Description
Honey Comb Bread, or Khaliat Nahal, is a soft Yemeni sweet bread made of small fluffy dough balls filled with cream cheese or chocolate, baked together into a honeycomb pattern and glazed with fragrant honey saffron syrup.
Ingredients
- 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup warm milk
- 1/4 cup warm water
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 2 teaspoons active dry yeast
- 1 large egg
- 1/3 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 225 grams cream cheese, cut into small cubes or chocolate chunks
- 1 egg (for egg wash)
- 1 tablespoon milk (for egg wash)
- 1 tablespoon sesame seeds
- 1 tablespoon black seeds
- 1 cup granulated sugar (for syrup)
- 1 cup water (for syrup)
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1 pinch saffron
Instructions
- In a bowl, combine flour and salt.
- In a separate cup, mix warm milk, warm water, sugar, and yeast. Let it sit for about 10 minutes until foamy.
- Add the yeast mixture to the flour and begin mixing until a dough forms.
- Add the egg and softened butter, then knead for 5–10 minutes until the dough becomes smooth and elastic.
- Cover and let the dough rise in a warm place for about 1 hour until doubled in size.
- Punch down the dough and divide it into about 45 small portions.
- Flatten each piece, place a cube of cream cheese or chocolate in the center, and seal to form a ball.
- Grease a baking pan and arrange the dough balls close together leaving small spaces.
- Cover and let them rise again for 30 minutes.
- Preheat the oven to 180°C (350°F).
- Mix the egg and milk to create an egg wash and brush over the dough balls.
- Sprinkle sesame seeds and black seeds on top.
- Bake for 20–25 minutes until golden brown.
- Prepare the syrup by boiling sugar and water for 5–10 minutes until slightly thick.
- Remove from heat and stir in honey and saffron.
- Drizzle the syrup over the warm baked bread so it absorbs the glaze.
- Serve warm.
Notes
- Use warm liquids around 38–40°C to properly activate yeast.
- Freeze small portions of chocolate spread before using to prevent leaking.
- Brush syrup while the bread is still warm for best absorption.
- Orange blossom water or rose water can be added to the syrup for extra fragrance.
- Best served warm for the softest texture and creamy filling.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Yemeni
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bun
- Calories: 95
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 60mg
- Fat: 3g
- Saturated Fat: 1.5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 1g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 14g
- Fiber: 0.4g
- Protein: 2g
- Cholesterol: 10mg
