Honeycomb Bread

Name: Honeycomb Bread
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: PT-491989H47M21S
Ingredients: 4 cups All-Purpose flour; 1 tablespoon instant yeast; 1 teaspoon congratulated sugar; 6 tablespoons unsalted butter or (3 butter and 3 extra virgin olive oil) and some extra butter for brushing; 1 medium size egg (room temperature); 1.5 cups warm whole milk; 2-3 tablespoons honey; ½-1 teaspoon sesame seeds (optional); ½- teaspoon nigella (black) seeds (optional)

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This honeycomb bread recipe known as “khaliat nahal” in Arabic (literally means beehive). This bread bun is an easy homemade dough, soft and fluffy, brushed with honey and topped off with sesame and nigella seeds.

I grew up eating this bread, sold by a man walking through the narrow Ramallah alleys, balancing a large tray of golden honeycomb bread and calling out “nawa’em, nawa’em”, a name meaning soft and pillowy, perfectly describing each warm bite as he invited children to come and buy one.

Honeycomb bread on a plate, with a side of sesame and nigella seeds, honey and 2 cups of tea

The taste was simple yet unforgettable, soft, slightly sweet rolls, each bite warm and comforting.

Whether you call it Khaliat Nahal or Nawa’em, this Middle Eastern sweet bread remains a timeless favorite, perfect for gatherings, Ramadan evenings or Suhoor, or simply sharing with family over tea.

If you love working with soft, homemade dough, here are a few more traditional and comforting recipes you might enjoy: zaatar manakeesh, zaatar bread stuffed with cheese, or cheese manakeesh, Arabic flat bread or taboon bread.

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What is Honeycomb Bread?
Ingredients
Equipment
Instructions
Variations and Substitutions
Pro Tips
Frequently Asked Questions?
More Delicious Recipes
Honeycomb Bread

What is Honeycomb Bread?

Honeycomb bread is a soft, fluffy Middle Eastern bread made of small, pull-apart rolls arranged together to resemble a honeycomb, then baked until golden and often brushed with honey or sprinkled with sugar on top.

Nawa’em (نواعِم) means “soft,” “tender,” or “pillowy” in Arabic, a name that perfectly describes the light, fluffy texture of this bread when it’s fresh and warm.

Also known as khaliat nahal or nawa’em, some like to fill it with cheese, enjoyed as a sweet, comforting treat that’s perfect for sharing.

Ingredients

Honeycomb bread ingredient: All-purpose flour, butter, olive oil, egg, milk, instant yeast, sugar, sesame and nigella seeds for garnishing

All-Purpose Flour - Forms the soft base of the bread.
Egg - Bring richness to the dough.
Milk - Help to bring softness to the bread.
Unsalted Butter - Add to the tenderness of the bread.
Olive Oil - I use extra virgin olive oil, you can skip the oil and double the butter quantity.
Instant Yeast - Helps the dough rise.
Sugar - Feeds the yeast.
Honey - To add on to of the bread after baking, for a sweet taste (optional).
Sesame and Nigella Seeds - Finish with a traditional touch (optional).

Equipment

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Instructions

Full ingredients, measurements, and instructions are in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Instant yeast mixed with sugar and warm milk.

Step 1 | In a small bowl, mix warm milk, sugar, and yeast.

Instant yeast mixed with sugar and warm milk after 5 minutes resting.

Step 2 | Let it sit for 5–10 minutes until bubbly.

Step 3 | In a large bowl, combine flour, egg, melted butter, and the yeast mixture.

Step 4 | Pour in the milk over the mixture and blend everything together.

Step 5 | Knead for about 8–10 minutes until you get a soft, elastic dough.

Step 6 | Cover the dough and let it rise for about 1 hour, or until it doubles in size.

Dough cut into rounded pieces (about 1-2") and arranged in a round tray, before resting.

Step 7 | Using your hands, take small portions of the dough (about 1.5-2 inches in size) and shape them into smooth, rounded balls, then place them together in a pre-greased pan.

Dough cut into rounded pieces (about 1-2") and arranged in a round tray, then brushed with butter just before baking.

Step 8 | Cover again and let the dough rise for another 30–40 minutes. Brush the top with butter before baking.

sprinkling sesame and nigella seeds over dough pieces before baking.

Step 9 | Sprinkle the top with sesame and nigella seeds.

Step 10 | Bake on a preheated 350°F (180°C) oven for 25-30 minutes

Honeycomb bread teared and placed on a plate with honey on the side, next to 2 cups of tea

Variations and Substitutions

You can sprinkle sugar before baking instead of honey.
If you use honey brush it after baking.
You can stuff the dough with cream cheese, or any other unsalted white cheese.

Pro Tips

For the golden top make sure to broil the top for few minutes only.
If the dough is too sticky to work with, rub your hands with some olive oil.
The dough can be slightly sticky and tricky to work with, so I recommend using an electric mixer, it makes the dough much easier to handle.
It's critical to let the dough rest, once after it's mixed then again once it's rounded and cut before baking.
Once you take the tray out of the oven, be sure to cover it with a kitchen towel to maintain its softness.

Frequently Asked Questions?

1. Can I freeze Honeycomb Bread?

Yes, it freezes beautifully! Wrap the baked rolls tightly in plastic wrap and place them in a freezer bag. They’ll stay fresh for up to 3 months. Reheat in the oven for a few minutes before serving.

2. What kind of cheese works best for the filling?

You can use cream cheese, feta, mozzarella, or akawi cheese if you want a savory twist.

3. Why is my bread dense or not rising?

If your bread turns out dense, it’s usually because the yeast wasn’t active or the dough wasn’t kneaded long enough. Make sure your milk is warm (not hot) to activate the yeast, and knead until the dough feels soft and stretchy.