A method for manufacturing a honeycomb structure comprises providing an aqueous ceramic solution, providing a batch cross-link agent, mixing the agent with the solution, extruding the aqueous ceramic solution containing the cross-link agent into a honeycomb structure, and drying the honeycomb structure via a single drying step thereby forming a hardened, substantially water resistant, honeycomb structure. The method may further comprise addition of a ceramic surfactant to the aqueous ceramic solution, as well as plugging channels within the honeycomb structure with a plugging material comprising an aqueous ceramic solution that includes batch cross-link agents and ceramic surfactants therein. Also disclosed is a green body honeycomb article having a green honeycomb matrix containing a first ceramic batch compound of inorganic constituents, a first batch cross-link agent, and an aqueous vehicle wherein the matrix includes interconnected walls forming open-ended channels and a plugging material located in at least one of the open-ended channels.