The Ultimate Guide Homemade Honey Bun Cake
The Easy Honey Bun Cake is a from-scratch dessert that reminiscent of your favorite cinnamon-swirl bakery treat. Ready in under an hour, it boasts a tender, buttery crumb loaded with pockets of caramelized streusel and crowned with a silky honey glaze. Perfect for breakfast, brunch, or an indulgent snack any time.
Ingredients
- 1 (15.25 oz) box yellow cake mix (plus ingredients called for on the box)
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 Tbsp ground cinnamon
- ½ cup unsalted butter, melted
- 2 large eggs
- ½ cup sour cream
- ¼ cup milk
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
For the streusel swirl:
- ½ cup brown sugar, packed
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 2 Tbsp melted butter
For the glaze:
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 2–3 Tbsp milk
- ½ tsp vanilla extract
Instructions
Prepare the oven to 350 °F (175 °C) and grease a 9×13-inch baking pan. In a medium bowl, whisk together the granulated sugar and tablespoon of cinnamon for the cake batter. In a large bowl, combine the yellow cake mix, cinnamon-sugar mixture, melted butter, eggs, sour cream, milk, and vanilla extract until smooth.
In a small bowl, stir together the brown sugar, teaspoon of cinnamon, and melted butter to make the streusel. Pour half of the cake batter into the prepared pan and spread it evenly. Sprinkle the streusel mixture over the batter, breaking it into small clumps as you go. Dollop the remaining batter on top and gently swirl with a knife to create a marbled effect.
Bake for 25–30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with just a few moist crumbs. Allow the cake to cool in the pan on a wire rack for about 15 minutes.
While the cake cools slightly, whisk together the powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla extract until smooth. Drizzle the glaze evenly over the warm cake. Let the cake sit until the glaze sets, about 20 minutes, then slice and serve.
Notes