Honey Bun Cake (+Video)

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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.