Discover your next family favorite: this delectable Honey Bun Cake! Featuring a moist, tender yellow cake generously swirled with an irresistible brown sugar and cinnamon filling, all crowned with a luscious vanilla glaze. This incredibly easy recipe starts with a simple boxed yellow cake mix, elevated to perfection with the secret touch of sour cream for unmatched moisture. It’s so utterly delicious, you might even find yourself enjoying it for breakfast!

Easy Honey Bun Cake Recipe: Your New Favorite Dessert!

Craving a quick, comforting dessert that tastes like it took hours to bake? Look no further than this incredibly simple yet profoundly satisfying Honey Bun Cake. This recipe transforms a humble yellow cake mix into a moist, sweet, and cinnamon-swirled masterpiece, reminiscent of those nostalgic store-bought honey buns we all adored as children. What started as a quest for a speedy dessert in my pantry, armed with just a yellow cake mix, quickly led me to this delightful Betty Crocker-inspired Honey Bun Cake recipe. It requires ingredients you likely already have on hand, making it a perfect spontaneous baking project. While I often prepare it without pecans to let the cinnamon-sugar swirl truly shine, this cake is equally delicious with chopped nuts for an added crunch and flavor dimension. The versatility of this recipe means any brand of yellow cake mix works wonderfully, so feel free to use your favorite!

What Exactly is a Honey Bun Cake? A Taste of Nostalgia!

Remember the irresistible sweetness and sticky texture of a Little Debbie Honey Bun? This cake captures that pure nostalgia, recreating the comforting flavors in a homemade, easy-to-prepare dessert. It’s a delightful fusion of a classic yellow cake and the beloved cinnamon-sugar swirl found in a traditional honey bun. By starting with a boxed cake mix, this recipe streamlines the baking process without sacrificing flavor or that wonderfully moist texture. The result is a tender cake featuring layers of sweet brown sugar and fragrant cinnamon, all enveloped in a rich vanilla glaze that melts into every bite.

Beyond its delightful taste, this Honey Bun Cake is incredibly versatile. Serve it as a warm, comforting dessert after dinner, or embrace its breakfast-cake charm with a cup of coffee or a glass of milk. It’s perfect for potlucks, family gatherings, or simply treating yourself. The recipe typically calls for a 9×13 inch baking pan, but it adapts beautifully to a bundt cake pan for a more elegant presentation. This truly is a cake that brings smiles and sweet memories with every slice.

Why This Easy Honey Bun Cake Will Become Your Go-To Recipe

There are countless reasons why this Honey Bun Cake deserves a permanent spot in your recipe collection. Its simplicity, combined with its unforgettable flavor, makes it an absolute winner. Here’s why you’ll adore it:

Effortless Preparation: Starting with a boxed yellow cake mix significantly cuts down on prep time, making this a fantastic option for busy days or when unexpected guests arrive. You get homemade taste with minimal fuss.
Unbeatable Moisture: The secret ingredient here is sour cream! It imbues the cake with an incredible richness and moisture, resulting in a tender crumb that simply melts in your mouth. This is key to achieving that perfectly soft, fluffy texture.
Irresistible Flavor Profile: The harmonious blend of sweet brown sugar and aromatic cinnamon swirled throughout the cake creates pockets of deliciousness in every bite. Topped with a creamy vanilla glaze, it’s a symphony of classic, comforting flavors.
Versatile Serving: Whether you serve it warm from the oven, slightly cooled, or even as a unique breakfast treat, this cake is always a hit. It’s hearty enough for dessert and light enough to accompany your morning coffee.
Customizable: Feel free to add chopped pecans to the cinnamon swirl for extra crunch and nutty flavor, or leave them out for a smoother texture. You can also experiment with different glaze consistency by adjusting the milk.
Crowd-Pleaser: This cake appeals to all ages. Its familiar taste and delightful texture make it a guaranteed success at parties, potlucks, or family gatherings.

Looking for more moist bundt cakes to make at home? Be sure to try my Lemon Cream Cheese Bundt Cake, Blueberry Banana Bundt Cake, or my Chocolate Macaroon Tunnel Bundt Cake recipe!

Essential Ingredients for Your Easy Honey Bun Cake with Sweet Vanilla Glaze

This delightful recipe relies on a handful of straightforward ingredients, most of which you probably already have in your pantry or refrigerator. For the precise measurements, please refer to the detailed recipe card below.

FOR THE CAKE

Yellow Cake Mix: The foundation of our easy cake. Feel free to use your preferred brand. Many home bakers find that Duncan Hines Golden Butter Cake Mix works exceptionally well here, but any quality yellow cake mix or even your favorite homemade yellow cake recipe will yield delicious results.
Vegetable Oil: This ingredient contributes significantly to the cake’s tenderness and moisture, ensuring it stays soft and delicious for days.
Eggs: Eggs are crucial for structure, binding the ingredients, and adding richness and a beautiful golden hue to your cake.
Sour Cream: This is the secret ingredient for an exceptionally moist cake! Sour cream not only adds incredible moisture but also gives the cake a wonderfully soft and fluffy texture, balancing the sweetness with a slight tang.
Brown Sugar: Essential for the signature sweet and caramel-like swirl. When combined with cinnamon, it creates that authentic honey bun flavor.
Pecans: Chopped pecans offer a delightful crunchy texture and a nutty depth of flavor to the cinnamon swirl. They are an optional but highly recommended addition for those who enjoy nuts in their cake.
Ground Cinnamon: There’s truly no substitute for this warm, aromatic spice. It’s what gives the honey bun cake its distinctive, comforting cinnamon swirl flavor.

FOR THE GLAZE

Powdered Sugar: Also known as confectioners’ sugar, this fine sugar forms the smooth, sweet base for our simple vanilla glaze.
Milk: A small amount of milk helps to create the perfect pourable consistency for the glaze, allowing it to evenly coat the warm cake.
Vanilla Extract: Pure vanilla extract is key to imparting a lovely, aromatic vanilla flavor that beautifully complements the cinnamon and brown sugar in the cake.

Step-by-Step: How to Make Honey Bun Cake with a Box of Yellow Cake Mix

This recipe for a honey bun dessert is truly incredibly simple to prepare, making it accessible for bakers of all skill levels. For even more detailed instructions and helpful tips, please scroll down to the full recipe card.

PREP YOUR BAKING DISH AND OVEN

Begin by preheating your oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Prepare a 9×13 inch baking dish by spraying it thoroughly with non-stick cooking spray. Alternatively, you can grease it with butter or shortening and lightly dust it with all-purpose flour to prevent sticking. Set the prepared pan aside.

MIX THE CAKE BATTER

In a large mixing bowl, combine the yellow cake mix, vegetable oil, eggs, and sour cream. Using an electric mixer, beat these ingredients together on low speed for approximately 30 seconds, or until they are just moistened. Increase the mixer speed to medium and continue beating for another 2 minutes, ensuring you scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed to incorporate all ingredients evenly. Avoid overmixing, as this can lead to a tougher cake.

PREPARE THE CINNAMON SWIRL

In a small, separate bowl, combine the brown sugar and ground cinnamon. Use a fork to mix these ingredients together thoroughly until well blended. If you are using chopped pecans, stir them into this brown sugar and cinnamon mixture now. This aromatic blend will create the delightful swirl in your cake.

LAYER AND SWIRL

Carefully spread half of the prepared cake batter evenly into the bottom of your greased 9×13 inch pan. Then, generously sprinkle the brown sugar and cinnamon mixture (with pecans, if using) over the entire surface of this first layer of batter. Finally, pour the remaining cake batter over the cinnamon sugar layer. Gently spread it out to ensure the cinnamon sugar is fully covered. You can use a knife or skewer to create a subtle swirl pattern if desired, but don’t overdo it.

BAKE TO GOLDEN PERFECTION

Place the cake in your preheated oven and bake for approximately 45 minutes. Baking times can vary, so keep an eye on it. The cake is ready when it reaches a beautiful deep golden-brown color and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, with no wet batter clinging to it. Once baked, remove the cake from the oven. While the cake is still warm, use the tines of a fork to prick holes all over the top surface. This allows the warm glaze to seep into the cake, enhancing its moisture and flavor.

GLAZE AND COOL

While the cake is still warm, prepare the vanilla glaze. In a small bowl, whisk together the powdered sugar, milk, and pure vanilla extract until smooth. If the glaze is too thick, add a tiny bit more milk (half a teaspoon at a time) until it reaches your desired pourable consistency. If it’s too thin, whisk in a little more powdered sugar. Pour and spread the warm glaze evenly over the warm, pricked cake. The warmth of the cake will help the glaze melt slightly and soak in, creating an even more luscious result.

SERVE AND STORE

Allow the Honey Bun Cake to cool completely before slicing and serving. This allows the cake to set and the flavors to fully meld. For storage, cover the cooled cake securely with plastic wrap or transfer it to an airtight container. Stored at room temperature, this delicious cake will remain fresh and moist for at least 4-5 days, though it’s so good it rarely lasts that long!

Expert Tips & Variations for Your Honey Bun Cake

Making this Honey Bun Cake is straightforward, but a few tips and tricks can elevate it even further:

Don’t Overmix the Batter: For a tender cake, mix the batter just until the ingredients are combined. Overmixing develops the gluten in the flour, leading to a tougher texture.
Perfecting the Swirl: After pouring the second layer of batter, you can use a butter knife or skewer to gently swirl the layers together once or twice. Be careful not to mix them completely, as you want distinct layers of cinnamon sugar.
Adjusting Glaze Consistency: The glaze should be thick enough to cling to the cake but thin enough to spread easily. If it’s too thick, add a few drops of milk at a time; if too thin, add a teaspoon of powdered sugar.
Bundt Pan Adaptation: If using a bundt pan, ensure it’s thoroughly greased and floured to prevent sticking. The baking time might need slight adjustment – check for doneness around 40-50 minutes. The note below the recipe card confirms this works beautifully!
Add a Twist:
- Nutty Crunch: Besides pecans, walnuts or even slivered almonds can be added to the cinnamon swirl.
- Cream Cheese Glaze: For an extra decadent touch, consider making a cream cheese glaze instead of a vanilla one. Simply beat together cream cheese, butter, powdered sugar, and a splash of vanilla and milk.
- Spice It Up: A tiny pinch of nutmeg or cardamom in the cinnamon swirl can add another layer of warm spice.
Serving Warm: While delicious cooled, serving this cake slightly warm allows the glaze to be a bit gooey and enhances the cinnamon aroma. A quick zap in the microwave can revive slices.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Honey Bun Cake

Here are answers to some common questions about making and enjoying this delightful Honey Bun Cake:

Can I use a different flavor cake mix? While yellow cake mix is traditional and recommended for that classic honey bun flavor, you could experiment with a white cake mix for a lighter base. Other flavors might significantly alter the honey bun experience.
What if I don’t have sour cream? Greek yogurt (plain, full-fat) can be a good substitute for sour cream, offering similar moisture and tang. Buttermilk can also work in a pinch, but you might need slightly less liquid overall in the batter.
Can I make this cake ahead of time? Absolutely! This cake actually tastes even better the next day as the flavors have more time to meld. Store it covered at room temperature.
Can Honey Bun Cake be frozen? Yes, you can freeze individual slices or the whole cake (unglazed is best, then glaze after thawing). Wrap cooled cake tightly in plastic wrap, then in foil, and freeze for up to 2-3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight before glazing or serving.
How do I get a perfect cinnamon swirl? The key is not to overmix the cinnamon sugar into the batter. Just sprinkle it evenly over the first layer, then gently spread the second layer of batter on top. A slight swirl with a knife is optional but keep it minimal.
My cake is dry, what went wrong? Overbaking is the most common cause of dry cake. Ensure you test for doneness with a toothpick and remove it from the oven as soon as it comes out clean. Using sour cream in the recipe is designed to prevent dryness, so always include it!

Love It? Pin It for Later!

Don’t let this incredible Honey Bun Cake recipe slip away! Make sure to save it to your favorite dessert board on Pinterest so you can easily find it whenever a craving strikes. It’s a sweet treat you’ll want to revisit again and again!

A Special Feature: An Affair from the Heart in Omaha Magazine

Before you dive into baking, I wanted to share a little piece of exciting news! Just last week, I had the honor of being featured in Omaha Magazine’s 2022 Food Edition. Being asked to be a part of it was a dream come true – a true bucket list item for me! I was out of town when the magazine arrived, and a friend texted me with the wonderful surprise that she had seen my feature. I couldn’t wait to get my hands on a copy when I returned home.

My youngest daughter kindly snapped a quick photo of me with the magazine once I was back home. A huge thank you to Omaha Magazine for including me in such a special edition! If you’re not a subscriber, you can still read the full article online here.

More Sweet Recipes to Indulge In

If you enjoyed this Honey Bun Cake, you’ll love exploring these other delightful dessert recipes from my kitchen. Each one promises a sweet escape!

Baked King Cake Donuts(Cinnamon Vanilla Donuts)
Candy Corn Cupcakes
Lemon Cream Cheese Bundt Cake
Hamburger Cupcakes
Coconut Pudding Poke Cake
Raisin Spice Bars
Black Forest Cake
Fresh Apple Cake
Cowboy Cookies
No-Bake Peanut Butter Pie

Now, let’s get baking and create this utterly delicious cinnamon roll cake!

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Honey Bun Cake

This Honey Bun Cake could very well be a new family favorite! A moist yellow cake, with a deliciously sweet brown sugar and cinnamon swirl, topped with a vanilla glaze. This super easy cake starts with a boxed yellow cake mix and gets its moisture from the addition of sour cream. So good, you’ll want to eat it for breakfast!

Prep Time15 mins

Cook Time45 mins

Additional Time1 hr

Total Time2 hrs

Course: Cake & Cupcakes

Cuisine: American

Keyword: brown sugar cinnamon, cinnamon roll cake, honey bun cake, snack cake, vanilla glaze, yellow cake, yellow cake mix

Servings: 12

Calories: 429kcal

Author: Michaela Kenkel

Equipment

Rubber Spatulas
Kitchenaid Stand Mixer
KitchenAid Hand Mixer
9×13 Pyrex Baking Dish with a Lid

Ingredients

FOR THE CAKE:
1 15.25 ounce box yellow cake mix
2/3 cup vegetable oil
4 large eggs
1 cup one 8 ounce container sour cream
1 cup brown sugar firmly packed
1/3 cup pecans chopped (optional)
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
FOR THE GLAZE:
1 cup powdered sugar
1 Tablespoon milk
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 C). Spray a 9×13″ baking dish with non-stick cooking spray, or grease and lightly flour it. Set aside.
In a large bowl, using your mixer, beat together the yellow cake mix, vegetable oil, eggs, and sour cream. Mix on low speed for about 30 seconds until the ingredients are moistened. Turn mixer to medium speed and beat for another 2 minutes, scraping the sides of the bowl as needed.
In a small separate bowl, mix brown sugar and cinnamon together with a fork until well combined. If using, stir in the chopped pecans.
Spread half of the cake batter into the bottom of the prepared pan. Sprinkle the brown sugar-cinnamon mixture evenly over the top. Pour the remaining cake batter over the cinnamon sugar and carefully spread it to cover.
Bake for approximately 45 minutes, or until the cake is a deep golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
While the cake is still warm, prick the top of the cake all over with the tines of a fork.
In a small bowl, mix the glaze ingredients (powdered sugar, milk, vanilla extract) together until smooth. Spread this warm glaze over the warm, pricked cake. Add a little more milk if needed to achieve your desired consistency.
Allow the cake to cool completely before serving. Store covered in an airtight container.

Notes

This cake also works really well baked in a bundt pan. Adjust baking time as needed.

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