I love taking this easy Honey Bun Cake to potlucks as it always helps me make new friends. It features a moist yellow cake layered with a brown sugar cinnamon swirl that I’ve topped with a silky vanilla glaze. I think it’s completely irresistible!

Easy Honey Bun Cake Recipe

What can I say about this Honey Bun Cake? It’s better than a back massage after a long day. It’s better than getting into a freshly made bed. Better than 75 degrees and sunny. Better than finding the missing sock. It’s better than 9-week old puppies licking your face.

To keep it simple, I’ve taken a boxed yellow cake mix, added a touch of honey, a layer of brown sugar and cinnamon, and then lightly glazed. It’s so tasty and so easy! I love it with a cup of coffee or a cold glass of milk. It makes a great breakfast treat or after-dinner dessert.

This cake is a fun and delicious twist on the popular Little Debbie® Honey Buns, which are soft, deep fried glazed pastry flavored with honey and cinnamon, and individually wrapped. I’ve taken the elements and flavors of the commercial snack cakes, and ditched the deep frying to convert it into one large cake that is great for get-togethers!

How to Make Honey Bun Cake Step by Step

Get the oven going and prepare a baking dish: Preheat oven to 325°F. Coat a 13×9 glass baking dish with nonstick cooking spray; set aside.

Combine the batter ingredients: Whisk together the cake mix, 4 eggs, 1 cup of sour cream, ¾ cup of oil, and 3 tbsp honey until well incorporated.

Make the cinnamon-swirl layer: Mix 1 cup of brown sugar and 2 tsp of cinnamon until well blended.

Prepare the cake and bake: Pour half of the cake batter into a greased 9×13 pan in a thin, even layer. Sprinkle half of the brown sugar-cinnamon mixture evenly on top of the batter and repeat.

Bake for 45 minutes, or until a cake tester or toothpick comes out clean.

Make the glaze: Whisk 2 cups of powdered sugar, 4-5 tbsp of milk, and 1 tsp of vanilla until well combined. Pour the glaze over the cake when it’s done baking, tilting the pan if necessary to coat the top evenly.

Serve. Let the cake sit for so the glaze can set. Serve warm or at room temperature. And enjoy!

Recipe Variations

• Use a different cake mix. White cake, vanilla cake, or even spice cake could all be used instead of the yellow cake mix.
• Add in chocolate chips. Semi-sweet, white chocolate, or butterscotch chips would be a delicious addition!
• Include some nuts. Chopped walnuts or pecans would be so good. Mix them into the batter or the brown sugar-cinnamon mixture.

What to Serve With Honey Bun Cake

I love sitting down to a slice of this cake with a cool cup of boba tea or a mocha frappuccino. For the kids, however, I’ll make a pitcher of homemade lemonade to pair with this decadent cake.

How to Store

Glazed honey bun cake can sit out at room temperature, tightly covered in an airtight container, for 2 to 3 days (unless your kitchen is too warm, then you should refrigerate or freeze it.) You can also store it in the fridge for a few extra days, making sure the container is 100% sealed so the cake doesn’t dry out.

To freeze, let cool completely, but do not glaze. Wrap in plastic wrap and then again in foil. Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight and then apply the glaze.

More Easy Cake Recipes

• Honey Cake
• Gooey Butter Cake
• Pistachio Cake
• Simple Cinnamon Cake
• Easy Apple Cake