Homemade Honey Buns
These Homemade Honey Buns are golden brown, fluffy, and decadently sweet, featuring a light, airy dough topped with a sticky honey glaze, making them the perfect brunch or dessert treat.
Ingredients
Dough Ingredients
- 3 cups all-purpose flour (plus more for rolling)
- 3 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon instant yeast
- 0.5 teaspoon salt
- 0.5 cup warm water (between 105°F-115°F)
- 0.33 cup honey
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 0.25 cup shortening (melted)
- Vegetable or peanut oil (for frying)
Cinnamon-Sugar Mixture
- 0.25 cup granulated sugar
- 1.5 teaspoons cinnamon
Honey Glaze
- 4.66 cups powdered sugar
- 2.5 tablespoons honey
- 1 tablespoon melted butter
- 0.5 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 0.25 teaspoon salt
- Warm water (as needed, for consistency)
Instructions
Preparation
- In a large bowl, mix 3 cups of all-purpose flour, 3 tablespoons of granulated sugar, 1 tablespoon of instant yeast, and 0.5 teaspoon of salt.
- In a separate bowl, combine 0.5 cup of warm water, 0.33 cup of honey, 1 large egg, 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract, and 0.25 cup of melted shortening. Whisk until smooth and well-combined.
- Gradually pour the wet mixture into the dry ingredients, stirring until a shaggy dough begins to form.
- Turn the dough onto a floured surface and knead for about 10 minutes until smooth and elastic.
- Place the kneaded dough into a greased bowl, cover it, and let it rise in a warm place for about 1 hour, or until it doubles in size.
Frying The Honey Buns
- After the dough has risen, punch it down and roll out to about ½-inch thickness.
- In a small bowl, mix 0.25 cup of sugar and 1.5 teaspoons of cinnamon. Sprinkle over the rolled dough.
- Roll the dough tightly into a log and slice into 1-inch pieces.
- In a deep skillet, heat oil over medium heat. Fry slices for about 2-4 minutes on each side until golden brown.
- Transfer fried honey buns to a paper towel-lined plate.
Baking the Honey Buns
- For baked version, preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) after slicing.
- Place sliced buns in a greased baking dish, cover, and let rise for another 30 minutes.
- Bake for about 20-25 minutes or until puffed and lightly golden.
- Prepare glaze by whisking together powdered sugar, honey, melted butter, vanilla, salt, and warm water.
- Remove buns from oven and drizzle glaze over warm buns.
Notes
For a healthier version, consider baking instead of frying. Elevate flavors by adding nutmeg or cardamom to the cinnamon-sugar mix, and try variations with chocolate chips or nuts.