Total time: 1 hour, 35 minutes, plus 1 hour, 30 minutes rising time

Serves 8

Note: From Chef Hayden Ramsey of Square One restaurant in Los Angeles. Nielsen-Massey vanilla paste can be purchased at Sur La Table and Williams-Sonoma stores. European-style butter is available at Trader Joe's, Bristol Farms and Whole Foods markets. The chef toasts a cinnamon stick, then grinds it for this recipe.

INGREDIENTS

One 1/4-ounce package dry yeast

1/3 cup plus 3 tablespoons sugar, divided

1/2 cup milk

2 cups flour, divided

2 eggs

3/4 teaspoon kosher salt, divided

3/4 cup European-style butter, chilled, divided

1/2 cup light brown sugar, packed

1/4 teaspoon vanilla paste or substitute

1/8 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup raw, unsalted pecan pieces

INSTRUCTIONS

For the cake, combine the yeast and 1/3 cup sugar in a mixing bowl. Gently warm the milk to around 85 degrees (be careful not to heat the milk too much as this could kill the yeast). Whisk the milk into the yeast mixture. Allow it to sit until small bubbles form, 10 to 15 minutes.

Whisk in 1/2 cup flour to form a thin paste; cover and let rise for 15 minutes. Using the dough-hook attachment of an electric mixer, incorporate the eggs into the yeast mixture. Add the remaining flour a little at a time and mix until dough is smooth and elastic. Add 1/2 teaspoon of kosher salt and continue mixing.

Cut 1/2 cup of butter into small cubes. Add the butter a few pieces at a time to the dough, mixing until all the butter is incorporated. This will take about 10 minutes. Cover the bowl with plastic and set aside in a warm place until doubled in volume, 30 to 45 minutes.

To make the topping, combine the light-brown sugar, the remaining 3 tablespoons sugar, the vanilla paste (or extract), cinnamon and 1/4 teaspoon salt in a bowl. Mix thoroughly.

Heat the oven to 350 degrees. Butter an 8-by-3-inch round cake pan or wrap foil around the outside of an 8-by-2-inch springform pan to prevent leakage. When the dough has doubled, heat the remaining 1/4 cup butter over medium-low heat until the milk solids are nicely browned and the butter has a toasted, nutty flavor, 4 to 5 minutes. Pour into a shallow container immediately to stop the cooking process. Cool.

Place the dough in the prepared pan and spread it evenly. Cover the dough with the browned butter. Sprinkle the topping evenly over, pushing it down to make it stick. Sprinkle with pecan pieces. Sprinkle with the remaining 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt.

Place the dough in a warm spot to rise until doubled, 30 to 45 minutes. Bake until golden brown, about 45 minutes. Remove from the oven and let the cake stand in the pan for 15 minutes before unmolding. Place a plate on top, then invert the cake onto the plate, then top with another plate and invert so the cake is right side up. If using a springform pan, remove the outer ring. Slice and serve immediately.

Per serving: 448 calories; 6 grams protein; 52 grams carbohydrates; 2 grams fiber; 24 grams fat; 12 grams saturated fat; 100 mg. cholesterol; 210 mg. sodium

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