Pecan Pizza Coffee Cake

"Top honors go to this quick one-rise coffee cake with an offbeat shape--"

1/2 cup whole bran cereal, coarsely crushed
1/4 cup sugar
1 package active dry yeast
1/2 cup warm water (110 to 115 degrees F.)
1 egg
1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon cooking oil
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup chopped pecans
1/3 cup packed brown sugar
1/4 cup maple-flavored syrup
2 tablespoons butter or margarine
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Combine cereal, sugar, and yeast. Stir n water; let stand 5 mintues. Add egg, 1/2 cup of the flour, oil, and salt. Beat at low speed of mixer until blended. Beat at high speed 3 minutes, scraping bowl. Cover; let rise until doubled in volume (about 1 hour). In saucepan, combine pecans, brown sugar, syrup, butter, and cinnamon. Cook and stir over low heat until sugar dissolves. Do not boil. Set aside. Punch dough down. With floured hands, press dough into a greased 12-inch round pizza pan or two greased 9-inch round cake pans, forming a high edge. Crimp edge; spread pecan mixture to within 1 inch of edge. Bake at 400 degrees F. about 20 minutes. (If using a 12-inch pizza pan, place pan on a baking sheet to bake.) Cool.--Mrs. Audrey Kovalak, Springfield, Va.

[Number of servings not given, but probably serves 8 to 12.]

[clipped from "Better Homes and Gardens"]