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Sweet Honey Buns Recipe

Sweet Honey Buns


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4.9 from 31 reviews

  • Yield: 13 1x

Description

Sweet homemade honey buns blend nostalgic bakery comfort with simple ingredients. Home cooks can craft these golden pastries quickly, creating warm memories for family gatherings.


Ingredients

Scale
  • 4 ⅔ cups (1.17 L) powdered sugar
  • 2 ½ tbsps (37.5 mL) honey
  • 1 tbsp (15 mL) melted butter
  • ½ tsp (2.5 mL) vanilla extract
  • ¼ tsp (1.25 mL) salt
  • Warm water (as needed)

Instructions

  1. Yeast Activation: Combine yeast with lukewarm water and a hint of sugar in a stand mixer. Allow the mixture to bloom and become frothy for about 5 minutes.
  2. Dough Formation: Attach the dough hook and introduce remaining sugar, flour, honey, shortening, egg yolks, vanilla, and salt. Knead until the dough transforms into a smooth, elastic consistency that stretches translucently.
  3. First Proofing: Transfer the dough to a greased bowl, ensuring complete coverage. Let it rest in a warm environment until volume doubles, approximately one hour.
  4. Flavor Preparation: Create a cinnamon sugar blend by thoroughly mixing ground cinnamon and granulated sugar in a separate container.
  5. Dough Shaping: Gently deflate the risen dough and roll it out on a floured surface into a rectangular shape. Distribute the cinnamon sugar evenly, pressing it lightly into the dough. Roll from the longest side to form a compact log, then slice diagonally into uniform sections.
  6. Second Proofing: Arrange the shaped pieces on a parchment-lined baking sheet, leaving adequate spacing. Allow them to develop a puffy texture for approximately 45 minutes.
  7. Frying Process: Heat oil to 365°F, maintaining a consistent temperature. Carefully lower honey buns into the hot oil, frying each side for about 90 seconds until achieving a rich golden-brown color.
  8. Glaze Creation: Whisk powdered sugar, honey, melted butter, vanilla, and salt. Gradually introduce warm water to develop a smooth, pourable glaze.
  9. Final Touches: Transfer fried honey buns to a wire rack and immediately immerse each in the prepared glaze, ensuring complete and even coverage for a crisp, sweet exterior.

Notes

  • Yeast Activation Tip: Ensure water temperature is between 100-110°F for optimal yeast performance, preventing potential killing or sluggish activation.
  • Dough Stretching Test: When kneading, perform a windowpane test by stretching a small piece of dough. Translucent, thin membrane indicates perfect gluten development.
  • Oil Temperature Control: Use a candy thermometer to maintain precise 365°F oil temperature, preventing burnt exteriors or undercooked centers during frying.
  • Glaze Consistency Hack: Add warm water incrementally to powdered sugar mixture, creating a smooth, drizzle-ready glaze that adheres perfectly to honey buns.
  • Category: Breakfast, Snacks, Desserts
  • Method: Frying
  • Cuisine: American

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 13
  • Calories: 200
  • Sugar: 22 g
  • Sodium: 20 mg
  • Fat: 3 g
  • Saturated Fat: 2 g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 1 g
  • Trans Fat: 0 g
  • Carbohydrates: 38 g
  • Fiber: 0 g
  • Protein: 1 g
  • Cholesterol: 10 mg