Chocolate Honey Buns: Bavarian Cream Delight

Honey buns are a type of fried yeast pastry that contains honey and a swirl of cinnamon in the dough, often glazed with icing. They are usually sold individually wrapped and can be found in convenience stores and vending machines. While there are many brands that sell honey buns, such as Little Debbie, Hostess, and Duchess, it is unclear if any of these brands sell honey buns with both chocolate and Bavarian cream. One possible option is the Boston Creme Honey Bun by Tastykake, which is coated with a layer of chocolate icing and filled with custard cream.

Homemade Honey Buns

Honey buns are a delicious treat, perfect for any occasion, whether it's a snack, a special breakfast, or a dessert. While you can easily find them pre-packaged in convenience stores or vending machines, making them at home is a rewarding experience. Here's a detailed guide and recipe to create your own homemade honey buns with that classic glaze everyone loves.

Ingredients:

• Flour (all-purpose)
• Sugar (granulated and powdered)
• Salt
• Milk (whole milk or warm milk)
• Yeast (instant or active dry yeast)
• Butter (salted or unsalted, melted and cooled)
• Vegetable oil
• Egg (large)
• Vanilla extract
• Ground cinnamon

Optional:

Honey (for a honey glaze)

Equipment:

• Stand mixer with a dough hook attachment
• Microwave-safe bowl
• Large bowl
• Rolling pin
• Baking sheet
• Parchment paper
• Wire rack
• Candy or cooking thermometer

Instructions:

• In the stand mixer, combine flour, sugar, and salt.
• In a microwave-safe bowl, heat the milk to about 105-110°F (30 seconds in the microwave should do the trick).
• To the warm milk, add yeast, melted butter, egg, and vanilla. Whisk until combined.
• Pour the wet ingredients into the stand mixer with the dry ingredients. Knead on medium speed for 10 minutes. You may need to scrape down the sides to ensure all ingredients are mixed properly.
• Grease a large bowl with oil.
• Remove the dough from the mixer, form it into a ball, and place it in the greased bowl. Cover with plastic wrap and let it rise for about 1-2 hours, or until it has doubled in size.
• On a lightly floured surface, roll out the dough into a rectangle (about 15 inches long and 6-8 inches wide).
• Sprinkle cinnamon over the dough and spread it evenly.
• Start rolling the dough from the long side, sealing the edge with water and pinching it shut.
• Cut the dough into 1-inch size buns using a piece of unscented floss.
• Place the buns on a piece of wax paper, leaving some space between them, and let them rise for an additional 30 minutes.
• At this point, decide if you want to bake or fry your honey buns.
• For baking: preheat the oven to 350°F and place the buns on a parchment-lined baking sheet, leaving about 2 inches of space between them. Bake for 15-18 minutes, until the edges are golden brown.
• For frying: heat vegetable oil in a large pan or stockpot to 320-365°F. Fry each bun for about 90 seconds on each side until golden brown.
• While the buns are cooling, make the glaze by mixing powdered sugar, melted butter, vanilla extract, and optionally, honey, until smooth. You can adjust the consistency by adding hot water a little at a time.
• Dip the tops of the warm honey buns into the glaze and let them cool on parchment paper.

Your homemade honey buns are now ready to be devoured! They are best enjoyed fresh but can be stored in an airtight container for a few days or frozen for longer.

Honey Buns with Chocolate Ganache

Honey buns are a delicious treat, perfect for any occasion. They can be enjoyed as a snack, a dessert, or even for breakfast with a cup of coffee. While the exact origin of honey buns is unknown, they are believed to have been created in 1954 by Howard Griffin, owner of Griffin Pie Co. in Greensboro, North Carolina. Today, you can find honey buns in convenience stores, vending machines, and grocery store bakeries.

Where to Find Honey Buns with Chocolate and Bavarian Cream

If you're looking for honey buns with a chocolate and Bavarian cream twist, there are a few options available:

• Little Debbie Honey Buns Variety Pack: This variety pack includes honey buns, along with zebra cakes, cosmic brownies, oatmeal creme pies, and Swiss rolls. It can be purchased on Amazon.com.
• Hostess Jumbo Chocolate Honey Bun: This option offers a devil's food base with chocolate and is available on Amazon.com.
• Mrs. Freshley's Creamy Chocolate Swirl Honey Buns: These honey buns feature a creamy chocolate swirl and can be found on Amazon.com.
• Cloverhill Bakery Honey Buns: Look for the Ultimate Honey Bun Variety Pack, which includes Big Texas, Chocolate, Iced, and Glazed honey buns. They are available on Amazon.com.

Make Your Own Honey Buns with Chocolate Ganache

If you want to get creative in the kitchen, you can also make your own honey buns with chocolate ganache. Here's a recipe to get you started:

Ingredients:

• 1 teaspoon active dry yeast
• ¾ teaspoon kosher salt
• 1 ½ ounces honey (about 2 tablespoons)
• 1 ½ ounces melted butter (about 3 tablespoons)
• 5 ounces milk (about ½ cup plus 2 tablespoons; whole milk is recommended)
• 10 ounces all-purpose flour (about 2 ¼ to 2 ½ cups)
• 1 stick unsalted butter, very soft
• ½ cup granulated sugar
• 1 ounce cocoa powder (about ⅓ cup)
• 1 cup powdered sugar
• Water, as needed
• 2 ½ ounces semi-sweet or bittersweet chocolate or chocolate chips
• Optional: colored sprinkles or nonpareils

Instructions:

• In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook, add all the ingredients for the dough: active dry yeast, kosher salt, honey, melted butter, milk, and all-purpose flour. Mix on low speed until combined, then increase the speed to medium and knead for 10-12 minutes. The dough should be soft, a bit sticky, and extensible.
• Once the dough is smooth and supple, gather it into a ball and place it back in the mixer bowl. Spray the top with pan spray, cover, and let it rise in a warm place until doubled in volume, which should take about 2 ½ hours.
• Line an 8-inch round pan with parchment paper and/or lightly spray with pan spray. Set aside.
• Prepare the filling by mixing together the unsalted butter, granulated sugar, cocoa powder, and honey until you have a spreadable consistency. If the mixture is too runny, refrigerate it for a bit to thicken.
• On a lightly greased surface, roll out the dough into a rectangle, about 14 inches wide and 12 inches tall, with a thickness of about ¼ inch.
• Spread the filling mixture evenly over the dough, leaving about ½ inch of bare dough on the long ends.
• Roll up the dough from each long end, meeting in the middle to form a scroll shape. Cut off the ends of the scroll to even them out.
• Cut the remaining scroll into 6 even pieces, each about 2 inches tall.
• To form the heart shapes, unroll each piece slightly from both ends to expose about 2 inches of filling. Press the two still-rolled-up ends together, creating a point in the center.
• Place each heart-shaped roll in the prepared pan with the points facing in and the rolls facing the edges of the pan. The rolls should barely touch or have a slight gap between them, with about 1 ½ inches of space in the center.
• Cover and let the dough rise in a warm place for about 1 ½ to 2 hours.
• Preheat the oven to 375°F. Bake the honey buns for about 20 minutes, then lower the temperature to 350°F and bake for an additional 20 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 195-200°F. You may need to cover the rolls with foil during the last 15 minutes to prevent excessive browning.
• Remove the honey buns from the oven and let them cool for 15 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
• For the honey glaze, heat butter, honey, and a pinch of salt in a small saucepan until the butter is melted. Whisk in the powdered sugar, vanilla extract, and enough water to create a thin, pourable glaze.
• Brush the glaze over the warm honey buns while they are still in the pan.
• For the chocolate ganache, place the chocolate and heavy cream in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave on high power for 45 seconds, then let it cool until it reaches a pipeable consistency.
• Pipe a chocolate heart on top of each honey bun. If desired, garnish with sprinkles.
• Enjoy your homemade honey buns with chocolate ganache!

Where to Buy Honey Buns

Honey buns are a delicious treat, perfect for any occasion. They can be enjoyed as a snack, at brunch, for dessert, or even at holiday gatherings. While they are available at convenience stores, vending machines, and grocery store bakeries, you may be interested in making your own or buying them from specialty bakers. Here are some options for where to buy honey buns:

Online Options:

You can find a variety of honey buns on Amazon, such as:

• Little Debbie Honey Buns: These are individually wrapped pastries, available in packs of 6, 18, 36, or 48.
• Hostess Jumbo Honey Bun: This option offers a larger serving size.
• Mrs. Freshley's Honey Buns: You can find a variety pack with chocolate, iced, glazed, and jelly flavors.
• Tastykake: They offer both iced and Boston creme honey buns.

Homemade:

If you're feeling adventurous, you can try making your own honey buns at home. Several websites, such as Deliciously Seasoned, I Heart Eating, and Pastry Chef Online, provide detailed recipes and step-by-step instructions for creating delicious honey buns from scratch. These recipes include ingredients like flour, sugar, butter, milk, yeast, honey, and various fillings and icings.

Local Bakeries:

Depending on your location, you may be able to find local bakeries or specialty stores that offer fresh-baked honey buns. A quick online search or a visit to your local farmer's market might lead you to some delightful options.

Heart-Shaped Honey Buns

Ingredients

• 1 teaspoon active dry yeast
• ¾ teaspoon kosher salt
• 1 ½ oz honey (2 tablespoons)
• 1 ½ oz (3 tablespoons) melted butter
• 5 oz milk (1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons). You can use whole milk or buttermilk.
• 10 oz all-purpose flour (about 2 1/4 to 2 1/2 cups)
• 1 stick unsalted butter, very soft
• ½ cup granulated sugar
• 1 oz cocoa powder (about 1/3 cup)
• 1 cup powdered sugar
• Water, as needed to thin
• 2 ½ oz semi-sweet or bittersweet chocolate or chocolate chips
• Optional: coloured sprinkles or nonpareils

Method

Dough

Using a stand mixer with a dough hook attachment, add all the ingredients and mix on low speed until no dry flour remains. Increase the mixer speed to medium and knead for 10-12 minutes. The dough will be soft and a bit sticky but should be nice and extensible (stretchy). Once the dough is smooth and supple, gather it into a ball, and place it back in the mixer bowl. Spray the top with pan spray, cover, and let rise in a warm place until doubled in volume, about 2 1/2 hours.

Filling

Mix all filling ingredients except the chocolate together evenly. It should have a spreadable consistency. If it is too loose and runny, refrigerate so it thickens up.

Shaping

On a lightly greased surface, roll the dough out into a rectangle about 14" wide and 12" tall. The dough should be about 1/4" thick. Evenly spread the filling mixture all over the dough. Spread it from end to end the short way and leave about 1/2" of bare dough on the long ends. Roll up the dough from either of the long ends, meeting in the middle so the whole thing looks like a scroll. Using a serrated knife, cut off either end of the scroll so the sides are even. Cut the remaining scroll into 6 even pieces, each about 2" tall. To form the heart shapes, unroll each piece just a bit from either end so there are about 2" of filling showing. Press the two still-rolled-up ends together, pressing the bend in the center into a point. Place each heart-shaped roll in your prepared pan so the points face in and the rolls are facing the edges of the pan. The rolls should barely touch, if at all, and there should be about 1 1/2" in the center where you can see the bottom of the pan. Cover and let rise in a warm place for about 1 1/2-2 hours. It won't look like much is happening, but don't worry.

Baking

Bake at 375F for about 20 minutes. Then turn down the heat to 350 and bake for another 20 minutes or until the internal temperature is about 200F. You will need to cover the rolls with some foil during the last 15 minutes or so, because they will brown on the tops well before they are done in the center. The internal temperature should be 195-200F. Remove from the oven and let sit for 15 minutes before depanning them to cool completely upright on a wire rack.

Glaze

Heat the butter, honey, and salt until the butter is melted. Whisk in the powdered sugar, vanilla, and enough water to make a fairly thin, pourable glaze. Pour and brush glaze in a thin layer all over the baked honey buns while they are still hot. Let cool completely.

Ganache Hearts

Place all ingredients in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave on full power for 45 seconds. Cool the glaze in the fridge until it's about the consistency of frosting so you can pipe it. Put the ganache in a piping bag fitted with a #10 round tip (or cut off about 1/4" of the corner of a Zip-top bag). Pipe a chocolate heart on the top of each of the 6 rolls. Garnish with white and pink sprinkles, if desired.

Storage

These honey buns are best served warm and fresh, but they can be stored at room temperature for a couple of days. For longer storage, cut the rolls apart and freeze in an airtight freezer bag.

Honey Buns with Bavarian Cream

Honey buns are a delicious treat, perfect for any occasion. They are a type of sweet roll, often filled with a sticky, sweet filling and topped with a glaze or icing. You can make them at home, but they are also available to purchase in stores, either pre-packaged or fresh from bakery sections.

Where to Find Honey Buns with Chocolate and Bavarian Cream

If you're looking to buy honey buns with chocolate and Bavarian cream, you may be able to find them at your local grocery store or bakery. Some popular brands that sell honey buns include:

• Little Debbie
• Hostess
• Tastykake
• Mrs. Freshley's
• Duchess
• Katz Gluten-Free

You can also find a variety of honey bun options on Amazon, including packs of individually wrapped pastries.

Making Your Own Honey Buns with Bavarian Cream

If you want to get creative in the kitchen, you can make your own honey buns with Bavarian cream. Here are some recipes and tips to get you started:

• One recipe suggests a four-component process, including a dough with honey, a chocolatey filling with honey, a honey glaze, and a chocolate ganache. The dough is made with yeast, honey, butter, milk, flour, and egg yolks, while the filling includes butter, sugar, honey, and cocoa powder. The glaze is a simple mixture of powdered sugar, honey, butter, vanilla, and water, and the ganache is made with chocolate, heavy cream, and honey.
• Another recipe includes a brown sugar and cinnamon filling, with a honey butter icing made by mixing together butter, honey, and powdered sugar. The dough for this recipe includes honey, yeast, milk, flour, and salt.
• If you're feeling adventurous, you can even try making heart-shaped chocolate honey buns! This recipe includes a similar dough and filling to the previous ones but adds a chocolate glaze component to create a double-chocolate effect.

When making honey buns at home, it's important to seal the dough log properly by pinching it closed with wet fingers to prevent unrolling. Also, remember to glaze the honey buns while they are still warm so that the glaze melts into the nooks and crannies.

Storing and Serving Honey Buns

Honey buns can be stored at room temperature for up to two days when covered. They will keep for up to a week in the refrigerator and can be frozen for longer-term storage. Serve them with coffee or milk, or enjoy them as a snack or dessert.

Whether you decide to buy or make your own honey buns with Bavarian cream, they are sure to be a delicious treat!

Frequently asked questions