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Are cinnamon rolls and honey buns the same thing?

Cinnamon rolls and honey buns are two popular sweet baked goods that are quite similar. They are both made from dough enriched with ingredients like eggs, butter, and milk. The dough is then rolled out, coated with a sweet filling, rolled up, sliced, and baked. So what exactly is the difference between cinnamon rolls and honey buns?

The Main Differences

While cinnamon rolls and honey buns share many similarities, there are a few key differences:

  • Filling – Cinnamon rolls are filled with a cinnamon-sugar mixture, while honey buns are filled with a honey-butter spread.
  • Shape – Cinnamon rolls are rolled up completely into a log before slicing. Honey buns are only partially rolled.
  • Topping – Cinnamon rolls often have a sweet glaze or icing on top. Honey buns usually just have the honey-butter filling.

Cinnamon Roll Ingredients

A basic cinnamon roll consists of the following ingredients:

  • Dough: Flour, milk, eggs, butter, yeast, salt, sugar.
  • Filling: Butter, cinnamon, sugar.
  • Topping: Cream cheese frosting, glaze, or icing.

The dough is made by mixing and kneading the dough ingredients together until a soft, pliable dough is formed. The dough is then rolled out into a rectangle. For the filling, butter is spread over the dough followed by a mixture of cinnamon and sugar. The dough is then tightly rolled up from the long edge into a log and sliced into individual rolls.

Before baking, the sliced rolls are placed in a pan. After baking, a creamy frosting, glaze, or icing is spread over the warm cinnamon rolls before serving.

Honey Bun Ingredients

A basic honey bun recipe calls for:

  • Dough: Flour, milk, eggs, butter, yeast, salt, sugar.
  • Filling: Butter, honey.

The dough preparation is similar to cinnamon roll dough. Once rolled out, the dough is spread with a honey-butter mixture rather than cinnamon-sugar. The dough is then loosely rolled up lengthwise like a log. This gives honey buns their signature partially-coiled shape.

The log of filled dough is sliced and baked until golden brown. Honey buns don’t usually have an additional icing or glaze on top like cinnamon rolls.

Comparison of Nutrition Facts

Both cinnamon rolls and honey buns are high in calories, carbohydrates, and fat. However, cinnamon rolls tend to be slightly higher in calories and have more sugar because of the added frosting. Here is a nutrition comparison of average sized cinnamon rolls and honey buns:

Nutrition Facts Cinnamon Roll (with frosting) Honey Bun
Calories 470 350
Total Fat 17g 13g
Carbs 67g 55g
Sugar 30g 25g

As you can see, a cinnamon roll with frosting contains about 120 more calories and 5 more grams of sugar than a honey bun. However, they both contain a high amount of calories, carbohydrates, and fat. So neither are particularly low-calorie options.

Origin and History

Cinnamon rolls and honey buns have distinctly different origins.

Cinnamon Rolls

Cinnamon rolls originated in Northern Europe in the 1920s. Back then, they were less sweet than modern cinnamon rolls and were more commonly eaten for breakfast or with coffee. The concept of filling coiled dough with cinnamon and sugar spread across Europe and Scandinavia over the first half of the 20th century.

Cinnamon rolls grew in popularity in America during the mid-1900s. American-style cinnamon rolls became larger, softer, and more frosted. The over-the-top, decadent American cinnamon roll was popularized by home bakers, restaurants, and brands like Pillsbury.

Honey Buns

Honey buns trace their origins to 1950s America. Pennsylvania Dutch immigrant bakers are often credited for inventing the first honey buns. The Pennsylvania Dutch were known for their baking skills and sold their pastries at farmers markets locally.

The concept of the honey bun spread via word of mouth through the Amish community. Local home bakers and small businesses began making their own versions, eventually leading the honey bun to become more mainstream in supermarkets and bakeries by the 1970s and 80s.

Which is Better?

Whether cinnamon rolls or honey buns are “better” comes down to personal preference.

Here are some factors that may sway your opinion:

  • Taste – If you enjoy pronounced cinnamon flavor, you may prefer cinnamon rolls. If you like the flavor of honey, you may like honey buns more.
  • Texture – Cinnamon rolls tend to be softer and doughier, while honey buns are a bit denser.
  • Topping – The frosting or glaze on cinnamon rolls provides an extra sweetness and texture that honey buns lack.
  • Appearance – Cinnamon rolls have that perfect swirl many find visually appealing. Honey buns have a more rustic, loosely coiled look.

Both pastries have their merits. Cinnamon rolls offer bold cinnamon flavor and luscious frosting. Honey buns provide a more subtle sweetness that highlights the flavor of honey.

Where to Enjoy Them

Cinnamon rolls and honey buns can both be found in many grocery store bakeries, local bakeries, and major chains like Starbucks. Here are some places to enjoy quality versions of each:

Cinnamon Rolls

  • Cinnabon – This chain is famous for oversized cinnamon rolls.
  • IKEA – Their Swedish cinnamon rolls have a cult following.
  • Local bakeries – Many bakeries offer their own house-made cinnamon rolls.

Honey Buns

  • Shipley Do-Nuts – A Texas-based chain offering a variety of honey buns.
  • Auntie Anne’s – Their honey buns are a popular menu item.
  • Amish bakeries – AuthenticPennsylvania Dutch-style honey buns.

Grocery store bakeries like Safeway, Kroger, and Publix also offer fresh in-house cinnamon rolls and honey buns in their bakery sections.

How to Make Them at Home

Want to recreate that irresistible aroma of baking cinnamon rolls or honey buns at home? Here are some easy recipes to try:

Homemade Cinnamon Rolls

This basic homemade cinnamon roll recipe produces soft, pillowy rolls with a rich cinnamon swirl.

Ingredients:

  • Dough: flour, milk, yeast, eggs, butter, sugar, salt
  • Filling: butter, cinnamon, brown sugar
  • Frosting: cream cheese, butter, vanilla, powdered sugar

Instructions:

  1. Make the dough and let rise until doubled.
  2. On a floured surface, roll into a rectangle. Spread with filling.
  3. Tightly roll up and slice. Place slices in a baking pan.
  4. Cover and let rise again until puffy.
  5. Bake at 350°F for 25 minutes until golden brown.
  6. Cool slightly and spread with frosting.

Easy Honey Buns

This honey bun recipe requires just a few ingredients but makes a delightfully sweet treat.

Ingredients:

  • Dough: flour, milk, yeast, eggs, butter, sugar, salt
  • Filling: butter, honey

Instructions:

  1. Make the dough and let rise.
  2. On a floured surface, roll into a rectangle. Spread filling over dough.
  3. Starting at long edge, loosely roll up. Slice into buns.
  4. Arrange in a baking pan, cover, and let rise again.
  5. Bake at 350°F for 20-25 minutes.

Conclusion

Cinnamon rolls and honey buns have a lot in common – they start with similar enriched doughs and end up as delicious baked treats. But cinnamon rolls distinguish themselves with their cinnamon sugar filling and decadent toppings. Honey buns set themselves apart with their subtly sweet honey flavor and rustic shape.

Both pastries have passionate fans that will argue for their favorite. There’s no denying that both cinnamon rolls and honey buns have earned their place as some of the most crave-worthy comfort foods.

So whether you prefer your coiled treats topped with frosting or filled with honey, both cinnamon rolls and honey buns provide the perfect amount of indulgence.