Christmas was merry and bright — Les Petites Gourmettes

Ingredients

• 1 package or 1 tablespoon active dry yeast
• 1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoon sugar, divided
• 1/2 cup warm water
• 1 cup warm potato water (reserved from mashed potatoes, below)
• 3/4 cup (12 tablespoons or 1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened in the warm potato water
• 1 1/2 tablespoons salt
• 2 eggs
• 1 cup mashed potatoes (cooking water reserved for “potato water” above)
• 6 cups flour
• 1 1/4 sticks (10 tablespoons) unsalted butter, melted
• 1 cup packed brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons corn syrup
• 1 cup chopped pecans
• 2 tablespoons melted butter
• 2 tablespoons sugar mixed with 1 teaspoon cinnamon