If you’ve ever wandered into a Japanese café and spotted a golden, pillowy mountain crowned with ice cream and berries, you’ve met the irresistible Shibuya Honey Toast. This over-the-top dessert features thick, buttery bread that’s toasted until crisp on the outside and soft within, drizzled generously with honey, and finished with all the creamy, fruity toppings you could dream up. Perfect for sharing (or secretly savoring solo), Shibuya Honey Toast makes any day feel like a celebration, and you’ll be shocked at just how easy it is to whip up at home!
Ingredients You’ll Need
Ingredients You’ll Need
The magic of Shibuya Honey Toast comes from thoughtfully combining a short list of simple ingredients, each one playing a starring role in the beloved taste and texture. Every bite is a delicious harmony of buttery crispness, warm bread, and cool, creamy toppings.
- Japanese Milk Bread: This lofty, slightly sweet bread is the softest, airiest base for honey toast, allowing for a perfect contrast of crispy and tender textures.
- Unsalted Butter: Generously brushing the bread with softened butter gives every edge a rich, golden finish and an irresistible aroma.
- Honey: The star of the show, honey soaks into the bread for deep sweetness and sticky, sumptuous bites.
- Vanilla Ice Cream: Melting over warm toast, this creates the dreamy combination of hot and cold in a single mouthful.
- Whipped Cream: For a fluffy, creamy topper—homemade or store-bought, either works beautifully!
- Sliced Strawberries, Blueberries, Banana (Optional): Fresh fruit adds brightness and a refreshing pop of color with every slice.
- Chocolate Sauce or Caramel Sauce (Optional): A final flourish for flavor and presentation, these sauces turn your honey toast into a true showstopper.
- Powdered Sugar: Just a dusting crowns the dessert with a classic, café-style finish.
How to Make Shibuya Honey Toast
Step 1: Prep the Perfect Bread
Start by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C). Then, take a thick, fluffy slice of Japanese milk bread—about three inches is just right—and use a sharp knife to cut a square around the inside edge, leaving about half an inch from the crust and making sure not to slice all the way through the bottom. Carefully lift out the inner bread cube; this keeps the shell intact for filling later.
Step 2: Cube and Butter the Bread
Cut that soft inner bread into bite-sized cubes, which soak up pumpkin the honey and make for fun, poppable bites! Using a pastry brush (or even clean fingers), slather the inside of your hollowed-out bread shell and each bread cube generously with softened unsalted butter. This is what gives Shibuya Honey Toast its iconic golden crunch and rich, melt-in-your-mouth taste.
Step 3: Bake Until Golden and Crisp
Arrange the buttered bread shell and bread cubes on a baking sheet. Slide them into your preheated oven for about 8 to 10 minutes, keeping an eye out for that moment when the bread turns a gorgeous golden brown and is just starting to crisp at the edges. The aroma in your kitchen right now is your first reward!
Step 4: Bring on the Honey
When everything’s hot and lightly crispy, remove from the oven. While the bread is still warm, pour honey lavishly inside the hollowed shell and over every bread cube. This step ensures every nook is sticky-sweet and that signature Shibuya Honey Toast flavor shines through.
Step 5: Assemble and Top
Tumble the honey-drizzled bread cubes back into the crispy bread shell. Top with a generous scoop of vanilla ice cream right in the middle—watch it begin to melt lusciously. Add clouds of whipped cream and arrange your favorite fresh fruit slices on top and around. Drizzle with chocolate or caramel sauce if you wish, and finish with a whisper of powdered sugar. Your DIY Shibuya Honey Toast is now ready for its big reveal!
How to Serve Shibuya Honey Toast
Garnishes
Garnishing is where you get to unleash your inner pastry chef. The classic Shibuya Honey Toast practically demands a mountain of whipped cream, a jewel box of sliced strawberries, blueberries, and bananas, and a swoop of chocolate or caramel sauce for a dramatic, café-worthy look. Don’t skip the delicate dusting of powdered sugar—it makes every bite look and feel truly special.
Side Dishes
Because this dessert is equal parts sweet and filling, it pairs beautifully with something refreshing and light. Try serving Shibuya Honey Toast with a mug of green tea or a glass of cold milk to balance out the richness. If you’re turning dessert into a party, set out a fruit salad or a scoop of fruity sorbet for a playful, Japanese-inspired spread.
Creative Ways to Present
The beauty of Shibuya Honey Toast is how stunning it looks straight from the oven! For a fun twist, make miniature toasts using small rolls or use a selection of ice cream flavors—like matcha, chocolate, or black sesame—then let everyone mix and match their toppings. Serve in a shallow bowl to catch all that honey and melting ice cream, or try a dramatic drizzle of sauce tableside for instant wow factor.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
If you somehow end up with leftover Shibuya Honey Toast (it’s rare, but it happens!), wrap the cooled toast and toppings separately in airtight containers. The bread will soften over time, but it’ll still be delicious for an encore snack or dessert within a day.
Freezing
Freezing works best with just the bread shell and cubes; skip the ice cream and fruit for now. Once cooled, wrap the toasted bread tightly in plastic wrap and store it in a freezer-safe bag. When you’re ready, thaw at room temperature before giving it a quick re-toast in the oven.
Reheating
To bring leftover Shibuya Honey Toast back to life, simply pop the bread shell and cubes in a 350°F oven for five minutes until crisp. Once warmed, reassemble with honey, ice cream, and your favorite toppings—almost as magical as the first time!
FAQs
What is the best bread for Shibuya Honey Toast?
The authentic choice is Japanese milk bread (shokupan), known for its pillow-soft crumb and sweet, milky flavor. In a pinch, thick-cut brioche or Texas toast works well too—just aim for a 3-inch thick slice to achieve that signature crispy and fluffy combination.
Can I make this recipe ahead of time?
You can definitely prepare the bread shell and cubes a few hours in advance and store them at room temperature after baking. For best results, assemble with honey, ice cream, and fruit just before serving, so everything stays crisp and fresh.
Are there dairy-free or vegan options?
Absolutely! Use a dairy-free butter substitute and opt for a plant-based vanilla ice cream and whipped topping. Many local bakeries also offer vegan milk bread or similar soft breads to make Shibuya Honey Toast inclusive for everyone.
How do I keep the toast from getting soggy?
To prevent sogginess, brush the shell and bread cubes evenly with butter and bake until the outsides are crisp. Only drizzle with honey and add ice cream just before serving, and try to enjoy it soon after assembling for the perfect texture contrast.
Can I add other toppings?
Yes! Shibuya Honey Toast is a playground for creativity. Try chopped nuts, toasted coconut, matcha powder, or even a sprinkle of flaky sea salt. Customizing with your favorite flavors ensures every toast is uniquely yours.
Final Thoughts
Bring a bit of Japanese café magic into your kitchen with this unforgettable Shibuya Honey Toast. Every bite is warm, gooey, crispy, and cool all at once—pure happiness on a plate! Gather your ingredients and treat yourself or your loved ones to this sensational dessert today. You’ll be surprised how easy (and impressive) it truly is.
Print
Shibuya Honey Toast Recipe
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 1 serving
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Japanese
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
Indulge in the sweet and decadent Shibuya Honey Toast, a popular Japanese dessert featuring a hollowed-out Japanese milk bread filled with buttery cubes, honey, ice cream, and assorted fruits, topped with whipped cream and a drizzle of sauce.
Ingredients
Bread:
- 1 thick slice of Japanese milk bread (about 3 inches thick)
Butter:
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter (softened)
Honey:
- 2 tablespoons honey
Toppings:
- 1 scoop vanilla ice cream
- Whipped cream (for topping)
- Sliced strawberries, blueberries, and banana (optional)
- Chocolate sauce or caramel sauce (optional)
- Powdered sugar (for dusting)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven: Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Prepare the bread: Cut a square around the edges of the bread slice, about ½ inch from the crust, without cutting through the bottom. Remove the inner cube of bread and cut it into smaller pieces.
- Butter and bake: Brush the bread shell and pieces with softened butter. Bake for 8–10 minutes until golden and slightly crisp.
- Add honey: Drizzle honey inside the bread shell and over the bread cubes. Place the cubes back into the bread shell.
- Add toppings: Top with vanilla ice cream, whipped cream, fruits, and sauce.
- Finish and serve: Dust with powdered sugar and serve immediately.
Notes
- For extra crispiness, toast the bread cubes separately.
- Try different ice cream flavors for variety.
- Substitute Japanese milk bread with thick-cut Texas toast or brioche.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 toast
- Calories: 520
- Sugar: 32g
- Sodium: 190mg
- Fat: 28g
- Saturated Fat: 16g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 60g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 7g
- Cholesterol: 75mg
