The Best Homemade Honey Buns Recipe for Sweet Morning Magic

Sweet homemade honey buns represent a delightful morning treat that reinvents ordinary breakfast routines.

Soft, pillowy dough infused with golden nectar creates an irresistible aroma that fills kitchens with warmth.

Bakers passionate about crafting delectable pastries understand the magicalalchemy of flour, yeast, and natural sweetness.

Each ingredient plays a crucial role in developing rich, complex flavors that dance across taste buds.

These tender rounds offer comfort and nostalgia, connecting generations through a shared love of freshly baked goodness.

Subtle notes of floral sweetness complement the rich, buttery texture that melts effortlessly in your mouth.

Crafting these delectable pastries requires patience, practice, and a genuine love for baking.

What Makes Homemade Honey Buns So Soft and Sweet

• Savor Indulgent Sweetness: These homemade honey buns deliver a perfect balance of honey-infused dough and crispy exterior, creating an irresistible treat that melts in your mouth with each delightful bite.
• Master a Bakery-Quality Technique: The recipe offers a professional-level cooking method, allowing home bakers to transform simple ingredients into golden, glazed buns that rival commercial bakery offerings through careful frying and precise glazing.
• Enjoy Customizable Comfort Food: Flexible preparation steps let you control the texture and sweetness, making these honey buns adaptable for breakfast, dessert, or a special weekend baking project that brings warmth and joy to your kitchen.
• Create Memories with Minimal Fuss: Despite seeming complex, the recipe breaks down into manageable steps that even intermediate bakers can confidently execute, turning a potentially intimidating process into a fun and rewarding cooking experience.

What You’ll Need to Bake Homemade Honey Buns

• Water: Essential for activating yeast and forming dough structure.
• Sugar: Feeds yeast and adds subtle sweetness.
• Active Dry Yeast: Provides leavening and helps dough rise.
• All-Purpose Flour: Main structure for honey buns, creates soft texture.
• Honey: Adds natural sweetness and moisture to dough.
• Shortening: Contributes to tender, soft bun texture.
• Egg Yolks: Provides richness and helps bind ingredients.
• Vanilla Extract: Enhances overall flavor profile.
• Salt: Balances sweetness and strengthens gluten.

• Cinnamon, Sugar: Creates aromatic and sweet exterior coating.
• Vegetable Oil: Used for deep frying honey buns to golden perfection.

• Powdered Sugar: Base for smooth, sweet glaze.
• Honey: Adds depth of flavor and natural sweetness.
• Unsalted Butter: Provides richness to glaze.
• Vanilla Extract: Enhances overall flavor.
• Salt: Balances sweetness in glaze.
• Warm Water: Adjusts glaze consistency.

Step-by-Step Baking for Homemade Honey Buns

Step 1: Activate the Yeast

In a stand mixer bowl, combine water, a pinch of sugar, and yeast. Whisk gently until blended. Let the mixture rest for 5 minutes until it becomes frothy and bubbly.

Step 2: Create the Dough Base

• Remaining sugar
• Flour
• Honey
• Shortening
• Egg yolks
• Vanilla
• Salt

Knead the mixture on medium speed for 8 minutes. The dough will be sticky but stretchy when pulled.

Step 3: First Dough Rise

Transfer the dough to a clean, lightly oiled bowl. Cover with plastic wrap or a kitchen towel. Allow the dough to rise in a warm spot for 1 hour until it doubles in size.

Step 4: Prepare Cinnamon Sugar Coating

• Cinnamon
• Sugar

Set aside for later use.

Step 5: Shape the Dough

Roll out the risen dough on a floured surface into a 12-inch long and 8-inch wide rectangle. Sprinkle the cinnamon sugar mixture evenly across the surface. Gently press the sugar into the dough.

Step 6: Cut and Prepare Honey Buns

Roll the dough from the long side. Position the roll diagonally. Score and cut into 8 pieces. Trim the ends slightly. Place the pieces on a parchment-lined baking sheet, leaving 2 inches between each bun. Shape each piece with fingers and let rise for 45 minutes until puffy.

Step 7: Fry the Honey Buns

Heat oil in a large pan to 365°F (185°C). Carefully lower a few buns into the hot oil. Fry for 90 seconds on each side until golden brown. Avoid overcrowding the pan.

Step 8: Create the Glaze

• Powdered sugar
• Honey
• Melted butter
• Vanilla
• Salt

Add warm water gradually until you reach the desired glaze consistency.

Step 9: Glaze the Buns

Transfer fried buns to a wire rack. Gently press to flatten. Immediately dip each bun into the prepared glaze for a crisp, sweet finish.

Step 10: Complete the Batch

Repeat the frying and glazing process with remaining dough pieces.

Serve and enjoy your freshly made homemade honey buns!

Best Tips for Fluffy Homemade Honey Buns

• Activate Yeast Perfectly: Ensure water is lukewarm (not hot) to help yeast bloom without killing it, creating a frothy base for soft, pillowy buns.
• Knead with Confidence: Don't be afraid of sticky dough; proper kneading develops gluten, resulting in a stretchy, elastic texture that's key to tender honey buns.
• Control Oil Temperature: Use a digital thermometer to maintain consistent 365°F oil temperature, preventing soggy or burnt exteriors during frying.
• Glaze Like a Pro: Dip warm honey buns immediately after frying to help glaze adhere and create a crisp, sweet coating that sets beautifully.
• Space Buns Strategically: Give each honey bun enough room on the baking sheet and in the fryer to ensure even rising and golden-brown coloring.

Storing and Reheating Homemade Honey Buns for Later

• Refrigeration: Store honey buns in an airtight container for up to 3 days. Place parchment paper between layers to prevent sticking and maintain their delicate texture.
• Room Temperature: Keep glazed honey buns at room temperature for 1-2 days in a sealed container, away from direct sunlight and heat sources.
• Reheating: Warm honey buns in a preheated oven at 300°F for 3-5 minutes. Place on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper to restore their crispy exterior and soft interior. Avoid microwave reheating to prevent soggy results.

What Goes Well with Homemade Honey Buns

• Pair with Creamy Vanilla Latte: The sweet, rich honey buns find their perfect match in a smooth vanilla latte. The coffee's warmth complements the buns' delicate texture, while the vanilla notes create a harmonious flavor explosion.
• Serve with Spiced Chai Tea: A fragrant chai tea brings out the cinnamon undertones in the honey buns. The warm spices like cardamom and ginger dance beautifully with the sweet glaze, creating a comforting morning treat.
• Complement with Fresh Berries: A side of mixed berries cuts through the honey buns' sweetness, adding a bright, tangy contrast. Strawberries, blueberries, or raspberries provide a fresh, light accompaniment that balances the rich, fried pastry.
• Enhance with Whipped Cream Dip: A light, airy whipped cream infused with a touch of honey creates a decadent dipping sauce. This adds an extra layer of indulgence to the already delicious honey buns, making each bite more exciting.

Flavor Add-Ons for Homemade Honey Buns

• Chocolate Honey Swirl: Add cocoa powder to the dough and sprinkle chocolate chips inside before rolling. Create a rich chocolate glaze using melted dark chocolate and honey for a decadent upgrade.
• Nutty Honey Crunch: Incorporate chopped pecans or almonds into the dough and roll them inside. Dust the finished buns with a nutty honey-cinnamon coating that adds extra crunch and depth of flavor.
• Citrus Honey Burst: Mix orange or lemon zest directly into the dough for a bright, tangy note. Replace part of the water with fresh citrus juice and create a matching citrus-honey glaze that enhances the sunny flavor profile.
• Berry Honey Dream: Fold dried cranberries or blueberries into the dough before rolling. Prepare a berry-infused honey glaze by reducing fresh berries with honey for a fruity, vibrant finish that complements the sweet base.

Homemade Honey Buns Recipe

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4.6 from 40 reviews

• Total Time: 2 hours 5 minutes
• Yield: 12 1x

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Description

Sweet, pillowy homemade honey buns bring warmth from Grandma’s kitchen to your table. Delicate dough brushed with golden honey promises comfort in each tender, melt-in-your-mouth bite, inviting you to savor pure, nostalgic pleasure.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Main Ingredients:

• 4 ⅔ cups powdered sugar
• 2 ½ tablespoons honey

Binding Ingredients:

• 1 tablespoon melted butter

Additional Ingredients:

• ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• Warm water (as needed)

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Instructions

1. Activate yeast by mixing it with water and a small portion of sugar in a stand mixer. Allow the mixture to become frothy and develop for approximately 5 minutes.
2. Attach the dough hook and incorporate remaining sugar, flour, honey, shortening, egg yolks, vanilla, and salt into the mixture. Knead thoroughly until the dough becomes elastic and slightly translucent when stretched.
3. Transfer the dough to a lightly greased bowl, ensuring complete coverage. Let the dough rest and expand in a warm environment until its volume doubles, approximately one hour.
4. Prepare the cinnamon sugar mixture by thoroughly blending ground cinnamon and granulated sugar in a separate container.
5. Gently deflate the risen dough and roll it out on a floured surface into a rectangular shape. Evenly distribute the cinnamon sugar across the surface, pressing it lightly into the dough.
6. Roll the dough from its longest side, creating a compact log. Slice the log diagonally into uniform sections, trimming the uneven edges. Position the pieces on a parchment-lined baking sheet, allowing sufficient space between each section.
7. Allow the shaped dough to prove for roughly 45 minutes, developing a puffy texture without completely doubling in size.
8. Heat oil in a deep pan to 365°F, maintaining a consistent temperature. Carefully lower the honey buns into the hot oil, frying each side for approximately 90 seconds until achieving a golden-brown color.
9. Craft the glaze by whisking powdered sugar, honey, melted butter, vanilla, and salt. Gradually introduce warm water until reaching a smooth, pourable consistency.
10. Remove fried honey buns and place them on a wire rack. Immediately dunk each bun into the prepared glaze, ensuring complete coverage for a crisp, sweet exterior.
11. Repeat the frying and glazing process with remaining dough sections, maintaining consistent oil temperature and glaze application.

Notes

• Choose high-quality ingredients like pure honey and fresh eggs for the best flavor and texture.
• Ensure yeast is fresh and active by checking the frothy reaction during proofing, which indicates proper fermentation.
• Maintain precise oil temperature at 365°F for perfect golden-brown exterior without burning or undercooking.
• Allow sufficient rising time for dough to develop rich flavor and soft, tender texture.
• Use a wire cooling rack when glazing to prevent soggy bottoms and ensure even coating.
• Work in small batches during frying to maintain consistent oil temperature and prevent overcrowding.

• Prep Time: 1 hour 50 minutes
• Cook Time: 15 minutes
• Category: Breakfast, Snacks, Desserts
• Method: Frying
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 12
• Calories: 236
• Sugar: 38 g
• Sodium: 21 mg
• Fat: 3 g
• Saturated Fat: 2 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 1 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 58 g
• Fiber: 0 g
• Protein: 0 g
• Cholesterol: 6 mg