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Honey Bun Cake (+Video)

Honey Bun Cake is made with yellow cake mix, cinnamon brown sugar filling and topped with a sweet honey glaze. A popular favorite!

A HONEY BUN INSPIRED CAKE RECIPE

This easy glazed honey bun cake tastes just like those yummy snack cakes. Actually, it tastes way better than any snack cake. This cake is so moist and delicious that everyone will swear it was made from scratch!

two slices of honey bun cake on small white plates with a fork set to the side.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:

How do you make a cake mix taste homemade?

When you add a filling and a homemade icing or frosting, it really elevates the whole taste. Also, by adding the additional sour cream we’re changing the flavor just slightly and helping to make it super moist. The cake mix doesn’t taste like a boxed cake mix anymore.

What is a honey bun cake?

Honey Bun Cake is a doctored up cake mix cake that has a cinnamon roll like flavor. It is inspired by the honey bun pastry that has a glaze topping.

Why add vegetable oil to cake mix?

This adds moistness to the cake. Along with the sour cream, this all makes the cake super moist!

What is the best brand of cake mix to use?

My personal favorite is Duncan Hines. I’ve tried them all and I think Duncan Hines yellow cake mix works best here but obviously use your favorite brand.

How do you make honey bun cake from scratch?

Just make a homemade yellow cake batter and continue with the directions for the filling and glaze and bake as directed.

What is a sock it to me cake? Is it like a honey bun cake?

Sock it to me cake is just like a honey bun cake (a yellow cake with a cinnamon filling in the middle) and is made in a bundt pan. So it’s almost exactly like a honey bun cake but made in a bundt pan rather than a 9×13-inch pan. Sock it to me cake usually has pecans in the filling as well.

How do I store leftovers?

Keep cake covered and refrigerated. It will keep for up to 5 days. It can also be frozen. Just wrap well to protect against freezer burn and it will last for up to 3 months.

Easy Glazed Honey Bun Cake recipe from The Country Cook, slice of cake shown on a small round white plate with a small bottle of milk in the background.

INGREDIENTS NEEDED: (FULL RECIPE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE POST)

  • yellow cake mix
  • eggs
  • sour cream
  • vegetable oil
  • light brown sugar
  • ground cinnamon
  • powdered sugar
  • milk
  • vanilla extract
  • honey (optional)
yellow cake mix, brown sugar, eggs, sour cream, oil, honey, cinnamon, vanilla extract, powdered sugar.

HOW TO MAKE HONEY BUN CAKE:

Preheat oven to 350F degrees. and mix until combined. In a medium bowl stir together the cake mix, eggs, sour cream, and oil and mix until well-incorporated

cake mix, eggs, sour cream, and oil mixed in a KitchenAid stand mixer.

In a separate bowl, mix together the brown sugar and cinnamon until well-blended; set aside.  

brown sugar and cinnamon mixed with a fork in a glass Pampered Chef measuring bowl.

Pour half of the cake batter into your prepared baking dish, spreading it out evenly. 

honey bun cake batter poured into glass Pyrex baking dish.

Add all of the brown sugar/cinnamon mixture to the top, covering the entire layer of batter. 

brown sugar and cinnamon mixture spread on cake mix batter.

Pour the rest of the cake batter on top. And spread the batter until even. 

cake mix batter spread on top of brown sugar cinnamon mixture.

Place the cake into the oven and bake for about 40-45 minutes, or until an inserted toothpick comes out clean. While the cake is baking, make the glaze. In a bowl, mix the powdered sugar, milk, vanilla and honey (if using) until glaze is smooth. I like mine just a bit thick but still pourable. 

powdered sugar, milk, vanilla and honey mixed together to make a glaze.

When the cake comes out of the oven, immediately pour glaze onto the warm cake.

pouring icing glaze over warm honey bun cake.

Spread the glaze out a bit to evenly cover cake.

spread honey glaze over baked honey bun cake.

Let the cake sit for a few minutes so the glaze can set and serve warm or at room temperature. 

honey bun cake in a pan with two slices removed.

CRAVING MORE RECIPES?

Originally posted: February 2011
Updated & republished: January 2021

Easy Glazed Honey Bun Cake recipe

Honey Bun Cake (+Video)

Honey Bun Cake is made with yellow cake mix, cinnamon brown sugar filling and topped with a sweet honey glaze. So moist and delicious!
4.91 from 44 votes
Print Pin Rate
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 45 minutes
Total Time: 55 minutes
Servings: 12

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350F degrees. Spray 9×13-inch baking dish with nonstick spray.
  • In a medium bowl stir together the cake mix, eggs, sour cream, and oil and mix until well-incorporated.
  • In a separate bowl, mix together the brown sugar and cinnamon until well-blended; set aside.
  • Pour half of the cake batter into a greased 13×9 pan, spreading it out evenly.
  • Add all of the brown sugar/cinnamon mixture to the top, covering the entire layer of batter.
  • Pour the rest of the cake batter on top, and spread the batter out as evenly as possible.
  • Place the cake into the oven and bake for about 40-45 minutes, or until an inserted toothpick comes out clean.
  • While the cake is baking, make the glaze. In a bowl, mix the powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla until glaze is smooth.
  • When the cake comes out of the oven, immediately pour glaze onto the hot cake.
  • Spread it out evenly. Slice and enjoy!

Video

YouTube video

Notes

  • Any uneaten cake should be stored in the refrigerator for 3 days.
  • This cake can also be frozen. Make sure cake is stored in a covered, airtight container. Cake may be frozen for up to 3 months.
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American

Nutrition

Calories: 463kcal | Carbohydrates: 69g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 19g | Sodium: 301mg | Sugar: 55g

Nutritional Disclaimer

“The Country Cook” is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is an estimate. If calorie count and other nutritional values are important to you, we recommend running the ingredients through whichever online nutritional calculator you prefer. Calories and other nutritional values can vary quite a bit depending on which brands were used.

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Recipe Rating




101 Comments

      1. 5 stars
        I’ve made mine in a bundt pan and I would say the time is fine or add 5 minutes. I always put my oven light on and I set my timer and look for my cakes to separate away from the sides.

  1. This sounds delicious, but could I make these as cupcakes instead of cake, and if so, how long should I bake them for?

  2. 5 stars
    This cake is AMAZING!!! So good!!! I made it for the weekend because my parents were in town and there’s one piece left! 🙂

  3. 5 stars
    My mother wants me to make that cake, so I'll make it for her someday soon and, also, I wrote down the recipe, so I'm going to use it as a shopping list. Maybe I'll bake it this year on Halloween or Thanksgiving!

  4. This looks yummy but I thought it would have honey in it. Honey buns you get at the store have honey listed in the ingredients. I love cinnamon so I may make it anyhow and maybe put some honey in the glaze. I love most all of your recipes. Thanks!

    1. About how many ounces for the milk it looks like more then 4-6 tbsp is it 1/4 2 ozs wanna make sure I measure it correct

      1. 5 stars
        Folks always measure powdered sugar differently. Some pack it in – some don’t. Some overmeasure and some don’t. So that is why I say 4-6 tbsp. So, what I would say is start with 4 tbsp. You can always add more but you can’t take it away. Whisk it really good and see if you like the thickness. If you want it thinner, just add a bit more milk until you get it where you want it. 🙂

  5. 5 stars
    I absolutely love that you take pictures of ingredients and each step as you go along… this is so helpful.. thank you!

  6. 5 stars
    I have gotten rave reviews on this cake from every event that I take it to, and have gotten requestts for it.

    I also have to keep printing the recipe, because I give my hard copy to whoever asks for it.

    Simply a great cake.

    Another request, so here we go again!

  7. 5 stars
    I made this last night to go with my corned beef, potatoes, carrots and cabbage dinner. It was the perfect complement to the meal. My mother-in-law asked for the recipe because she wants to make it for her sorority get together next month. Thanks for the recipe!

    1. Thank you will do an FYI I love your recipes ever since I started using my crockpot a year ago you have been my go to my family loves what I cook an I have fun making it. Cant wait to make this cake getting my ingredients today thanks WE LOVE YOU!!!