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A beautiful shot of several soft homemade honey buns cooling on a wire rack, with a golden-brown finish and a hint of cinnamon swirl visible.

Homemade Honey Buns: The Ultimate Recipe for Soft, Sticky Buns

The ultimate recipe for Homemade Honey Buns from scratch! Learn how to make incredibly soft, fluffy yeast buns with a cinnamon-sugar swirl and a warm, gooey honey glaze. Perfect for breakfast, brunch, or dessert.
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 2 hours 45 minutes
Servings: 12 buns
Course: Breakfast, Brunch, Dessert
Cuisine: American
Calories: 380
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 1 cup Whole Milk warmed to 110°F
  • 1/4 cup Granulated Sugar
  • 2.25 tsp Instant Yeast 1 packet
  • 1/4 cup Unsalted Butter melted
  • 1 Large Egg at room temperature
  • 1 tsp Salt
  • 3.5 cups All-Purpose Flour plus more for dusting
  • 1/2 cup Brown Sugar packed
  • 1.5 tbsp Ground Cinnamon
  • 1/4 cup Unsalted Butter softened
  • 1/2 cup Honey
  • 1/2 cup Powdered Sugar
  • 1/4 cup Unsalted Butter
  • 1 tsp Vanilla Extract

Equipment

  • 1 Stand Mixer
  • 1 9x13 inch Baking Dish
  • 1 Saucepan

Method
 

  1. In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine the warm milk, granulated sugar, and yeast. Let it sit for 5-10 minutes until foamy.
  2. Add the melted butter, egg, and salt. With the dough hook attachment on low, gradually add the flour. Knead on medium speed for 5-7 minutes until the dough is smooth and elastic.
  3. Place the dough in a lightly oiled bowl, cover, and let it rise in a warm place for 1-1.5 hours, or until doubled in size.
  4. Punch down the dough and roll it into a 12x18 inch rectangle on a floured surface. Spread the softened butter over the dough, then sprinkle evenly with a mixture of the brown sugar and cinnamon.
  5. Roll the dough into a tight log and cut into 12 equal rolls. Place them in a greased 9x13 inch baking dish.
  6. Cover and let the buns rise for another 30-45 minutes. Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
  7. Bake for 20-25 minutes until golden brown.
  8. While the buns are baking, prepare the glaze. In a saucepan, melt the honey, powdered sugar, and butter together, whisking until smooth. Remove from heat and stir in the vanilla.
  9. Pour the warm glaze over the hot buns as soon as they come out of the oven. Serve warm.

Notes

For the softest buns, be careful not to add too much flour. The dough should be slightly tacky.
Let the buns cool slightly before serving to allow the glaze to set a bit.