Honey Butter Toast Recipe (Japanese)

Japanese Honey Butter Toast is thick-cut milk bread coated in a buttery honey and brown sugar mixture, then baked until golden, crisp and caramelised on the outside while remaining soft in the middle. It is particularly good made with Japanese milk bread (shokupan), although brioche and pain de mie work beautifully too. It can be topped with ice cream, chocolate treats and fruit but it can be served plain too! If you love this one, give  these Honey Butter Crumpets or these Honey Butter Croissants a go.

Jump to:

• Recipe Snapshot
• Crispy Japanese Honey Butter Toast
• Ingredients in Honey Butter Toast
• Recipe Testing Notes
• How to Make Japanese Honey Butter Toast
• How to Make Honey Butter Toast in an Air Fryer
• What to Serve with Honey Butter Toast
• Variations
• Top Tips
• Storage
• Frequently Asked Questions
• 📖 Recipe

I first came across this style of toast through Arôme Bakery in London, whose honey butter toast has become a popular bakery favourite. It's surprisingly easy to recreate at home, using just a handful of ingredients and either an oven or an air fryer.

The trick is to coat the bread on all sides so that the honey butter creates a crisp, almost toffee-like exterior as it cooks. You can enjoy it just as it is, or add ice cream, fresh berries, chocolate or cream if you're serving it as a dessert.

Recipe Snapshot

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 16 minutes (oven) or 5 minutes (air fryer)

Cooling Time: 10-15 minutes

Total Time: Approximately 36-41 minutes (oven) or 25-30 minutes (air fryer)

Servings: Approximately 8 thick slices, depending on loaf size

Cuisine: Japanese-inspired

Difficulty: Easy

Best For: Dessert, brunch, afternoon tea

Crispy Japanese Honey Butter Toast

The appeal of honey butter toast is the contrast in textures. The outside becomes golden and crisp, while the inside stays soft and fluffy. Shokupan is particularly good here because of its fine, tender crumb, but you don't need to find a specialist Japanese bakery to make it.

I use homemade shokupan when I have it, but a good-quality brioche loaf or pain de mie is a perfectly good alternative.

Ingredients in Honey Butter Toast

The ingredients are straightforward, but the type of bread you use makes a difference.

Shokupan (Japanese Milk Bread)

Shokupan is Japanese milk bread with a soft, fluffy crumb and a slightly sweet flavour. It is ideal for this recipe because it stays tender in the middle while the outside becomes crisp.

If you can't find shokupan, use brioche or pain de mie instead. Both make excellent alternatives.

Cut the bread into thick slices, approximately 4-5cm (1½-2 inches).

Butter

Butter forms the base of the coating and helps the outside of the bread caramelise. Salted or unsalted butter works. If using salted butter, reduce or omit the additional salt.

Honey

Honey adds sweetness and helps create the sticky, golden coating. Choose a mild-flavoured runny honey so that it spreads easily over the bread.

Light Brown Sugar

Brown sugar adds a gentle toffee flavour and helps create the caramelised exterior.

Flaky Sea Salt

A small pinch balances the sweetness and brings out the flavour of the butter and honey.

Optional Toppings

Ice Cream: Vanilla ice cream is particularly good with warm honey toast.

Fruit: Fresh strawberries, raspberries, blueberries and sliced bananas all work well.

Chocolate: Try melted chocolate, chocolate shavings, crushed Oreos or chocolate fingers.

Cream: Whipped double cream or a drizzle of salted caramel makes this feel more like a dessert.

Recipe Testing Notes

A few details make a noticeable difference to the finished toast.

• Thick slices around 4-5cm give the best contrast between the crisp outside and soft middle.
• Shokupan and brioche both work well.
• Coating the sides as well as the top and bottom gives a more even finish.
• Thin sandwich bread tends to dry out before the coating has properly caramelised.
• Allowing the toast to cool on a wire rack helps the exterior crisp up.
• Too much honey butter can cause the outside to brown before the centre has warmed through, so spread it evenly rather than applying a very thick layer.

How to Make Japanese Honey Butter Toast

1. Prepare the bread

Preheat the oven to 180°C (360°F/Gas Mark 4).

Cut the shokupan, brioche or pain de mie into thick slices, approximately 4-5cm (1½-2 inches) thick.

Trim the crusts from the sides if you prefer neat, straight edges.

2. Make the honey butter

In a small bowl, combine the softened butter, light brown sugar, honey and a pinch of flaky sea salt.

Mix until you have a smooth, spreadable paste.

3. Coat the bread

Use a palette knife or butter knife to spread the honey butter evenly over the top, bottom and sides of each slice.

Make sure you reach the edges so that the bread caramelises evenly.

4. Bake

Place the coated slices on a wire rack set over a baking tray lined with baking paper. This allows the heat to circulate around the bread while catching any drips.

Bake for 8 minutes.

Carefully turn each slice using tongs and bake for another 8 minutes, or until golden brown and crisp.

Keep an eye on the toast towards the end as the honey and sugar can brown quickly.

Note - the toast below was made without the edges being removed.

5. Cool and serve

Remove from the oven and allow the toast to cool on the wire rack for 10-15 minutes.

The coating will continue to firm up as it cools. Serve plain or with your favourite toppings.

How to Make Honey Butter Toast in an Air Fryer

You can also make this recipe in an air fryer, which is particularly useful when making a smaller batch.

1. Prepare the bread and honey butter mixture as described above.
2. Spread the honey butter evenly over all sides of each slice.
3. Preheat the air fryer to 180°C.
4. Arrange the slices on the air fryer rack in a single layer, leaving space around each piece for the air to circulate.
5. Air fry for approximately 5 minutes, checking towards the end, until the outside is golden and caramelised.
6. Carefully remove and transfer to a cooling rack. Allow to cool for 10-15 minutes before serving.

Air fryers vary, so check the toast early the first time you make it. The honey and sugar coating can darken quickly. Avoid overcrowding the basket.

What to Serve with Honey Butter Toast

Honey butter toast is lovely on its own, but there are plenty of ways to serve it.

• Ice cream: A scoop of vanilla ice cream alongside warm toast is a classic combination.
• Whipped cream: Serve with whipped double cream and a drizzle of salted caramel.
• Fresh fruit: Strawberries, raspberries and blueberries add freshness.
• Chocolate: Melted chocolate, chocolate shavings or crushed biscuits make it more indulgent.
• Hot drinks: Serve alongside chai or coffee for an afternoon treat.

Variations

Use Demerara Sugar: Swap the light brown sugar for Demerara sugar for a slightly crunchier finish.

Try Different Honey: A mild floral honey works particularly well, but you can experiment with different varieties.

Add Pistachio and Chocolate: Finish with melted chocolate, chopped pistachios and toasted kataifi for a Dubai chocolate-inspired topping.

Add Tahini and Date Molasses: A drizzle of tahini and date molasses gives the toast a lovely sweet and nutty finish.

Serve with Fruit Compote: Raspberry or blueberry compote works particularly well with the buttery toast and cream.

Top Tips

Use thick bread: Thin slices won't give you the same soft middle and can dry out during cooking.

Coat all sides: Make sure the honey butter reaches the edges and sides of the bread.

Use a wire rack: This allows air to circulate around the toast and helps the coating crisp up.

Watch the cooking time: Honey and brown sugar can caramelise quickly, particularly in an air fryer.

Allow it to cool: The coating becomes crisper as the toast cools. Give it 10-15 minutes before serving.

Be careful when handling: The honey and sugar mixture gets extremely hot during cooking.

Storage

Honey butter toast is best made and eaten fresh, as the crisp coating gradually softens.

Make Ahead: You can prepare and slice the bread up to 2 days ahead. Store it in an airtight container or bread bag at room temperature.

Leftovers: If you have any leftover toast, allow it to cool completely and store in an airtight container for up to 1 day.

Reheating: Reheat in an oven at 180°C for 1-2 minutes or briefly in an air fryer until warmed through and crisp again. Watch carefully to avoid burning the coating.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Japanese honey butter toast?

Japanese honey butter toast is thick-cut milk bread coated in a mixture of butter, honey and sugar, then baked until golden and caramelised. It has a crisp, sweet exterior and a soft, fluffy middle.

What bread is best for honey butter toast?

Shokupan, or Japanese milk bread, is the traditional choice for this style of toast. Its soft, fluffy texture works particularly well. Brioche and pain de mie are good alternatives if you cannot find shokupan.

Can you make honey butter toast in an air fryer?

Yes. Coat the bread with the honey butter mixture and air fry at 180°C for approximately 5 minutes on a rack. Check towards the end because the sugar and honey can caramelise quickly. Allow to cool on a wire rack before serving.

Is honey butter toast the same as Shibuya toast?

They are closely related but not quite the same. Honey butter toast is usually made with individual thick slices of bread coated in honey butter and baked until crisp. Shibuya toast is typically made using a larger hollowed-out loaf of milk bread, with the toasted pieces served alongside toppings such as ice cream, fruit and cream.

Why is my honey butter toast not crispy?

It may need a little longer in the oven, or the coating may be too thick. Make sure you coat the bread evenly and allow it to cool on a wire rack after baking. The coating firms up as it cools.

Can I use brioche instead of shokupan?

Yes. Brioche is an excellent alternative because it has a soft crumb and a rich, buttery flavour. Pain de mie also works well.

What can I serve with honey butter toast?

Vanilla ice cream, whipped cream, fresh berries, sliced bananas, chocolate and salted caramel are all delicious with honey butter toast. It can also be enjoyed plain with a cup of chai or coffee.

Can I prepare honey butter toast ahead of time?

It is best cooked just before serving. You can, however, prepare the honey butter mixture and slice the bread ahead of time. Coat and cook the bread when you are ready to serve.

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