Honey Bun Cookies
The ultimate comfort food, Honey Bun Cookies are soft, chewy, and topped with a delightful glaze that will satisfy your sweet cravings. These easy-to-make cookies are perfect for any occasion, bringing warmth and sweetness to your gatherings. Bake them tonight for a treat that everyone will love!
Equipment
- Grater
- Mixing Bowl
- Baking Sheet
- Chef's Knife
- Whisk
- Oven
- Food Processor
Ingredients
- 1 cup Butter softened
- ¾ cup Sugar
- ½ cup Brown Sugar packed
- 2 Eggs room temp
- 1 tablespoon Vanilla Extract or to taste
- 2¾ cups Flour
- 2 teaspoons Cornstarch
- 1 teaspoon Baking Powder
- ½ teaspoon Baking Soda
- 2 teaspoons Cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon Kosher Salt
- ¼ cup Butter softened
- 1 cup Confectioners’ Sugar sift if lumpy
- 2 tablespoons Honey
- 2 tablespoons Milk 2%, whole, or your favorite
Instructions
- Start by taking your butter and letting it soften at room temperature. This is crucial for achieving that light and fluffy texture. In a mixing bowl, add the softened butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar. Using a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the mixture together on medium-high speed for about four minutes. You’re looking for it to become light and fluffy, which will help create a wonderful base for your cookies.
- Next, incorporate the eggs and vanilla extract. Beat them in until they are well combined, making sure to scrape down the sides of the bowl to ensure even mixing. This will take about two minutes. Setting this aside for now allows the flavors to meld beautifully.
- In a separate large bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients. Combine the flour, cornstarch, baking powder, baking soda, ground cinnamon, and kosher salt. Mixing these ingredients thoroughly ensures that the leavening agents and spices are evenly distributed throughout your dough.
- With the mixer running on low, slowly add the dry mixture to the wet ingredients. This gradual process helps prevent any flour from flying everywhere and ensures a smooth dough without overmixing, which can toughen your cookies.
- Prepare your baking sheets by lining them with parchment paper or silicone baking mats. This step will prevent the cookies from sticking and make cleanup easier. Using a large cookie scoop, portion out the dough into evenly sized mounds—about three tablespoons each. These cookies are meant to be big and beautiful, just like the ones served at bakeries.
- After shaping the dough, gently press each mound down until they’re about a quarter-inch tall. This not only helps them bake evenly but also creates the perfect surface for adding the signature swirl.
- Now comes the fun part! Using the back of a dinner knife or a chopstick, create a spiral swirl starting from the center of each cookie and working your way outwards. This design is what makes the Honey Bun Cookies so appealing. If you need guidance, there are process photos available on the blog.
- Time to chill! Place the baking sheets in the freezer for about ten minutes or pop them in the refrigerator for forty-five to sixty minutes. This chilling step is essential—it helps prevent the cookies from spreading too much while baking. If space is tight, transfer the dough to a plate; it’s okay if the mounds touch.
- While the cookies are chilling, preheat your oven to 350°F. This ensures that the cookies are greeted with the perfect heat level as soon as they hit the oven.
- Once chilled, bake your cookies for about thirteen to fifteen minutes. Keep an eye on them; the edges should just start to turn lightly golden brown. They may look underdone when you take them out, but they'll continue to cook on the baking sheet, firming up as they cool.
- Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheets for about ten minutes before transferring them to wire racks. This step is crucial to prevent them from breaking apart. And while they cool, resist the urge to glaze warm cookies; it’ll just slide right off!
- For the glaze, in a separate mixing bowl, combine the ingredients: softened butter, confectioners’ sugar, honey, and milk. Whisk until smooth. It’s important to have the butter softened well for an easier mixing process.
- Using a pastry brush, evenly brush the glaze over the top of each cookie. Allow the glaze to set before you dive into these sweet creations.
Notes
- Storage: Cookies will keep airtight at room temperature for five to seven days. For longer freshness, store in the freezer for three to four months.
- Freezing: If you want to freeze unbaked cookie dough balls, they can also keep for three to four months. Simply bake off as many as desired at a future date; no need to thaw.