The Best Honey Bun Cake Recipe for Any Occasion

Little Debbie snacks are synonymous with many of our childhoods. Her honey buns, smooth and gold, are no exception. Spirals of pastry with a light glaze, a hint of honey added in, and a hint of cinnamon too. This honey bun cake manages to put all of the ooey-gooey flavors that make up this popular delicacy into one single 9×13-inch pan.

What Is a Honey Bun Cake?

Honey bun cake is a type of cake that is normally prepared by using a yellow mix, then covered in a thin layer of frosting. Honey bun cake is a cinnamon-spiced type of cake. The taste is supposed to be similar to that of the Little Debbie Honey Bun pastry.

It’s almost weird to realize many honey bun cakes do not have honey in them at all. Since the inspiration recipe said something about having a hint of honey in it, we added honey to our recipe. Honey not only flavors the glaze but also helps thin down the powdered sugar. The honey bun cake is served cut into squares, through which the layer of cinnamon sugar across the middle is cut.

Honey Bun Cake Substitutions

If you are one of those from-scratch bakers, never fear: this honey bun cake is easily made without the use of a mix. To do this, just substitute 2 1/4 cups of all-purpose flour, 1 1/2 cups of sugar, and 1 tablespoon of baking powder where the box of yellow cake mix is called for. If you like added flavour in your cake, you can add one tablespoon of vanilla essence to the batter.

How to Serve Honey Bun Cake

The honey bun cake falls into that delicious category of baked goods that, while surely sweet enough to be worthy of dessert, also happens to taste well with coffee, which makes it an appealing breakfast treat, too.

Ingredients

• Cooking spray
• 1 cup packed dark brown sugar
• 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
• 1 (15.25-ounce) box yellow cake mix
• 8 ounces sour cream
• 3/4 cup canola or vegetable oil
• 4 large eggs
• 2 cups powdered sugar
• 2 to 3 tablespoons milk
• 2 tablespoons honey
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Place rack in the middle of the oven. Grease a 9 x 13-inch baking pan with cooking spray and lightly coat.
• In a small bowl, stir together one cup of packed dark brown sugar and one tablespoon of ground cinnamon until well-combined.
• In the large mixing bowl, combine the following: one box of yellow cake mix, eight ounces of sour cream, three quarters of a cup of vegetable oil, and four big eggs. Mix until smooth; this will take about a minute. Once the pan is prepared, pour half of the batter into it and smooth evenly to the sides. Sprinkle the cinnamon and brown sugar mixture evenly over the top.
• Spoon remaining cake batter over the sugar layer, spreading to form an even layer and reaching the sides of the pan.
• Bake for thirty to thirty-five minutes, or until the sides are light golden brown and a cake tester inserted in the centre comes out clean. Prepare glaze about five minutes before serving cake.
• In a medium bowl, whisk together two cups powdered sugar, two tablespoons milk, two tablespoons honey, and one teaspoon vanilla extract until smooth. If needed to reach the pourable consistency, whisk in additional one tablespoon milk.
• Now, take out the cake of the oven and transfer it onto a wire rack to cool. As soon as possible, pour the glaze over top of the cake; use a flexible spatula to spread into an even layer. Allow the cake to fully cool-a little more than an hour-start cutting into squares, and serve.
• For storage, leftovers can be kept at room temperature for three days provided they are covered and stored. Additionally, the cake can be wrapped and stored in the refrigerator for up to a week, or it can be frozen for up to three months.

Final Thoughts

The Honey Bun Cake is really a fantastic example of how few simple ingredients and a few easy steps can put together a dessert. It could be one of those recipes that can work for most occasions: from casual gatherings to major festivities, simply for the delicious mix it holds in terms of flavors and textures. You will not only be presenting one mouth-watering delicacy to the table of your guests but also be in a very strong position to make the memories of their lifetime.

Making this Honey Bun Cake is sweetly satisfying and fun, whether it be for a seasoned baker or a fresh one into the world of baking.

Versatile, easy to make, and a real lifesaver in any situation that may arise, it always guarantees you an attractive dessert that will surprise and satiate. The Honey Bun Cake is definitely one of those recipes to enter your list of baking favourites, so take this into consideration in case you need something special for your next preparation.

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