple of months! Not that I want you to keep feeling pukey or anything…

  510. Tina

    Congratulations!!! So happy for your growing family. Jacob will make an amazing big brother. 5 years is not a huge age difference. My sisters and I are each 4 years apart and my nieces are 8 and 6 years older than their baby brother.

    Also, am I the only one interested in seeing how pregnancy craving affect your recipes?

  513. Jennifer C

    What lovely news! Congratulations to all of you and may you have a healthy and boring pregnancy. (Sometimes, boring is good.) My kids are 3.5 years apart (daughter 6 & son 2.5) and it’s been quite a fun ride, having two. Welcome to the chaos. :-)

  514. Maureen

    My baby is turning 20 next weekend. She was born in Feb of my second daughters kindergarten year. It is a great spacing but has some challenges. My older two are 2,000 and 3,000 miles from home living their adult lives. My youngest really misses them at family times like Christmas and vacations. She has been a “functional” only child for a long time and she misses her sister. Enjoy your new baby. I kept waking my poor baby up from naps because I had to take her sisters someplace. She is an amazing sleeper now, and she learned lots of lifeskills from having much older sisters.

  517. ruthy in vt

    Woohoo! Congratulations, Deb! Thanks for sharing your wonderful news along with your wonderful recipes. We have a 9 month old and have just started the conversation about having another or not. It will be fun to follow your adventures. Mazel Tov!

  519. Kate

    Oh wow! How exciting!!! I hope you are getting to the feeling-more-normal stage. My second pregnancy was a doozy too. Hang in there and keep making sticky buns!

  522. Emily

    Congrats! We are in the same boat (I’m due in July). NO THANK YOU to meat, raw veggies, or seafood. Carbs, dairy, and eggs are my new normal.

  524. Becky

    Congratulations! And I can completely understand the food aversions– I’m a little over halfway through my first pregnancy, and still having daily nausea. For the first 3 1/2 months, I literally couldn’t even look at pictures of food without feeling sick, let alone actually cook stuff that wasn’t just egg noodles and canned chicken in broth. I can eat most of my usual stuff again now, even though it still makes me feel nauseous, but peanut butter is still not my friend! These sticky buns look delicious, though. And hang in there!

  528. Sally T

    Congratulations! I’m so excited for you!!

    Also, I think these will be just what I need Sunday morning when I will (probably) wake up to our fourth foot-plus snow storm in less than four weeks. (Boston resident here. I really miss NYC.)

  529. deb

    Thank you again! I hadn’t expected such a big reaction; I figured second kids (I’m a second kid) are old news. You guys, as ever, make this so much fun.

    First, a couple responses I missed yesterday:

    Molly — Congrats to you too! I had missed that you were expecting #2. And it’s not a secret how I get it “all” (ha, half at best) done, I have excellent help and an infinitely supportive husband. Well, supportive sounds secondary. Load-sharing? Sheesh, I mean, I’m sure you get the idea.

    Sarah/133 (there are many Sarahs!) — I’m happy to discuss any of this with anyone that wishes. Probably not the most fitting platform here, but feel free to shoot me an email thesmitten/gmail if you or anyone else would like to talk .

    nzle — We’ve been watching the old Muppet movies — the original, and last weekend, the Great Muppet Caper, and that gif is everything. Also, I’ve finally figured out which one I resemble when I wear my winter hat and sunglasses: Zoot!

    Alli — Twins! Congrats! (I get ridiculously excited about twins. It’s fun to scare my husband. “Wouldn’t twins or triplets be fun? Wouldn’t it? Why are you running away?…”)

    Sona — It gets better, or it has for me, but you may have it worse than me. :( I say take advantage of the fact that it’s your first kid — husbands can fend for themselves, right? Or, at least mine would have never complained if I just made us salad and toast for dinner (they don’t want us to kill them, right?). It’s when there’s an older kid to feed while you’re queasy that things get harder (don’t even get me started on these horrendous garlickly dumplings Jacob likes in his lunchbox, that I’d die a little every time I had to warm them up in the morning) In short: don’t sweat it. Just cook what sounds good, however plain. And in 90% cases, it passes by then end of the first trimester and I’d be in 95% by the end of the 18th week. At some point, you’ll be actually hungry and it gets a lot easier. (I discovered a love of hamburgers last time I was pregnant!)

    Leslie — I know, I just read about Carr this morning and I couldn’t believe it. It seems surreal. He was too young.

    Now, recipe questions:

    Gail — Did I say both? I keep scanning and I can’t find the 9×9 reference, outside the note up top where I said you can half this recipe in one, but I might be missing it. That said, a deep 9×13 is the correct size, or the equivalent thereof. My dish had the same volume, but was oval, of course. (And let me know if I missed a typo? Thanks.)

    Mimi — I think walnuts would be a natural replacement here, or maybe those thin-sliced almonds, well-toasted beforehand. You could skip the nuts altogether too, but it might help break up the intensity of all that caramel.

    JPoon — Can’t believe I forgot to mention that when I was in Boston, she wasn’t at Flour that morning but her staff spoiled us with sticky buns and treats and it was one of my turning moments towards them (I’d previously just thought they were too sweet). Chang’s are wonderful. I was going to use her “goo” recipe here but it uses a mix of white and brown sugars and I was obsessed with getting a very dark color and ended up being happiest with this one from BA. That said, I would take a Flour bakery sticky bun any day of the week; I just don’t think I’d make them at home as well.

    CM — See above, re: Joanne Chang. I was curious to try her dough, too, but I’ve been so happy with this one from Alton Brown, it comes together perfectly, always rises when it says it will, I was trying to not fix what wasn’t broken in my recipe repertoire (for once!). But I’d like to try hers too one day. I don’t know for sure what she does with Flour, but at a lot of bakeries, there’s just one core brioche/sweet enriched yeast dough and it’s used for everything from babkas to monkey breads to cinnamon buns. I’m sure she has a great one.

  531. Amanda

    Congratulations, Deb! We’re due with our second too, not long before you (right at the beginning of June). Ours will be just over three years apart. It sounds like you might be having a girl with all of the morning sickness and food aversions. :)

  532. Kate Fetherston Weingarten

    Congrats! Mazel Tov! About the baby—-and my condolences about the “dark times regarding food.” The sticky buns? They look amazing and I’m deeply afraid that I’ll have to make them. BTW, I tried your “all cocoa” brownies last week—adding a little chipotle to the brownies and topping them with ice cream and spicy caramel. Your Vermont fan club gave it a big thumbs up! Me, I don’t have the pregnancy excuse—–but thank you for making it hard to fit in my pants anyway.

  537. viji

    So happy for all three of you… congratulations!
    It was on the first day of school for my son, I came to know I was pregnant again:) The way I felt was, now there was a teacher also to give love and attention to my son and he had a place to enjoy during the day while I was going through severe nausea. This difference in age definitely helped me to take good care of him without any distractions before he started school and my second baby while he was at school. Atleast that is the way I looked at it. Ofcourse, the big gap does come with its own issues but every evening when he came home running only to pick his lil sister up… it felt she was the best gift he ever got!
    lots of love.

  539. Naomi

    Ahhhhhh! Congratulations lady! What exciting news to spice up the doldrums of winter. :) Wishing you and your family the best and hope you get some food cravings back!

  540. nan

    I am OVER THE MOON HAPPY for you and your family!!! You’ve got a baby quilt coming your way – just tell me what colors you want!! Baby news and Sticky Buns…life is good! xo, Nan

  542. maryruth

    As a Mom who got that same news – your delightful first will be your delightful only – I truly rejoice for you. Bless you, bless your growing family and enjoy your miracle.

  543. EWatts

    Congratulations! My second child was born the summer after her brother started Kindergarten, and we had decided we were probably just 3. When they play happily together, it is the best thing ever. And this reminded me I have a batch of your cranberry orange rolls in the freezer. Might have to get those out this weekend!

  544. Jenny

    Congratulations! Thank you for letting us share in this wonderful news of the new sibling-to-be.
    Always wondering…have you tried freezing these and if so, was it successful? I can never seem to find time to throw these together once guests have arrived.

    1. deb

      Jenny — I haven’t frozen these, well, actually we just froze the last two because we are going away and I couldn’t bear to toss them. Anyway, I’d expect them to freeze well.

  545. BrittanyE

    Woohoo!!! Congratulations! I totally understand… My two pregnancy’s have been polar opposites. The first one I couldn’t even say chicken without feeling nauseous and lentils were my mortal enemy. I started craving cup-a-noodles(yuck) and almonds. My second pregnancy I ate ALL chicken and southern comfort food and hated all things chocolate. FYI, 1st pregnancy was 2 girls and 2nd pregnancy was a boy :)

    Can’t wait to see what the rest of this pregnancy brings for you… We’ll love you no matter what!!!

  546. beh72

    Mazel tov! Glad you are feeling better. I’ve only had one, but in that first trimester my tastebuds reverted to those of a 7 year old (hot dogs, instant mac and cheese, I think I even bought a can of beefaroni. Vegetables? Not a chance). Best wishes for a safe and healthy pregnancy. Your adoring fans look forward to celebrating your new arrival!

  547. Lynn C

    Fantastic news! As a grandmother to two wonderful grands, it’s a wonderful life! Take care of yourself! But keep on giving us wonderful recipes, when you’re up to it!

  550. Terri

    Wonderful news! Wishing you and your growing brood all the best and looking forward to meeting the newest family member. Thank you for your delightful and delicious blog and for sharing yourself with your fans.

  552. Brittany W

    I’m so happy for you Deb. I’m pregnant as well and due June 29th! I’m glad to hear you are feeling better and it is interesting to find out that the second baby can be much different than the first. I love your blog, but I do have to admit that looking at the posts from October/November still make me a bit queasy (not your fault!). I’m very happy to be eating again and reading your beautiful blog again!

  554. Kelli

    Sticky buns and a new baby!! Congrats (and thanks for the recipe)

    You’re doing better than me on the food. Both pregnancies, all food that had a smell made me sick. Not proud, but I ate cases of Lucky Charms, applesauce, and mashed potatoes. I could prepare easy things, slam them in the oven, set the timer, then run to the other end of the house to escape the smell. The family was on their own to get it out of the oven before it burned. Not a good time for anyone, but 9 months went quickly. And the child that was “grown” on Lucky Charms is going to be a senior in college and doing quite well. Just eat whatever sounds good to you and rest as much as you can. Thanks for continuing the blog and hope that for the next 5 months, you feel fabulous.

  555. Isa

    Congratulations! Your writting and your recipes, equally great, keep me returning. It`s weird, but i feel almost like a long distant pen pal who never writes back! :-) I`m really happy for the three of you!

  561. Rosemary Griffis

    Congratulations! The second one is a lot easier. Sticky buns rule. Love your recipe, eager to try. I hope your advertisers see how many comments you have here, so you’ll never quit this blog.

  563. Deb Kelner

    Woo Hoo!!!! So thrilled for you. I was so hoping that your “news” had something to do with another child. Congratulations! Mazel Tov and many, many, blessings to your expanding family!

  564. Brooke

    Congratulations! Is it wrong that I’m almost as excited about your announcement as I am about my sister making a similar announcement on the same day? When I saw the title of your post I flashed back to your cinnamon buns announcement, how fitting! Can’t wait to “meet” the newest member of the Smitten family!

  566. mrk

    Yay!!! I am doubly happy! One, for you, of course! May you have a boring pregnancy!

    And the second, for me. I made these on Wednesday on a dare, given by my 5 year old. No, she isn’t precocious. She just thinks her mom can’t make anything fancy like the chefs on TV. :-(

    The first thing I did was look up your site (I am a proud stalker – the non-worrisome kinds) and was so disappointed on not finding one! While I followed A recipe, I knew right away that something was off. Yes, they were sticky and buns and delicious, but the dough and I lacked chemistry. I shall have to wait an appropriate amount of time before I try out your recipe. Self-imposed recipe break-up rules, you see.

  567. Teddy

    “Things You Can Put Butter On, Things That Taste Like Bread, Things That Taste Like Peanut Butter and Oh My God, Is That Chocolate Cake? Give It To Me Right Now.”

    These all sound like blog’s I’d read daily. Congrats One Up-ing and soon becoming a family of 4

  569. Elyse

    Just to add another. . . Mazal tov! Our second is 4 months and our first is almost 3. It’s crazy-wonderful. And despite all the old wives tales, I had two nearly identical pregnancies but have a girl and a boy who look nothing alike and so far have completely different dispositions! Oh and these sticky buns look amazing! Will be giving them a go soon!

  572. Sadie

    Congratulations! I’ve been waiting for the past three years hoping you’d have another baby! (I hope that doesn’t sound creepy:) And those sticky buns look unbelievable!

  574. Katie

    Another lurker coming out of the woodwork to congratulate you and your family. I also teared up at your news, and was struck by the fact that though you’ve not met the vast majority of us, these comments reveal how much we’ve all come to care about you. Why? Yes, you’ve shared your cooking art and magic, but also your warmth and heart are right there on the page with your recipes. Your sense of humor, always with the perfect self-deprecating touch, is the topper. You’ve made a community, Deb. Thank you and best of luck.

  575. Laurie

    My heartiest congratulations, Deb. I wish you all the best. Thank you for creating this community. You are wonderfully talented, both as writer, chef, and photographer, and I’ve enjoyed being with you (since before Jacob!) Take good care and let others care for you. I look forward to the pictures!

  576. BCE

    Congratulations Deb! I agree with Kate (574) who says it so well. I share your recipes and cookbook with my daughter and niece and we all feel like you are family. Very excited to meet your next child. I have 3 and I never learned the sex of any of them. Not many suprises in life when you are an adult, so why not enjoy a big one?

  577. debbykc

    congratulations!!! so happy to hear about your new expectations!!! ya know, different cravings may mean that your son will have a sister—just to warn you….

    anyhoo, only the best and enjoy….

  578. Kathy

    Deb – Yay! Such wonderful news. I am very happy for the three of you. Going from three to four is a big deal in many ways, but so much fun. And watching Jacob and Baby have each other will be priceless. Mazel tov!

  579. annabanana662002

    Many, many congratulations to you, Alex, and Jacob–for this little joy to come into your lives. Thanks also for the hard work you all do with this web site / fabulous recipes.

  582. Kate Lindquist

    Congratulations! Wishing you all the best thru your pregnancy. I’m looking forward to more recipes for Things That You Put Butter On. :-)

  587. Rachel

    Congratulations! I hope your pregnancy goes well. Also, if you’d pass on a big sibling fistbump to Jacob from me, that would be great. It is a very important job!

  594. Michaela

    I have been reading your blog for a few years now and have never posted (though I love all the recipes of yours that I’ve tried), but I had to write and say congratulations on the pregnancy! You and your husband made such a cute kid with #1, there’s no way that you couldn’t be allowed to have more!

  595. Elyse

    Long-time lurker coming out of the shadows to say CONGRATULATIONS! So excited for you! (And I love your recipes. That too. But mostly YAY!)

  596. mai

    CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!! What an EXCITING piece of news!!! I always mourned Jacob being the only one, only because he’s the absolute CUTEST and it would be a shame to deprive the world of more cuteness that you are blessed to produce :). I cannot WAIT to meet this baby and see it grow up in this space. And watch Jacob become a big brother! I am literally swooning at this very second. Thank you for sharing Deb!!

  598. Mrk

    And I just saw what you did there!

    You have a bun in the oven!!!

    D’uh!!! I’m sure someone with more smarts than me realized it waaaay before I did.
    Congratulations once again!!!
    And now I have used up my exclamation quota for the day…

  601. Lauren

    Ahhh a woman after my own heart! In the first trimester of both my pregnancies I pretty much only ate white foods! White bread, pasta, rice, cake, crackers, lemonade. Oh except for bacon (second pregnancy, a boy) which was the first tip off for this vegetarian mumma!

  603. Kameron

    I am a frequent reader and I’m also pregnant with my second. I’ve had the *exact* same diet with this second baby–right down to the very first one which was a pizza aversion! Literally couldn’t even think about pizza. Pretty hysterical. I am almost five months along, we must be having the same gender. Congratulations!

  605. Alice

    Congrats Deb and family!! I am excited for you and excited to see all the bread & doughy goodness on the blog.

    Speaking of dough, this recipe is the last thing I need to see at 1 AM. Really, these look so delicious I’ll have to make them this weekend, too bad I can’t have one now!

    Hope you have a great weekend.

  606. Amanda

    Congrats Deb! I’m on baby #2 myself and I am constantly asking my husband, “was it like this the last time, I don’t remember it being like this!” This child has turned me into a mostly vegetarian, but no cooked veggies please. Also there is nothing worse than wanting to cook something and then immediately being turned off by it once it is ready. I’m counting the weeks until things can start to get back to normal. Good luck, I can’t wait to see what you bribe the nurses with this go round!

  607. Celeste

    So, I’m in my third trimester, and I must say, on behalf of pregnant women with serious sugar cravings everywhere, we thank you.
    That said, I was wondering if these could be assembled the night before, wrapped in layers of plastic and baked in the morning like cinnamon rolls, or will the dough turn into a soggy mess from the caramel?

  610. Keren

    Mazal Tov Deb!
    This is mamash exciting news and I’m glad the lil & the big ‘un are supporting and helping you along :)
    By the sea of happy wishes, it’s clear that you bring a spark to all of us, and we share in your excitement (looking forward to reading about how your next few months evolve; right now I’m bidding girl but it can (and probably will) change depending on the cravings you emerge with

    So question:
    Lemon or orange zest in the dough? And do you think a mix of chocolate and peanut butter chips would be an ok substitute for pecans?

  611. Pam Seattle

    Made my day…buns in the ovens! Your Cran/Orange rolls are a tradition here on Thanksgiving morning. These might appear on Easter morning…and before.
    Congratulations!

  612. Debbi

    Buns and news? Held my breath for what was coming! Congratulations to the whole family! Loved the announcement by T-shirt! Looking forward to the months ahead keeping tabs on this new addition! Oh yes….the sticky buns look fabulous! Shall give them a try!

  613. Angela

    Congratulations!! I am due on Monday with our second and terribly excited/nervous–I keep hearing (hoping) that the second labor and delivery tends to be much easier! Fingers crossed. Congrats again and all the best!

  616. Angela

    While I have never even met you and your family, I feel an overwhelming sense of emotion and joy for you all, especially for your son. Congratulations! Look forward to preparing your recipes with dashes and hints of spices seasoned by life with a second child.

  617. Sophie

    Huge congratulations Deb!!! I read your blog religiously and never comment, but I had to comment on this post to wish you congratulations! And seriously, these buns look DIVINE!!!

  618. Lauren

    My mother always used to say, “New House ,( apartment) new baby.” Not only did it work for me ( too soon I might add…) but it has done so for several of my friends, and apparently also for you. Two is NOT “two times one”, as all of you mom’s of more than one can attest, but each new little person is SUCH a miracle that you can’t help but feel blessed -while feeling harassed. All the best to all of you.

  619. Cath

    Congrats! I had an awful time with food during my first trimester especially, but there was a kind of satisfaction in having my doctor’s blessing to eat pop tarts.

  620. Alison

    Congratulations! I don’t think I’ve been so happy for someone I’ve never met, but what wonderful news. And I think the age difference will be a great blessing for you. I have four, 6, 4, 3, and 1, and my 6 and 4 year old kiddos are a huge help with the little one. My 6 year old will even change a diaper if it’s not poopy. (Only on his accord. I never ask him to do it.) Jacob is obviously on board with the new baby, so he will likely be a very eager helper. I hope the rest of pregnancy is uneventful! (And the sticky buns look wonderful. Your cranberry buns are in the fridge now for Valentine breakfast.:))

  623. Claire

    Totally on the same page, and finally EATING again and ENJOYING IT, now that I am in my fourth month of pregnancy as well. Best to your family. Thanks for all the great recipes that we can rely on.

  625. Maegan

    I was a bit sad when I caught the mourning note about “no baby news” in one of you no baby posts awhile back. What a blessing from God to be expecting new life. I’ll pray all goes well for you and your family of 4 in the months to come!

  626. Sara

    Mazal tov! Wishing you every happiness with the new baby. My older brother is also a Jacob, so I can say Jacobs make excellent older siblings. I’ve read your blog for a long time, and am so happy for you and your family.

  628. dancing gal

    Hip hip hoorayyyyy!!!!!

    I’m so excited for you guys!!! Congratulations!!!! Being an big sister (of two, as a matter of fact!) myself, I understand only too well Jacob’s excitement!!!!
    Really really thrilled!!! Excellent news!!!!! (too many exclamation points!!!! but then again, there’s no such thing !!!!!!!!!!!)

    Best wishes to you and your family, all the way from Paris, France ;)

    Eliza

  629. Jesse

    Congratulations! I’m due in June with my first and actually just woke up with a HUGE craving for cinnamon buns – so I came here looking for your cinnamon swirl bun recipe! I was sick from late September until early January and I agree it is especially painful when you love food. I hope you have smooth sailing from here.

  630. Laurie

    First off, huge congratulations to you! No kids here (yet, trying) but I imagine you must be thrilled!

    Quick question – as this will be made for just my husband and me – halving the recipe is probably best. If halved, would I then roll out the dough to 9 inches wide (rather than the 18 inches indicated) in order to be cut into 6 pieces?

    PS- made your salted chocolate caramels (the ones so many people had issues with) last night for v-day and they came out wonderful. Thanks again for so many amazing fool-proof recipes!

  631. Amy -Hunting Valley, Ohio

    Congratulations! I am thrilled for you! I’m a much older mom to a single kid and wish we could have given him a brother or sister. Wishing you an easy pregnancy and lots of chocolate cake!

  632. Rebecca

    This recipe arrived just in time for our next blizzard up here in Boston. My plan is to make these for the morning tomorrow while we’re snowed in. A question about the dough, though. I’ve made your cranberry-orange breakfast buns quite often (oh my god I love them so much), and have always made them with the buttermilk that recipe calls for. Why the switch to regular milk here? If I’m running out to the store anyway for the weekly pre-storm shopping trip is it worth getting buttermilk? Or is it not as good for these buns?

    Also, Congratulations on the coming addition to the family!

  634. Tanya

    Congratulations!! We live parallel lives. When you announced Jacob I had just had my son. Now we just added a little girl. Her big brother is beyond thrilled. Be prepared for the over zealous squeezing of cheeks, sloppy kisses when you finally get the baby down for a nap and awaking to him carrying her becauseshe was crying. Its double the work and worth every minute of it :)

  635. Sara

    Congratulations! I am due around the same time as you are – but with my first (hopeful!) successful pregnancy. I did not enjoy food the first trimester (gasp!) but as I am rounding into the second (ha ha, rounding literally!) I look forward to a better appetite and more motivation to make deliciousness. All the best to you in this next endeavor!

  636. kiwi

    Congratulations!!!!! We are expecting a surprise, too! Looks like I’m a month behind you. I totally get the forbidden foods thing. I puke my brains out the whole time. Been leaning heavily on your pickled cabbage and cucumber slaw! :-)

  637. Ann M

    Congratulations! I’ve loved your recipes, blog, and cookbook for many years, and you’ve given me so many winning recipes and the confidence to expand my baking repertoire, so thank you for that. I’m pregnant with my first, due on June 28. Mine is a boy – I’m a scientist and a planner, so finding out the gender was sort of a given for me :) I wish you the best of luck with a healthy pregnancy and baby!

  639. Liz

    Congratulations! I’m making the oven braised beef with tomatoes and garlic for our Valentines dinner tonight (my husband LOVES pot roast). And I love, Love, LOVE sticky buns so this one is going on my short list of things to bake. Again, congrats on your great news!

  640. Ale

    Deb, I began reading your blog shortly after I had my first child, and you had just had Jacob – a few days before my daughter was born. So I loved to read all your posts about cooking while taking care of a newborn and your tips on baby food! This news brings back all of those fond memories! (But I have a 2 year old too, so I am not tempted to have a third yet).
    Anyway, my sister and I were born about 5 years apart and it worked out great. We weren’t that close when I was a teenager and I felt she was still a “little kid,” but once we both passed teenage years, we became very close again. I honestly think that all the theories about age difference are useless, in the sense that there are positive and negative things about being too close or too far in age. In the end, age gap does not make a real difference: I believe parents’ attitude and kids’ personalities play a greater role in the way siblings learn how to love each other than age does. My two cents…

  641. catzenkind

    congratulations! oh, this is wonderful news!hurra! We’re expecting the second baby in about three months (and we have yet to actually build the place we’re going to live in then). I have become a somewhat picky eater too duing this pregnancy. I wish you guys all the best! congratulations!

  642. Janice

    Hurray! You deserve it- well not the queasy stuff…! I am sending great heartfelt wishes for the exciting days ahead for you and your family. So many people are thrilled for you! Wishing you health and smooth sailing in the next several months. Will watch, as always, the growth of your lovely family.
    Maybe this will be your most-commented post?!?

  643. stephanie

    oh my gosh, congrats deb! and here i was blaming all the sweets on the holidays. ;)

    my parents waited til 30 to have me, then 40 to have my sister! i was over the moon when i got the news…my very own real baby doll. and they would have their very own built in babysitter, haha. of course, now i sometimes bust her chops that instead of a sister she got two moms, but hey. so jazzed that jacob is excited. he’s gonna be great. you all are. (but i’d be lying if i wasn’t a little curious about where you’ll put the baby at SK HQ, lol!)

  645. nancy

    Mazel Tov, Deb! I’ve been reading SK for years and you are the absolute BEST! Thank you for all that you do and all the blessings for the 3 soon to be 4 of you!

  646. Kelly

    Ahhhhh Deb I’m so excited for you and Alex! The second I saw the title, I thought, “Another kid or another book?” Oh my gosh, congratulations. You guys make pretty adorable humans. Lots of love to all of you!

  647. Dawn in Vancouver

    Hi,
    To add another (canuck eh) voice to your legions of excited well wishes – woohoo! I think I’m a few weeks behind your pregnancy, also for a number two. Just like Sarah 133 I too would be very interested in hearing more about this other part of the journey, which I suspect we share similarities with. I can’t help but think, however, that timing of babies always works out to be the way it is supposed to and I bet that because of the gap, our older kids are much better positioned to be caring older brothers.

    AAAND, the saddest part of my early hellish morning sickness was when I couldn’t read your blog updates, when I couldn’t handle reading your amazingly descriptive recipes without feeling queasy…

  649. Deb

    All you pregnant people (and everyone else) You MUST make this caramel sauce. It is sooo good you don’t even need the cinnamon buns!

  650. Jen

    Many many congratulations to you all, so thrilled for you.
    I now have a 5 month old, and a 5 year old – like you the age difference was not planned and we had pretty much given up thinking it would happen – guess it was meant to be! Although I would have preferred a smaller age difference in many ways, in other ways it is fab – the elder is much more able to understand, and always wants to help and her baby brother just adores her, huge smiles for his big sister.
    I hope you are able to take it easy at least a bit – so many more wonderful things coming!

  652. Lisa

    These look fab but more importantly, congratulations! Babies are alway something to be excited about and no two pregnancies are alike. My first was pretty easy (kid, not so much), the second I had nausea for 6 months and horrific heartburn for 3. I do have to say that my second kid was and is the sweetest, easiest to get along with person ever born. If I had him first I might have had more than two! That being said, I am an only child which is not a bad thing at all. Best of luck with all the new things in your life. I have 6 egg yolks waiting for me in my refrig from a recent white cake recipe so I’m off…

  656. Annabelle

    Congratulations!!! So funny to me that you announced no. 1 with cinnamon buns and no. 2 with another type of bun!! Woman after my own heart…I actually made your cranberry orange ones last weekend as we too are pregnant and it made me think of them. Best of luck.

  657. Lil

    Congratulations! Such wonderful news. I’m excited to make these sticky buns, or just the caramel sauce :)

    We had the opposite issue – it took us many years to have our first, and our second (due very soon) came as a complete surprise and faster than we could have imagined. I found out I was pregnant a few days before our first turned one! In the first trimester I found the most difficult thing was thinking of and producing nutritious meals for my little guy when the thought of cooking made me gag.

  659. Juliet

    I made these last night and baked them this morning. The directions didn’t miss a thing and the rolls came out beautifully. Everyone at brunch loved them. Great recipe!

    And, of course, congrats to you, Deb!

  660. Geri

    Love reading your intro before the recipes so thrilled for you Deb and your wonderful family. Your son sure has everything planned. :) Kids do come out with some great remarks. Going to make the sticky buns for Sunday breakfast. A nice surprise! Take good care of yourself and watch your step in the ice and snow. <3

  662. Adrianne

    Congratulations!!! I met you when you came to Portland, OR on your book tour. I had my then 4 month baby strapped to me (THANK-YOU for sending us through the line first!!!). I happened to be standing next to your hubby and it was pretty obvious that he loved a baby. So excited for your family to be growing :)

  664. Conny

    Congratulations to you guys! I’m so very happy for you!
    Ever since your “grilled peach splits + news!” post, where you mentioned that “it’s not that kind of news, we’re bummed, too”, I could imagine that Jacob is not an only child by choice, and hoped that there would be more children in your future. That’s why now I’m so so happy for you. All the best for your remaining pregnancy.

  665. Erica

    Congrats! I too am on my second “bun” and an avid cook/baker (I run a resturant dessert business) and this one has been so different! With my first, I had stong aversions and cravings- this time I could care less about food-if it is edible, I will eat it. My hubby and first born have been a little sad about that……..

  666. Heather

    Deb! This is awesome. I didn’t read all the congratulatory comments, so this may have been said, but TWO kids is awesome. It’s not harder, it’s just different. I keep trying to write more and deleting it. Just know that I’m so happy for you, Alex and Jacob. You’re an amazing family that’s about to get even more amazing.

  670. Laceflower

    So glad for you and your happy news. I’ve just made a batch of these last week and can attest that the dough is not overly sweet. Again, congrats.

  672. rachel

    Hey Deb, I hope your toes are in the sand as you read this, but I’m confused when you say “let dough rise until doubled, about 1 to 1 1/2 hours for active dry yeast or 2 to 2 1/2 hours with instant yeast.” Isn’t instant faster then active? Are the times reversed, or is it me that is truly confused?

  675. Nomie

    Mazel tov! So glad to hear about the impending arrival, and I hope Jacob and the wee one can find joy and friendship and that you and Alex can enjoy your growing family.

    I made these today and they came out beautifully, even though I am terrified of yeast and I didn’t roll the long cylinder quite tight enough. Still delicious, gooey and not nearly as tooth-achingly sweet as most commercial sticky buns.

  676. Heather

    Congrats!! I’m pregnant as well (8 weeks) and can’t stand the thought of most of my previous food loves (meat has become my mortal enemy). So, I am beyond happy to hear that you will be touching all of my major food groups (right now centering around bread, rice and bread-like things) in the coming weeks.

    Hope all goes well with you and that, pretty soon, you will be enjoying all the food once again!

  680. Jared

    I must confess to being a long time lurker on your site. Been using your site as inspiration in my Montreal kitchen for ages! Actually am at my boyfriends place making homesick texan carnitas right this minute!
    But congratulations. And I’ll bet you’re having a girl. :-)

  682. Xochi

    Congratulaitons Deb!! This is so exciting! I’m pregnant now too but with my first. He’s due at the end of March. I can’t wait to make him a monkey cake just like the one you made Jacob! :)

  686. Jennifer AK

    Mazal Tov all the way from Israel! That is wonderful news and the sticky buns are an added bonus :). Jacob will make a wonderful big brother.

  687. Nadira

    Congratulations Deb! As far as pregnancy and cinnamon buns are concerned, I am 7 months now and I pretty much take food just the way I take medicine (with zero enthusiasm), the only thing that I crave is cinnamon buns so your cranberry orange breakfast bun is the savior here when I get up hungry at 4am. I sprinkle 1/4 cup of ground flaxseed over the filling to minimize my guilt of eating them almost everyday. Good to get a another version of that bun.

  691. Kelsey Irvin

    Congrats! I’m due at the same time with my second and have a very excited little girl. For food though boy do I feel your pain! So thank you in advance for all the bread based recipes, and peanut butter! Hope you keep feeling better.

  692. Val

    Congratulations! May I suggest a espresso butterscotch bittersweet chocolate (pie) in a shortbread crust? It’s from the cookbook “bold a cookbook of big flavors”. Some of the recipes in it are not really my style but this one stood out. I even sacrificed a Pyrex bowl in the honor of its making. :)

  694. angie

    wonderful! i feel you on the aversions, i’m due with my first in July and i pretty much had the exact same experience in the first trimester! although now i’m pretty much back to normal with my eating… i made your braised short ribs and parsnip puree for Valentine’s day with no problems, and i even enjoyed every bite. although i will still gladly welcome Things You Can Put Butter On, Things That Taste Like Bread, Things That Taste Like Peanut Butter and Oh My God, Is That Chocolate Cake? Give It To Me Right Now. :D

  696. Premika

    Thats such an awesome news Deb… :) .. i ve been following ur blod for few years now but this s my first comment….enjoy ur days ahead…

  699. Abbie

    Congratulations! I fully support and look forward to all things you can put butter on! Great food category that I think many would love.

  702. Sarah

    Congratulations, Deb! It’s great that Jacob is so excited for his new sis or brother. I can’t wait to hear all of the brotherly wisdom he has to dispense. I hope you take some time to relax and don’t get too overwhelmed with the second book. We can wait!

  704. casey

    Congratulations! Followed your site for years; I have your cookbook and so many pages are covered with bits of food and sauce (I can barely read the leek fritter page, ditto spaghetti squash tacos). Thanks for all the great food, and deepest congratulations. :)

  710. Claire

    Congratulations Deb! Did the sticky buns for Sunday breakfast, and my whole fam loved them. I only had salted pecans, so I left the salt out of the carmel, and it was delish! My family guesses now, that something i’ve baked or cooked comes from SK, even though i’ve been feeding them (quite sucessfully, i might add) for 25 years, next month! All the best for the new baby…..blessings.

  713. Jenny

    I’ve read your blog from the beginning, and cook your recipes almost every day. I truly feel like a close friend just gave me the best news… even though in reality we are strangers. Congratulations Deb!!!!

  715. Pamela Midkiff

    Omg, I’m ;) I mean, my daughter in law is having baby number two right around the same time! So many plans for cooking with and feeding these little people! Congrats, Deb and thank you for all the inspiration!