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!
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:
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.
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.
This adds moistness to the cake. Along with the sour cream, this all makes the cake super moist!
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.
Just make a homemade yellow cake batter and continue with the directions for the filling and glaze and bake as directed.
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 9x13-inch pan. Sock it to me cake usually has pecans in the filling as well.
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.
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)
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
In a separate bowl, mix together the brown sugar and cinnamon until well-blended; set aside.
Pour half of the cake batter into your prepared baking dish, 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 until even.
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.
When the cake comes out of the oven, immediately pour glaze onto the warm cake.
Spread the glaze out a bit to evenly cover cake.
Let the cake sit for a few minutes so the glaze can set and serve warm or at room temperature.
CRAVING MORE RECIPES?
Originally posted: February 2011
Updated & republished: January 2021
Honey Bun Cake (+Video)
Ingredients
- 15.25 ounce box yellow cake mix
- 4 large eggs
- 1 cup sour cream
- ¾ cups vegetable oil
- 1 cup light brown sugar packed
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 4-6 Tablespoons milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 Tablespoon honey, optional
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350F degrees. Spray 9x13-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
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.
Nutrition
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 can vary quite a bit depending on which brands were used.
Kathy Brown-Lowery
I just made this cake and all I can say is OMGoodness!!!! It is AWESOME. It tastes like a giant honey bun. LOVE IT
Art By ASM
This is next on my list to make, have to go and get Sour Cream. It looks so yummy!
Concetta
I make this too - love it! Your picture is fabulous!
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Concetta
Rosa B.
I've made this cake several times and it is SO good!!! 🙂
Anonymous
I made this recipe yesterday and it is wonderful!! I shared to everyone and they all loved it as well, also made the whole house smell yummy 🙂 Thank you for sharing! My Aunt is making it for a family reunion this weekend!!
marla {family fresh cooking}
What I would do for some of this cake right now!
We are in our final week of Get Grillin' - Dessert is the theme and we would love if you submitted up to any 3 recipes (they don't have to be grilled) to our link up. This one would be perfect! This week we have a Rouxbe Cooking School giveaway. http://su.pr/2YaIiV
Jenn
This sounds great, Thanks so much for the printable recipe.
Nicole Maki
Thanks so much for the great recipe. I made it the other day and it was outstanding!
Cindy
Made this the other day...I could and almost did eat the whole thing by myself!
Mrs. H @ My Happily Ever After
omg it just looks sinful! as do all of your sidebar recipes...i'm so impressed! looking forward to reading!
ladybehindthecurtain.com
I printed this recipe! My son is going to be so excited! The Hostess Honey Buns are his favorite but we can't get them here. Thanks!
Renee Simmons
WOW! Made this for the family yesterday! It was a total hit. I adapted it where I could with lighter options & no one could tell. LOVED it! TY!
The Country Cook
{doing a happy dance} So happy to hear that Renee. Love that you made it your own and lightened up where you could!! Great idea! Thanks for coming back and letting me know how it turned out :o)
SJ @ Homemaker On A Dime
Hi, friend! I'm admiring all your creative posts here so can you please share them with us at the Creative Bloggers' Party & Hop? Hope to see you there at the party 🙂
Gray Cardigan
I can't wait to try this!!!! So glad that you posted it!!
Michelle Maskaly
I like this idea!
Tami
Can't wait to try this one! Thanks for sharing this recipe!
Candice
Ooo yum this looks delicious! Glad I stumbled onto your blog 🙂
Allison
Sounds wonderful. I love recipes that use cake mix, it just adds a little extra flavor.
cindy
This looks amazing--it will be on the menu this weekend! Have a great day.
Micha
I've seen several recipes for Honey Bun cakes and have yet to make one even though I have heard hey are amazingly delicious.
Alison
Just made this, delicious!!
Kay
What a great spin off to the Honey Bun....can't wait to make this! You are a genius!
Lisa
mmm! I can't say that I've had honey bun cake and it looks like I'm missing out! It sounds just perfect!
Caroline
Now that looks like a cake everyone would love. YUM.