Try my Best Honey Bun Cake Recipe from Scratch for a soft and tender buttery yellow cake, layered with swirls of brown sugar cinnamon, and a delicious honey vanilla glaze on top. It tastes even better than honey bun snack cakes and is made in 1 hour time!
Best Honey Bun Cake Recipe from Scratch
Today I’m so excited to share how to make one of my favorite homemade cakes – Honey Bun Cake.
Featuring a soft and tender buttery yellow cake made from scratch, layers of brown sugar cinnamon goodness, and a delicious honey vanilla glaze on top, this Homemade Honey Bun Cake melts in your mouth for the absolute BEST cake ever.
Even better, this honey bun cake is easy to make with just a few simple ingredients and is sure to be loved by all who try it!
If you want to learn how to make my Best Honey Cake Recipe from Scratch, then keep reading below and check out my step-by-step video tutorial over here.
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Simple Honey Bun Cake from Scratch (No Cake Mix)
What is a Honey Bun Cake?
Inspired by the popular Little Debbie’s honey bun snack cake, a honey bun cake is a soft yellow cake made from scratch, layered with gooey brown sugar cinnamon, and topped with a honey vanilla glaze.
This simple honey bun cake is the perfect love child of my ooey gooey cinnamon rolls and cinnamon coffee cake and it’s truly SO good.
Reasons You’ll Love My Honey Bun Cake:
1. It’s made from scratch with no cake mix
While I love the ease of cake mixes for a lot of recipes, this is one cake recipe that’s simply BETTER made from scratch. Just trust me on this!
2. It’s so EASY and QUICK to make
Even though it’s made from scratch, it’s incredibly simple to whip together with basic ingredients from your pantry and fridge.
It also can easily be made in just 1 hour time and that’s including glazing and cool time.
3. It’s DELICIOUS and tastes like a honey bun
If you’re looking for a sweet and tender cake that actually tastes like delicious honey buns, then this cake is FOR YOU.
The combination of buttery soft yellow cake, ooey gooey brown sugar cinnamon filling, and a honey vanilla glaze icing really brings it home for me and tastes simply divine.
Ingredients in Homemade Honey Bun Cake
Below, I’ve included a list of all the ingredients you’ll need to make this simple honey bun cake.
You can find the full amounts listed in the recipe card below.
Yellow Cake
- All-Purpose Flour
- Baking Powder
- Salt
- Granulated Sugar
- Unsalted Butter
- Sour Cream
- Oil
- Eggs
- Vanilla Extract
Brown Sugar Cinnamon Mixture
- Light Brown Sugar
- Cinnamon
- Nutmeg
Honey Vanilla Glaze
- Unsalted Butter
- Powdered Sugar
- Milk
- Honey
- Vanilla Extract
Tips For Making Honey Bun Cake
1. Make sure you set out your cold ingredients 30 minutes to 1 hour ahead of time and allow them to come to room temperature
This includes the butter, eggs, and sour cream. Ideally you want your ingredients to be around 70 degrees F and the butter should be soft, but not greasy or melted.
2. Use an offset spatula for spreading the cake layers
This makes it SO much easier and quicker and really helps spread the batter into all the corners.
3. Add the glaze after 10 minutes
This ensures the cake has slightly cooled so the icing won’t completely melt away and gives the cake a beautiful, crackled glaze similar to a honey bun.
4. Wait another 10-15 minutes before slicing
To avoid messy slices, wait after adding your glaze before slicing your cake. This helps ensure the cake and glaze have time to firm up and will give you more clean-looking slices.
5. Always warm up your cake before eating
I always recommend placing leftover slices in the microwave for 10-15 seconds and it makes it perfectly ooey gooey and delicious every time.
Best Honey Bun Cake Recipe FAQ’s
What are the ingredients in a honey bun cake?
This honey bun cake is made with simple ingredients including all-purpose flour, baking powder, salt, unsalted butter, sugar, sour cream, oil, eggs, and vanilla extract.
It also has swirl layer comprised of brown sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg, as well as a honey vanilla glaze.
What is honey bun icing/honey bun glaze made of?
While most honey bun cake recipes use a basic glaze comprised of powdered sugar, vanilla, and milk, my honey bun glaze takes it up a notch with the addition of butter and honey to achieve the classic honey bun flavor we all know and love.
It’s light, perfectly sweet, and delicious.
Can I substitute something for the sour cream?
Yes, you can use plain Greek yogurt or buttermilk instead of sour cream if you prefer.
Does honey bun cake need to be refrigerated?
No, it does not have to be refrigerated, but you can store it that way if you want it to keep longer.
My preferred method of cake storage is in an airtight container at room temperature.
Can honey bun cake be frozen?
Yes, you can freeze honey bun cake for up to 3 months in a freezer safe container.
Once ready to eat, thaw overnight in the fridge and re-heat slices in the microwave until warm.
Easy Honey Bun Cake Variations
This cake is absolutely incredible as is, but if you want to switch it up, feel free to try some of the variations below!
Add Nuts
If you like a crunch, add 1/4 cup of crushed walnuts or pecans to the brown sugar cinnamon filling mixture.
Add a Fruit Topping
Apples, strawberries, or blueberries would pair absolutely perfect with this cake. I’m thinking some diced cinnamon apples would taste wonderful on top.
Add a Citrus Glaze
If you love a citrus flavor, add a bit of orange juice or lemon juice to the vanilla glaze. You could even add a bit of orange or lemon zest to the cake batter to really make it pop.
How to Store Leftover Honey Bun Cake
At Room Temperature:
For best results, leftover honey bun cake should be stored at room temperature in an airtight container, and will remain fresh for up to 4 days.
In the Fridge:
For longer storage, you can also store your cake in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 1 week.
In the Freezer:
Freeze in an airtight container for up to 3 months. Once ready to eat, thaw overnight and reheat in the microwave.
*Re-heating Tip:
Reheat cake slices in the microwave for 10-15 seconds (or longer if cake was refrigerated) before serving.
It will taste like it just came out of the oven and is SO much better warm and ooey gooey.
More Easy Cake Recipes:
- Easy Cake Mix Coffee Cake
- Best Sock it To Me Cake
- Old Fashioned Pound Cake
- Graham Cracker Coffee Cake
How To Make Honey Bun Cake (Step-by-Step Photo Tutorial)
Kitchen Tools Needed:
- 9×13 Cake Pan
- Electric Hand Mixer
- Glass Mixing Bowls
- Food Scale
- Rubber Spatulas
- Measuring Cups
- Magnetic Measuring Spoons
- Offset Spatula
- Whisk
- Cooling Rack
Step 1: Prepare Cake Batter
First, use an electric hand mixer to prepare the yellow cake batter. (See detailed instructions in recipe card)
Step 2: Prepare Brown Sugar Cinnamon Mixture
Next prepare your brown sugar cinnamon mixture by combining brown sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg in a small bowl.
Step 3: Create Cake Layers
Pour half of the cake batter in an even layer into the prepared cake pan and use an offset spatula to spread in all the corners.
Next, evenly sprinkle 2/3 of the brown sugar cinnamon mixture on top of the cake batter, ensuring all of the cake batter is covered.
Pour the remaining cake batter on top and spread evenly with an offset spatula.
Evenly sprinkle the remaining brown sugar cinnamon mixture on top, and use a knife or toothpick to create swirls in the top layer only.
Step 4: Bake the Cake and Let Cool
Bake in the oven for 30-35 minutes, or until the middle is set and the cake is a light golden brown.
Place the cake on a cooling rack and let cool for 10 minutes.
Step 5: Prepare The Glaze
While cake is cooling prepare the glaze by combining powdered sugar, melted butter, honey, vanilla extract, and milk. Whisk until smooth and the glaze is a pourable consistency. *If needed, additional milk may be added.
Step 6: Glaze and Cool
Pour the glaze on the cake and spread evenly.
Let the cake cool for an additional 10 minutes before slicing and serving. Enjoy!
Best Honey Bun Cake Recipe from Scratch
Try my Best Honey Bun Cake Recipe from Scratch for a soft and tender buttery yellow cake, layered with swirls of brown sugar cinnamon, and a delicious honey vanilla glaze on top.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cool Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour
- Yield: 15 slices 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Oven, Baking
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Yellow Cake
- 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 1/8 cups granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
- 1 cup sour cream, room temperature
- 4 large eggs, room temperature
- 1/4 cup oil
- 1/2 tbsp vanilla extract
Cinnamon Sugar Swirl
- 3/4 cup light brown sugar
- 1 tbsp cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp nutmeg
Honey Vanilla Glaze
- 2 tbsp unsalted butter, melted
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar
- 1 tbsp honey
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 tbsp milk
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and spray a 9×13 cake pan or baking dish with non-stick cooking spray.
- Next use an electric hand mixer to cream the room temperature butter until smooth. Add in the sugar and oil and continue mixing until the mixture is creamy and smooth.
- Next, add in room temperature eggs one at a time, and mix until combined.
- Lastly, add in the room temperature sour cream and vanilla extract and mix until combined.
- Next, whisk together the all purpose flour, baking powder, and salt in a separate bowl.
- Add the flour mixture a half at a time to the wet cake batter and use the electric mixer to mix together until smooth and combined.
- Next prepare your brown sugar cinnamon mixture by combining brown sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg in a small bowl. Whisk together until evenly combined.
- Pour half of the cake batter in an even layer into the prepared cake pan. For easier spreading, I recommend using an offset spatula.
- Next, evenly sprinkle 2/3 of the brown sugar cinnamon mixture on top of the cake batter, ensuring all of the cake batter is covered.
- Pour the remaining cake batter on top and spread evenly with an offset spatula.
- Evenly sprinkle the remaining brown sugar cinnamon mixture on top, and use a knife or toothpick to create swirls in the top layer only.
- Bake in the oven for 30-35 minutes, or until the middle is set and the cake is a light golden brown.
- Place the cake on a cooling rack and let cool for 10 minutes.
- While cake is cooling prepare the glaze by combining powdered sugar, melted butter, honey, vanilla extract, and milk in a small bowl. Whisk until smooth and the glaze is a pourable consistency. *If needed, you can add additional milk 1 tsp at a time if glaze is too thick.
- Pour the glaze on the cake and spread evenly. Let the cake cool for an additional 10 minutes before slicing and serving. Enjoy!
Notes
For best results, leftover honey bun cake should be stored at room temperature in an airtight container, and will remain fresh for up to 4 days.
Reheat cake slices in the microwave for 10-15 seconds before serving.
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More Cinnamon Sugar Treats
I hope you enjoyed today’s post with my Best Honey Bun Cake Recipe from Scratch! Would you or someone in your family love this honey bun cake?
Let me know in the comments below!
Thanks for stopping by! – Cara
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