buns with crispy bases

Honey Crust Bread: A Step-by-Step Guide

Indulge in the delightful crunch of homemade honey crust bread, a perfect blend of soft, fluffy interior and a sweet, golden-brown exterior. Here’s a simple recipe to achieve bakery-worthy results at home.

### Ingredients

For the dough: 300g all-purpose flour, 30g sugar, 5g salt, 10g instant yeast, 1 egg, 120ml warm milk, and 30g melted butter. For the honey glaze: 2 tbsp honey, 1 tbsp milk, and a pinch of salt.

### Steps

1. Prepare the dough: Mix flour, sugar, salt, and yeast in a bowl. Add the egg and warm milk, knead until a shaggy dough forms. Gradually incorporate melted butter and knead for 10–15 minutes until smooth and elastic.

2. First rise: Place the dough in a greased bowl, cover with a damp cloth, and let it rise in a warm spot for 1–1.5 hours, or until doubled in size.

3. Shape: Punch down the risen dough, divide into 8 equal portions, and roll each into a ball. Place them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, leaving space for expansion.

4. Second rise: Cover and let rise for another 30–40 minutes until puffy.

5. Glaze and bake: Preheat the oven to 180°C (350°F). Whisk honey, milk, and salt for the glaze. Brush it generously over the dough balls. Bake for 18–20 minutes until deeply golden.

### Tips

For extra crunch, score the tops with a knife before baking. Enjoy warm with butter or as a snack—the honey crust adds a caramelized sweetness that’s simply irresistible!