Homemade Honey Buns
These Homemade Honey Buns are soft, pillowy, and tender in the center with a perfectly golden, slightly chewy exterior. Filled with warm, gooey swirls of honey butter and cinnamon brown sugar, then fried to golden perfection and coated in a silky honey glaze, these bakery-style honey buns are best enjoyed warm with a hot cup of coffee.
If you try out this recipe, I’d love to see it! Leave a comment with a star rating below and tag @wellmadebykiley on Instagram and hashtag it #wellmadebykiley
Ingredients You Need:
Full ingredients and recipe are in the recipe card below. Read through this section for all the ingredients substitution and baking tips!
Milk: Activates the yeast and adds moisture for soft, pillowy honey buns.
Granulated Sugar: Sweetens the dough and helps activate the yeast for proper rise.
Active Dry Yeast: Leavens the dough to create light, fluffy fried honey buns.
Greek Yogurt or Sour Cream: Adds richness and tenderness for a soft, bakery-style crumb.
Salted Butter: Provides rich flavor and moisture in the dough, filling, and honey glaze.
Eggs: Create structure and richness for tender, pillowy buns.
Vanilla Bean Paste or Extract: Adds warm vanilla flavor throughout the dough, filling, and glaze.
Bread Flour: Creates a slightly chewy, structured crumb ideal for fried honey buns.
Salt: Balances sweetness and enhances overall flavor in the dough and fillings.
Avocado Oil: A neutral, high-heat oil perfect for frying honey buns to golden perfection.
Honey: Adds natural sweetness and sticky richness to the honey butter filling and glaze.
Brown Sugar: Brings deep caramel flavor to the cinnamon filling for gooey swirls.
Cinnamon: Adds warm spice to the filling for classic honey bun flavor.
Powdered Sugar: Creates a smooth, silky base for the honey glaze.
Why You’ll Love Homemade Honey Buns:
Soft And Pillowy Center: Tender, fluffy honey buns that melt in your mouth.
Golden Chewy Exterior: Fried to perfection for that classic bakery-style bite.
Gooey Honey Butter Swirls: Warm honey butter and cinnamon brown sugar melt into every bite.
Silky Honey Glaze: A glossy honey glaze adds the perfect sweet finish.
Fresh Coffee Shop Vibes: Tastes like your favorite bakery treat, especially with a hot cup of coffee.
Perfect Served Warm: Best enjoyed warm for the gooey filling and soft texture.
Crowd-Pleasing Treat: A fun, nostalgic dessert or breakfast sweet that everyone loves.
Tips for Making Homemade Honey Buns:
Activate The Yeast Properly: Make sure the milk is warm (not hot) so the yeast becomes frothy and active.
Don’t Skip The Rest Period: Letting the dough rest after initial mixing helps the flour hydrate and improves texture.
Knead Until Smooth And Elastic: Proper kneading creates soft, pillowy buns with good structure.
Keep The Dough Slightly Sticky: Avoid adding too much flour so the honey buns stay tender after frying.
Let The Dough Fully Rise: Allow the dough to double in size for light, fluffy honey buns.
Spread The Filling Evenly: Even layers of honey butter and cinnamon sugar ensure gooey swirls in every bite.
Roll Tightly And Seal Well: Rolling tightly and pinching the seam prevents the buns from unraveling in the oil.
Flatten Slightly Before Proofing: Gently pressing the buns helps them hold their shape and fry evenly.
Don’t Overproof The Buns: Proof until puffy but not doubled so they don’t collapse when frying.
Maintain Proper Oil Temperature: Keep the oil between 360–370°F for golden, evenly cooked honey buns.
Fry In Small Batches: Frying 2–3 at a time prevents the oil temperature from dropping.
Glaze While Warm: Dipping the buns while warm helps the honey glaze coat evenly and set beautifully.
Expect Some Filling To Leak: A little filling escaping during frying is normal and adds to the caramelized edges.
How to Store Homemade Honey Buns:
Best Fresh: Honey buns are best enjoyed the day they’re made while warm and gooey.
Room Temperature: Store cooled honey buns in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 day.
Refrigerator: Store honey buns in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat before serving for best texture.
Freezer: Freeze unglazed honey buns in a freezer-safe container for up to 2 months. Glaze after reheating for best results.
To Reheat: Warm honey buns in a 325°F oven for 5–8 minutes or microwave briefly until soft and warm.
FAQs:
Q: Can I make the dough ahead of time?
A: Yes. You can prepare the dough and refrigerate it overnight for a slow rise, then shape, proof, and fry the honey buns the next day. OR, you can assemble and shape the honey buns, press them down, then cover and refrigerate overnight. The next day, remove them from the refrigerator and allow them to come to room temperature/proof before frying and glazing.
Q: Can I bake these instead of frying?
A: These honey buns are designed to be fried for the classic soft, chewy texture. Baking will create a different, more bread-like result. If you do decide to bake them, bake at 350F for 18-20 minutes, and add 2 minutes at a time as needed until golden. Then remove from the oven, glaze, and serve.
Q: How do I know when the oil is hot enough?
A: The oil should be between 360–370°F. If the oil is too cool, the buns will absorb oil; if too hot, they will brown too quickly.
Q: Why did my honey buns unravel while frying?
A: This can happen if the rolls weren’t sealed tightly. Rolling firmly and pinching the seam well helps prevent unraveling.
Q: Can I make the honey glaze ahead of time?
A: Yes. The glaze can be made ahead and stored in the refrigerator. Warm slightly before dipping for a smooth coating.
Q: What’s the best way to reheat honey buns?
A: Reheat in a low oven or microwave until warm and soft, then glaze if needed.
Q: Can I use instant yeast instead of active dry yeast?
A: Yes. Instant yeast can be mixed directly into the dry ingredients without activating in warm milk first.
Love this? Check out my other breakfast recipes:
Cinnamon Crunch Pumpkin Cathead Biscuits with Whipped Maple Butter
Pumpkin Cinnamon Roll Pancakes with Whipped Honey Cinnamon Butter
Make sure to tag me @wellmadebykiley on Instagram and leave a review or comment if you make these homemade honey buns. Happy baking!
