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
Scale
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.