These sweet baked goods might be similar, but they're definitely not the same.
By
Published Apr. 15, 2022.
No brunch is complete without the inclusion of a sweet, gooey bun, whether it’s a cinnamon bun, a sticky bun, or a honey bun. But what are the real differences between a bun and a roll? While the differences between these brunch pastries might be minor, they are differences no less. (Something that’s decidedly not different about the three: they’re all delicious.)
So, what exactly sets one sticky pastry apart from the others? Read on to find out.
Sign up for the Notes from the Test Kitchen newsletter
Our favorite tips and recipes, enjoyed by 2 million+ subscribers!
America's Test Kitchen will not sell, rent, or disclose your email address to third parties unless otherwise notified. Your email address is required to identify you for free access to content on the site. You will also receive free newsletters and notification of America's Test Kitchen specials.
Cinnamon Buns
A good cinnamon roll recipe should produce a pastry that is tender, fluffy, and packed with cinnamon-y filling. But are they really that different from cinnamon buns? Yes: the difference lies in how they’re formed. While buns are braided and rolled to create a more traditionally bun-like result, cinnamon rolls are, as the name suggests, rolled to form a spiral that contains all the oozy butter and brown sugar filling.
Another key difference in these pastries is how they are removed from their pans once they’ve been baking. While cinnamon rolls are removed and then glazed with cream cheese icing, cinnamon buns are flipped out of the pan upside down, allowing the butter-sugar mixture that leaks out of the pastry while baking to form a sweet crust on top. Cinnamon buns are then also usually glazed with a tangy cream cheese frosting.
How do you make the best cinnamon rolls?
- Making cinnamon rolls can be involved, but we discovered a big shortcut. We prepared a quick biscuit dough with buttermilk, melted butter, and flour, adding baking powder for lightness and baking soda to balance the acidity of the buttermilk. All of the flavor; way less of the time spent.
- Opt for dark brown sugar instead of granulated in the filling. Brown sugar’s moistness helps it stick to the tacky dough so you can roll it up easily, as opposed to a dry, loose filling made with granulated sugar that scatters when the dough is rolled.
- Don’t roll your dough into a too-tight cylinder. We found that keeping the cylinder a little looser produced tall but level buns.
Sticky Buns
Sticky buns are generally a bit more dense than cinnamon buns, and although they share the sticky element with honey buns, the reason each bun is sticky varies. (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 do you make the best sticky buns?
- To make a softer, more tender, and moist sticky bun, add a cooked flour-and-water paste to the dough. The paste traps water, so the dough isn’t sticky or difficult to work with, and the increased hydration converts to steam during baking, which makes the bread fluffy and light.
- Let the dough rest for 15 minutes before adding sugar and salt. This allows the gluten to firmly establish itself, which prevents the bread from collapsing under the weight of the topping.
- Use a spoon to scoop any extra glaze from the baking pan onto the buns after they're finished baking.
Watch the video below to see Bridget and Julia make our recipe for Ultimate Sticky Buns.
Honey Buns
Honey buns—like cinnamon rolls and sticky buns—take the form of an elegant pinwheel-like roll. Instead of having the glaze poured over the top after cooking (which is how it goes down with most sticky bun recipes), honey buns are cooked upside down in a baking pan that’s been lined with the sticky, hearty honey and pecan topping ahead of cooking; much like the cinnamon bun method. The pan is flipped after cooking, giving the top of the honey buns a more flat appearance than that of a cinnamon roll or a sticky bun.
How do you make the best honey buns?
- Use buttermilk instead of regular milk in your dough. The tang of the buttermilk complements the honey's rich flavor.
- Orange blossom water is your secret weapon. It adds a subtle, floral backbone, and gives the buns a distinctly "grown-up" flavor profile.
- Cut the granulated sugar and corn syrup, and let the honey do all the talking.
For more on baked goods (and sticky buns), read theseposts:
As a seasoned baking enthusiast with a deep understanding of pastry nuances, I can confidently dissect the distinctions between cinnamon buns, sticky buns, and honey buns, as highlighted in the provided article.
Firstly, let's delve into the realm of Cinnamon Buns. A key differentiator lies in their formation. Cinnamon buns are braided and rolled, creating a more traditional bun appearance. The spiral structure of cinnamon rolls, on the other hand, encapsulates the oozy butter and brown sugar filling. After baking, cinnamon rolls are removed and glazed with cream cheese icing. In contrast, cinnamon buns are flipped upside down, allowing the leaked butter-sugar mixture to form a sweet crust on top. Cinnamon buns are typically glazed with a tangy cream cheese frosting, contributing to their distinct texture and flavor.
For those who savor a denser, more textured treat, Sticky Buns present a delectable option. They are generally denser than cinnamon buns and derive their sticky nature from a caramel glaze. Pecans are a common ingredient in both sticky and honey buns, but sticky buns employ a caramel glaze for that signature stickiness. To enhance the tenderness and moisture of sticky buns, a cooked flour-and-water paste is added to the dough. This paste prevents stickiness and makes the bread fluffy by converting to steam during baking.
Now, let's explore the unique qualities of Honey Buns. Like their counterparts, honey buns adopt a pinwheel-like roll form. However, their distinctive feature lies in the cooking process. Honey buns are cooked upside down in a pan lined with a sticky honey and pecan topping before being flipped post-cooking. This technique imparts a flat appearance to the top of honey buns, setting them apart from the rounded tops of cinnamon and sticky buns. Incorporating buttermilk into the dough enhances the richness of honey buns, complementing the honey's flavor. Orange blossom water is introduced as a secret weapon, providing a subtle, floral undertone and an elevated, "grown-up" flavor profile.
In conclusion, the devil is in the details when it comes to these sweet baked goods. From the formation and glazing techniques to the ingredients used, each variety—cinnamon buns, sticky buns, and honey buns—offers a unique culinary experience. So, whether you're a brunch aficionado or a baking enthusiast, understanding these nuances will undoubtedly elevate your appreciation for these delightful treats.
