Easy “Honey” Bun Recipe (2024)

August 14, 20222 Comments

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A healthier take on a classic childhood favorite, this Easy Vegan Honey Bun Recipe is sweet, sticky, and better than any boxed version you’ll ever taste. Whip them up in minutes for a decadent dessert or afternoon pick-me-up the whole family will love!

What Are Honey Buns, Anyway?

If you’ve never had the pleasure of tasting a Honey Bun, you’re seriously missing out, my friend. A classic convenience store treat, they’re a type of fried pastry that are made with honey and cinnamon included in the dough. Once fried, they’re topped with an icing glaze and packaged for consumption. Somewhat of a cross between a donut and a cinnamon roll, they’ve been a favorite of mine since I was a little girl.

Honestly, I could eat them all day every day. However, been there, done that, and it didn’t leave me feeling great. So, I decided to turn my favorite dessert into a healthy (okay, healthier) recipe! Keep reading to find everything you’ll need!

Are Honey Buns the Same Thing As Cinnamon Rolls?

Although very similar, honey buns and cinnamon rolls are not the same. For instance, cinnamon rolls are typically cut from one giant log of dough. Meanwhile, honey buns are formed individually. This creates more texture and a greater depth of flavor. In addition. Traditional honey buns are fried whereas cinnamon rolls are always baked.

Ingredients You’ll Need for This Honey Bun Recipe

You’re never going to believe that such simple flavors can create such bold flavors! Here’s everything you’ll need:

For the Honey Buns

  • Flour – I found that all-purpose flour works best. If needed, you can swap it out for all-purpose gluten-free flour, and your results will be just as tasty!
  • Protein – No one is shocked that I used Nuzest vanilla pea protein (code: thekellykathleen). It’s truly the best, but you can use any protein you prefer. Just keep in mind that I can’t guarantee the taste and texture of your honey bun recipe!
  • Salt – A hugely underrated ingredient in baked recipes, salt helps enhance the natural flavors for the best dessert you’ll ever taste.
  • Cinnamon – A crucial component of honey buns, cinnamon adds subtle spice that balances out the sweet flavors.
  • Baking Powder – Don’t forget this! It helps create extra fluffy buns.
  • Melted Butter – To keep this recipe vegan, I opted for plant-based butter, but you do you.
  • Plant-Based Milk – Whatever you like best will work.
  • Maple Syrup – Not quite honey, maple syrup can be used to create the sugary taste we’re looking for while keeping this recipe vegan.

For the Glaze

  • Powdered Sugar – Make sure you use powdered sugar and not regular granulated sugar! Otherwise, it won’t form the thin glaze we’re looking to achieve.
  • Plant-Based Milk – Again, any milk you prefer is fine!

How to Make Vegan Honey Buns in the Air Fryer

  1. Whisk together all of the ingredients.
  2. Place the dough on a powdered surface, and cut it in half.
  3. Roll both halves into a long cylindrical-shaped log.
  4. Cut each log into 3 different 6-inch pieces of dough.
  5. Take each piece, and turn one end of the dough into itself, wrapping it around itself until it resembles a flattened cinnamon roll.
  6. Pre-heat your air fryer to 320° for 5 minutes.
  7. Brush each honey bun with melted coconut oil.
  8. Working in batches, air fry the buns for 6 minutes.
  9. While the buns are cooling, whisk together the ingredients for the glaze.
  10. Dip the top of each bun into the glaze, and let it harden and set before serving.

Storage Options

You can store these honey buns in an airtight container or plastic bag on the counter at room temperature for up to 2 days. Or, for longer-lasting options, place them in the fridge for up to 1 week or in the freezer for up to 1 month.

How to Reheat

You can serve leftover honey buns at room temperature or cold, but they’re so much better warm. Trust me, it’s worth the wait. After all, you deserve nothing but the best, especially when it only takes a few minutes! To reheat your honey buns, warm them in the microwave for 10-15 seconds. Or, pop them back in the air fryer for a few seconds until the desired temperature is reached.

More Honey-Flavored Recipes

If like me, you’re a huge honey fan, these recipes can’t be beat HOWEVER I know that not everyone that is plant-forward eats honey and the recipes below do it contain it, please click at your own discretion. These are some of my older recipes and while they’re still delicious, they do need some Vegan tweaking!

  • This Honey Buckwheat Banana Bread is the most delicious, healthy breakfast you’ll ever make.
  • Healthy, high-protein, and easy to make, these 3-Ingredient Peanut Butter Honey Cereal Cups are a perfectly satisfying snack.
  • Ready in 5 minutes, these Honey Oat Energy Bites are to die for!
  • Thick, fluffy, and bursting with peanut butter in every bite, you’ll want to make this Honey PB Banana Bread recipe on repeat.

Easy Honey Bun Recipe

High-protein and vegan, this Easy Honey Bun Recipe is made in the air fryer in just 6 minutes for a better-for-you treat!

Print This Deliciousness!

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 6 minutes mins

Servings 6 buns

Ingredients

  • 1 cup all purpose flour
  • 1/4 cup vanilla pea protein
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/4 tsp cinnamon
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 4 tbsp melted butter
  • 1/3 cup plant-based milk
  • 1/4 cup maple syrup

Glaze:

  • 1/2 cup powdered sugar
  • 1-2 tsp plant-based milk

Instructions

  • In a large bowl, whisk together all of the ingredients until combined.

  • On a lightly floured surface, overturn your dough and cut it in half. Place one half aside to work with later.

  • Using your hands, roll the dough into a long cylinder shape about 1 inch thick and 18 inches long. Cut the dough into 3 6-inch pieces and set them aside.

  • Repeat this process with the other half of the dough.

  • Once all the dough is in 6 inch pieces, it’s time to form them into the correct shape.

  • Turn one end of the dough into itself and wrap the other end around it. It should look like you’re looking down on a flat cinnamon roll.

  • Repeat this step for all six buns.

  • Preheat your air fryer to 320 for 5 minutes.

  • Grab a piece of parchment paper (cut to shape if needed) and place your honey buns on it.

  • Lightly brush your buns with melted coconut oil or butter *optional but recommend, before baking.

  • I baked my buns in two batch for 6 minutes each.

To glaze:

  • Whisk together the ingredients in a medium bowl. Once the buns are cool to the touch, dunk each bun in the glaze and tap/shake the bun to rid of the excess.

  • Let the glaze set completely before eating.

Keyword 30 minutes or less, vegan

Easy “Honey” Bun Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What ingredients are in honey buns? ›

ENRICHED BLEACHED WHEAT FLOUR BLEACHED FLOUR, MALTED BARLEY FLOUR, NIACIN, REDUCED IRON, THIAMIN MONONITRATE RIBOFLAVIN, FOLIC ACID), SUGAR, WATER VEGETABLE OILS (PALM, SOYBEAN), HIGH FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP, CONTAINS 2% OR LESS OF EACH OF THE FOLLOWING: YEAST, DEXTROSE, SOY FLOUR MONO- AND DIGLYCERIDES, WHEY, SALT, HONEY ...

What makes a honey bun a honey bun? ›

A honey bun, or honeybun, is a fried yeast pastry that contains honey and a swirl of cinnamon in the dough and is glazed with icing.

What are the best honey buns? ›

Mrs. Freshley's® honey buns just may be the most award-winning honey buns in America. We certainly think they're the most delicious.

What is the glaze on honey buns made of? ›

While the buns are cooling, make the honey glaze. In a small bowl, mix together powdered sugar, honey, and water until smooth. Two options for glazing buns: while they are still very warm for a thinner glazed bun, or when they are almost cool for an iced bun.

Do honey buns have corn syrup? ›

From the Package. ENRICHED FLOUR (BLEACHED WHEAT FLOUR, MALTED BARLEY FLOUR, NIACIN, REDUCED IRON THIAMIN MONONITRATE, RIBOFLAMN, FOLIC ACID), SUGAR, WATER, VEGETABLE OILS PALM, SOYBEAN), HIGH FRUOTOSE CORN SYRUP.

What makes honey buns so good? ›

Assuming that the buns are real brioche, rather than buns made with a little bit of yellow food coloring, the flavor comes from the eggs and butter in the dough.

What does it mean when a guy calls a girl honey bun? ›

A sweetheart, a darling. Frequently as a term of endearment or affectionate form of address.

Why honey buns are the best? ›

They're more complex in flavor, with deeply caramelized nooks and crannies, floral notes of honey, and the chew of a well-developed yeast bread. This recipe might look tricky at first, but I promise that it's well within the grasp of most home bakers.

What is the difference between a honey bun and a cinnamon roll? ›

Honey buns are filled with a mixture of honey and cinnamon and are often topped with a sweet glaze, while cinnamon rolls are filled with a cinnamon-sugar mixture and typically topped with a cream cheese or powdered sugar icing.

What's the difference between a sticky bun and a honey bun? ›

(Both sticky buns and honey buns call for pecans, however.) While honey bun recipes call for, you guessed it, honey, sticky bun recipes call for a caramel glaze.

How long can honey buns last? ›

Honeybuns made with our ESL Concentrate will have a shelf life of over 60 days! We are the honey bun experts and our staff has worked in many large wholesale honey bun and donut plants around the world.

Who originally made honey buns? ›

So who created the first honey bun? As the story goes it was Louis Griffin's brother, Howard Griffin, who developed the first honey bun in 1954, and it's been a best-seller ever since. “In the early 50's they were making cinnamon rolls,” Nelson Jr. said.

Who owns honey buns? ›

WELCOME! Welcome to Carolina Foods, maker of duch*ess Brand snacks and creator of one of America's first Honey Buns. Our family owned business has been in operation for more than 80 years, and our products are synonymous with quality, innovation, and a longer shelf-life.

Are honey buns just cinnamon rolls? ›

Unlike their close cousin, the cinnamon roll, these honey buns don't just offer soft, ooey-gooey vibes. They're more complex in flavor, with deeply caramelized nooks and crannies, floral notes of honey, and the chew of a well-developed yeast bread.

Do honey buns have dairy in them? ›

Contains 2% or Less of Each of the Following: Soy Flour, Nonfat Dry Milk, Dried Honey, Eggs, Cinnamon, Cocoa, Wheat Starch, Leavening (Baking Soda, Sodium Acid Pyrophosphate), Corn Starch, Mono- and Diglycerides, Soybean Oil, Salt, Calcium Stearoyl Lactylate, Calcium Carbonate, Agar, Calcium Sulfate, Calcium Propionate ...

Do honey buns have gluten? ›

This product has 3 ingredients with gluten and 2 ingredients that may have gluten.

Are honey buns vegan? ›

Can vegans eat honey buns? Traditional honey buns that you buy at the store contain bee's honey which isn't vegan-friendly. This recipe includes an easy homemade vegan honey that tastes similar to bee honey. This honey bun recipe is also made without dairy and eggs making it completely vegan-friendly!

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