American Classics: Easy Caramel Apple Sticky Buns

[Photograph: Alexandra Penfold]

When the thermostats start to dip, I get the itch to bake bready things. After successfully making cinnamon rolls with leftover pizza dough, my wheels started turning. If cinnamon rolls work well, why not sticky buns?

Why not, indeed? This recipe combines two of my great autumn loves: caramel apples and sticky buns. The beauty of using leftover pizza dough is you don't need to wait for a second rise—your dough will have already done that. The "sticky" sauce comes together quickly, as does the filling. Assemble, bake, and in about an hour you could be eating these beauties fresh from the oven.

About the author: Alexandra Penfold is mild-mannered literary agent by day, food ninja by night. Never one to skip dessert she's the Brownie half of Blondie & Brownie, a Midtown Lunch contributor, and co-author of New York à la Cart: Recipes and Stories from the Big Apple's Best Food Trucks. You can follow her on Twitter at @BlondieBrownie.