Take this easy Honey Bun Cake to potlucks and make all the friends! Moist yellow cake layered with a brown sugar-cinnamon swirl and topped with a silky vanilla glaze is irresistible!
We can’t ever resist a layer of cinnamon-sugar like in this cake, along with our Cinnamon-Streusel Coffee Cake and Cinnamon Roll Quick Bread.

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 (not really. HA!)
Tender yellow cake with a touch of honey and a layer of brown sugar-cinnamon, then lightly glazed. It’s so tasty! So good with a cup of coffee or cold glass of milk, great as a breakfast treat or after-dinner dessert.
What is a Honey Bun Cake?
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. A honey bun cake takes the elements and flavors of the commercial snack cakes, but ditches the deep frying and converts it into one large cake, great for get togethers!

Ingredients Needed
This simple cake calls for just a handful of pantry items.
(Scroll below to the printable recipe card for details and measurements.)
- Boxed yellow cake mix – Just the cake mix, not the other ingredients listed on the package. If you have a yellow cake mix recipe you love, feel free to use that.
- Eggs – To bind the batter and give the cake structure.
- Sour cream – This keeps the cake moist and adds tanginess.
- Vegetable oil – Contributes to the light sponge and tender crumb.
- Honey – Adds a touch of sweetness and richness to the batter.
- Brown sugar – Mixed with cinnamon for that awesome swirled layer.
- Cinnamon – For that warm flavor.
- For the Glaze – The sweet glaze is a combination of powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla
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, if desired.
- 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. You could mix them into the batter or the brown sugar-cinnamon mixture.

How to Make Honey Bun Cake
This easy cake recipe comes together in a few quick steps.
(Scroll down to the printable recipe card for details and measurements, and don’t miss the video below.)
- Combine the batter ingredients. Whisk together the cake mix, eggs, sour cream, oil, and honey until well-incorporated.
- Make the cinnamon-swirl layer. Mix together the brown sugar and cinnamon until well-blended.
- Prepare the cake. 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. Repeat the layers once.
- Bake. Transfer to a preheated 325F degree oven and bake for 45 minutes, or until a tester comes out clean.
- Make the glaze. Whisk together the powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla. Pour over the cake when it’s done baking, tilting the pan if necessary to coat evenly.
- Serve. Let the cake sit for a bit so the glaze can set. Serve warm or at room temperature. And enjoy!

Video: Honey Bun Cake
Proper Storage
- 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:
I hope you love this delicious and easy recipe – be sure to give it a review below! Also don’t forget to follow Belly Full on TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and YouTube!

Honey Bun Cake
Ingredients
For the Cake
- 15 ounce box yellow cake mix
- 4 large eggs
- 1 cup sour cream
- 3/4 cup vegetable oil
- 3 tablespoons honey
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 2 teaspoons cinnamon
For the Glaze
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 4 to 5 tablespoons milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Coat a 13×9 glass baking dish with nonstick cooking spray; set aside.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the cake mix, eggs, sour cream, oil, and honey until well-incorporated.
- In a medium bowl, mix together the brown sugar and cinnamon until well-blended.
- Pour half of the cake batter into your greased pan, spreading it out into a thin layer.
- Sprinkle half of the brown sugar-cinnamon mixture evenly on top of the batter. Pour the remaining batter on top and spread evenly. Top the cake with the rest of the brown sugar-cinnamon.
- Bake for 45 minutes, or until tester comes out clean.
- In the meantime, make the glaze: in a medium bowl, whisk together the powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla (adding more powdered sugar or milk to get a thick, but pouring consistency.)
- Immediately pour over the cake when it’s done baking, tilting the pan if necessary to coat evenly.
- Let the cake sit for a bit so the glaze can set. Serve warm or at room temperature. And enjoy!
This is exactly the recipe for the early 1970’s Sock-It-To-Me Cake – which was/is DELICIOUS! I make this cake all the time, and each time I get raves!
Yummy
OK…so I made the cake IMMEDIATELY and all my peeps at home and at work are in love. Thanks for making me so popular. It is everything you promised and MORE!!
I took your suggestion and added butterscotch chips. OMG. This cake is everything.
This is a great recipe to have on hand, especially if you’re serving a crowd–but I guess I don’t have to tell you that. :)
Made this for a bridal shower and everyone asked for the recipe – not a piece left!
Chuck Norris called and wants back all the awesomeness you took from him and put in the cake.
It’s that good.
Well lucky for you I am not a sugar wimp. In face I consider myself somewhat of a sugaralholic, so this cake and I would be like best mates. (I stole that last line from Jamie Oliver).
I’m not a big cake eater, but this one has me drooling! And if it’s like a donut? (Donuts are second in my world, only to pie.) Can’t wait to try this for my grandkids ~ though you know I’ll get a taste! Thanks for another fabulous recipe, Amy. *Hugs*
I could. not. stop. eating…. This cake was so, drool, incredibly, drool, the epitome of yummy goodness!!
I drizzle caramel sauce over the top and served with vanilla ice cream. Sugar coma. Totally worth it!
‘Tis the season for spices. And it’s ALWAYS the season for cake. This looks super yummy. FedEx me a piece, please?!
“Cake” may not be the appropriate classification for this little piece of heaven. I’d classify it more in the “big ol’ sheet of old fashion doughnut” category. Regardless, it is fantastic.
Let’s trade. I’ll send you the grasshopper bars that I had for breakfast. And you’ll send me a slice (or five) of this. Deal?
I actually prefer cakes like these over chocolate. Can’t wait to make it!
This cake is amazing.
So delicious!!