Dough
1/4 cup warm water (105° to 115°F)
Two 1/4-ounce packets active dry yeast
2 cups sugar
1 1/4 cups milk, warmed
8 tablespoons (1 stick) salted butter, melted and cooled, plus softened butter for the dough and pans
2 large eggs, beaten
1 teaspoon kosher salt
6 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting
Filling
2 cups pecan halves
1/2 pound (2 sticks) salted butter, cut into pieces and chilled
2 cups packed light brown sugar
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
Glaze
2T melted butter
1 c powdered sugar
1/4 c milk (ish)
In a large bowl, stir together the water, yeast, and 1 tablespoon sugar. Let stand until foamy, 3 to 4 minutes. Add the remaining sugar, milk, butter, eggs, and salt and stir with a wooden spoon until well blended. Add the flour and stir until the dough comes together. Rub softened butter on top of the dough and around the bowl. Cover and let stand in a warm spot for 1 hour.
Using a food processor, combine the pecans, butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon and process until the mixture is well blended and paste-like.
Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Punch down the dough and place it on a floured surface. Roll it out into a 16 x 24-inch rectangle.
Spoon two-thirds of the filling mixture over the dough. Spread it to cover the dough to the edges. Starting on a short side, fold the sheet of dough in half, pressing the two short sides together to make sure they stick together and to flatten it slightly (you’ll have a roughly 14 x 16-inch rectangle).
Spoon the remaining filling on top of the dough and spread it to cover the dough. Starting at a short side, fold the dough in half, bringing the two short sides together to cover the filling. Use your hands to flatten the rectangle into approximately 12 x 18-inches.
Place the rectangle onto the baking sheet and cut the dough into 24 3-inch squares. Optional - Brush the tops of the squares with beaten egg.
Bake until lightly golden, 25 to 30 minutes. Combine butter powdered sugar and a little milk. and drizzle over slightly warm squares.
