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    Home » Recipes » Aussie

    Honey Joys

    Published: Aug 24, 2019 · Modified: Mar 20, 2025 by Libby Hakim · 12 Comments

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    Honey Joys are the sweet, crunchy and golden treats that you may have first discovered at a kids party many years ago.

    honey joys on serving platter.

    This 4-ingredient Honey Joys Recipe has been perfected to deliver these old-fashioned treats with just the right amount of sweetness and crunch.

    I've tested the recipe many, many times to make sure the clusters stick together nicely.

    They do. Phew... because there's nothing worse than losing part of your treat as you're eating it. Except perhaps when it sticks to the bottom of the patty case – that shouldn't happen either with this recipe.

    Jump to:
    • The age-old treat we still love today
    • Ingredient notes
    • How to make Honey Joys
    • Enjoying and storing
    • More honey recipes
    • Honey Joys

    The age-old treat we still love today

    There's sometimes a bit of debate about what Aussies call these Corn Flake treats in patty cases that are made with honey, butter and sugar. Honey Crackles, Honey Suckles and Corn Flake Cakes just don't reflect the delight that these little treats bring. It has to be Honey Joys! That's certainly the name that I've always known them by.

    Kellogg's first started making Corn Flakes here in Australia back in 1924. It wasn't long, though, before we started making Corn Flakes a little naughtier.

    By July 1938, Corn Flakes were being mixed with butter, honey and sugar to create this treat we still adore today, with a recipe appearing in Melbourne's The Argus newspaper at that time.

    Looking through newspaper recipe records shows that we've tried to make the basic recipe even better by adding sultanas or vanilla essence at various times.  During the depression and WWII era, we continued our obsession with this sweet treat by using lard instead of the harder-to-find butter.

    Here, I'm sticking to the basic recipe but upping the honey a little and dialling down the sugar a fraction.

    Ingredient notes

    To make these delicious little treats, you'll need just four simple ingredients: Corn Flakes, honey, caster sugar and butter.

    I love to support our local bee keepers and always use local honey. You can't beat the flavour and freshness!

    Yes, you can use granulated sugar instead of caster sugar. However, just take extra care to ensure the sugar dissolves over low heat before you bring the mixture to a boil.

    You can find the ingredient measurements in the recipe card at the end of this post.

    How to make Honey Joys

    Start by pre-heating the oven to 160 degrees celsius / 320 degrees fahrenheit (fan-forced). You'll also need to place about 14 patty pans into cupcake tins.

    Now, find a large saucepan. You want to be able to melt the ingredients and then add the Corn Flakes to the saucepan once melted.

    Melt the butter, sugar and honey over medium heat (see images 1 and 2)and then bring the mixture to a boil. Quickly remove from the heat once it reaches a frothy boil (see image 3).

    Add the Corn Flakes to the saucepan (see image 4) and stir quickly to combine (see image 5).

    Next, spoon the mixture into patty pans (see image 6). Firm up/shape with a spoon or your hands (provided the mixture has cooled enough not to burn you).

    VARIATION IDEA: Sprinkle with chopped nuts or 100s & 1000s (before baking) to add a little extra joy!

    Bake for 7 minutes.

    TIP: Add an extra couple of minutes if you like them super crunchy – but keep in mind they should turn a slightly deeper golden colour but shouldn't brown.

    Allow to cool completely.

    Enjoying and storing

    honey joys on table with honey pot.

    Honey Joys are best enjoyed a day after making them.

    Store them in an airtight container for up to a few days. In warm weather, or if you want them to last a little longer, keep them in the fridge.

    I do not recommend freezing this treat.

    More honey recipes

    Love honey? Check out these other recipes:

    • honey jumbles on cooling tray.
      Honey Jumbles
    • Honey Snaps Biscuits stacked on plate.
      Honey Snaps
    • Jewish Honey Cake.
      Jewish Honey Cake
    • honey biscuits
      Honey Biscuits

    Made this recipe and love it? Please take a moment to rate the recipe and leave a comment below. It’s such a help to others who want to try the recipe. (And it really makes my day to hear how Nana Ling's recipes are being made, shared and loved all around the world! - Libby x)

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    honey joys sitting on bench.

    Honey Joys

    Libby Hakim
    A classic party treat, Honey Joys are a golden favourite of Aussie home cooking.
    5 from 13 votes
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    Prep Time 10 minutes mins
    Cook Time 7 minutes mins
    Total Time 17 minutes mins
    Course Dessert
    Cuisine Australian
    Servings 14 pieces
    Calories 96 kcal

    Equipment

    • patty cases and cupcake tin

    Ingredients
      

    • 4 ½ cups Corn Flakes
    • 80 grams butter
    • ¼ cup caster sugar (55 grams)
    • 2 tablespoons honey (40 ml)

    Instructions
     

    • Preheat oven to 160 degrees celsius / 320 degrees fahrenheit (fan-forced).
    • Line 14 cupcake tins with patty pans.
    • Melt butter, sugar and honey in a large saucepan over low-medium heat, stirring regularly. (You want the saucepan to be large enough to allow the addition of the Corn Flakes to the saucepan.)
    • Once melted, bring the mixture to a frothy boil but remove from heat as soon as it reaches this point.
    • Add the Corn Flakes to the mixture in the saucepan and stir quickly to combine. Crush with the spoon a little as you stir to break some of the flakes.
    • Spoon into patty pans and firm up/shape with a spoon or your hands (provided the mixture has cooled enough to not burn you).
    • Bake for 7 minutes.
    • Once removed from oven, allow to cool.

    Video

    Notes

    Storing: Once completely cool, store honey joys in an airtight container in a cool, dry place for up to a few days.
    Freezing: Not suitable.
    Nutrition: The nutrition information is an automatically generated estimate and is not guaranteed to be accurate.
    Tips: 
    1. Use fresh corn flakes and local honey where possible for maximum crunch and flavour.
    2. You can substitute granulated sugar for caster sugar if necessary.
    3. Melt butter, sugar and honey over low heat and ensure sugar has dissolved and butter melted before bringing to a boil.
    4. Allow to turn golden in the oven, do not allow to brown.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 96kcalCarbohydrates: 14gProtein: 1gFat: 5gSaturated Fat: 3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.2gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0.2gCholesterol: 12mgSodium: 103mgPotassium: 18mgFiber: 0.3gSugar: 7gVitamin A: 304IUVitamin C: 2mgCalcium: 2mgIron: 3mg
    Tried this recipe?If you love it, let me know!

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    Comments

    1. Dione Evans

      March 30, 2024 at 10:43 pm

      5 stars
      It is a perfect recipe if I was going to take them somewhere, however they are still too sweet for me. Did you happen to work out a ratio that still works with less sugar?

      Reply
      • Libby Hakim

        March 31, 2024 at 8:19 pm

        Hi Dione - that was the less sugar version! lol! Thanks for the rating 🙂

        Reply
    2. Jo Wiechula

      June 02, 2023 at 4:26 pm

      Hi Libby I’m trying out your recipe to take to birthday . Could you tell me if the party pans used are small size and also do they get greasy through the paper. I like the large metallic ones as they’re lined and don’t leak through the paper. Thanks in advance 🙏

      Reply
      • Libby Hakim

        June 02, 2023 at 7:20 pm

        Hi Jo! I used the small pans and just the paper ones - they shouldn't get too greasy as I tested the recipe many times to get just the right amounts so they wouldn't fall apart nor would they stick to the bottom of the pan (which is when they start looking greasy). But they'd work equally well in the large metallic pans, just perhaps leave in the oven a minute or two longer. Hope it's a great party!

        Reply
    3. Jan

      September 29, 2021 at 9:20 pm

      Hi Libby,
      I grew up with half an acre of almond trees, so it is not surprising that my mother used a LOT of almonds in cooking. With Honey Joys, she added about half a cup of chopped almonds to the hot mix before they were all poured onto the corn flakes and mixed in. I assume other nuts might work also.
      I love your blog.
      Jan

      Reply
      • Libby Hakim

        September 30, 2021 at 8:19 pm

        Hi Jan. How lovely! Not a bad thing to have lots of almonds, that's for sure. I'll definitely be trying the honey joys with chopped almonds...yum! Thanks for your lovely memories and comments x

        Reply
    4. Mary A Pepping

      May 25, 2020 at 12:30 pm

      Libby!!! Not only do I LOVE your recipes...I love the way you present them...you always bring a smile to my face. Thankyou x

      Reply
      • Libby

        May 25, 2020 at 3:18 pm

        Hi Mary. That is one of the loveliest comments I've received. It makes my day to think my little blog brings happiness to people. Thank you for reading and leaving a message. Libby x

        Reply
        • Katie Burns

          August 04, 2020 at 11:47 am

          I've just followed your recipe because everytime I make mine they stick to the paper! I've added a few Cadbury's baking chips to the top of 6 of them to change it up a little bit. They are in the oven atm wish me luck 🙂

        • Libby

          August 04, 2020 at 11:55 am

          Hi Katie - as a child I absolutely hated when I had to eat a bit of the paper with my honey joy so I've tried my best to tweak the recipe to avoid that problem!! Have everything crossed for you. Would love to hear how they go 🙂 Libby

    5. Barb

      November 20, 2019 at 12:49 pm

      had just made honey joys when I saw your recipe. In my recipe I used was same ingredients but slightly different amounts. So will try your recipe next time. Cheers

      Reply
      • Libby

        November 21, 2019 at 11:49 am

        Hi Barb. Yes, there are a few slight variations on the recipe but I'd love you to try mine. Like I say in the post, I've added a little extra honey to really make them HONEY Joys. And they should hold together nicely without sticking to the paper! Libby x

        Reply
    5 from 13 votes (12 ratings without comment)

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    Hi, I'm Libby, a recipe collector and writer. I love everything about home cooking and share modern classics and recipes that have been passed down for generations – I hope you find a few that bring back treasured memories.

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