Perfect Honeybun Cake (Works Every Time!) - Desserts & Drinks (2024)

Satisfy your sweet tooth with this easy and flavorful Homemade Honeybun Cake Recipe! It’s been tested to perfection, so this fool-proof easy-to-make sheet pan cake recipe works every time. Moist and bursting with honey and cinnamon flavors, this dessert is sure to be a hit with family and friends!

What is HoneyBun Cake?

Honeybun Cake is somewhat of a vintage dessert inspired by the traditional glazed cinnamon pastries. The three main components are a moist cake, a cinnamon sugar swirl, and a sugary glaze topping. We’ve tested and perfected this made-from-scratch version that comes out SO GOOD every time!

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Why You’ll Love This Cake

• Traditional Flavors – Honeybun Cake is reminiscent of coffee cake and bakery pastries in cake form! The cinnamon sugar, yellow cake, and honey vanilla glaze are all so good together.
• Crowd-Pleaser – Everyone loves this cake! It hits all the spots with having just the right amount of sweetness, moistness, and icing.
• Simple But Impressive – The textures of this easy cake recipe make it so good! The surprise cinnamon swirl through the middle adds an unexpected flavor bomb, and best of all it’s so easy to make!
• Sheet Pan Cake – Made entirely in a 9×13 cake pan, this recipe is easy to put together and bakes perfectly every time!

Ingredients in Homemade HoneyBun Cake

Honey Bun Cake Ingredients

• Flour, Baking Soda, Baking Powder, and Salt – The dry ingredients for the moist and tender cake. Make it gluten-free by substituting it with a 1:1 Gluten-free flour blend.
• Milk – Whole, 2%, or even plant-based milk would all work well in this recipe.
• Greek Yogurt – A surprisingly magical ingredient that helps keep the cake moist, adds richness, and it also creates a tender crumb by breaking down some of the gluten. Substitute with sour cream if you’d like!
• Butter and Neutral Oil – Butter adds flavor, and a little bit of oil helps keep the cake moist as it cools. Neutral oils like avocado oil, canola, and vegetable oil add moisture and fat without adding any flavor.
• Vanilla – Vanilla extract is the perfect pairing for the cinnamon and honey flavors of this cake. Almond extract is another option if you like that flavor!
• White Sugar
• Eggs
• Brown Sugar and Cinnamon – You can use dark brown sugar or light brown sugar to create this delicious cinnamon sugar mixture that goes through the middle of the cake.

Honey Bun Glaze

• Powdered Sugar
• Honey
• Milk
• Vanilla

How to Make Honey Bun Cake From Scratch

This homemade Honey Bun Cake is incredibly easy to make! The process is simple and perfect for any occasion. Here’s how to make a Honey Bun Cake from scratch:

1. Combine all of the dry ingredients and set them aside.
2. Whisk together the wet ingredients.
3. Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients in stages until it is all combined and smooth.
4. Mix the cinnamon and brown sugar together in a bowl.
5. Pour half of the cake batter into a 9×13 pan, sprinkle with the cinnamon brown sugar mixture, and pour on the rest of the cake batter.
6. Bake and let it cool for 5 minutes.
7. Whisk the icing ingredients together, poke holes in the cake, and pour on the glaze.
8. Allow the cake to cool completely before serving. Enjoy!

Using Box Cake for Honeybun Cake

Want to save even more time? While there’s nothing like the flavor of a sheet pan cake made from scratch, there are some wonderful box cake mixes out there that can do a great job in this recipe! To use box cake for making honeybun cake:

1. Mix the box cake according to directions.
2. Create the cinnamon brown sugar mixture in a separate bowl.
3. Pour half of the cake batter into the pan, add the cinnamon brown sugar mixture, then add the rest of the cake batter.
4. Bake according to box cake instructions, then let cool.
5. Top with the icing in the recipe below and enjoy!

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Storing

Once the cake has cooled completely, cover it tightly and leave it at room temperature for up to 2 days. You can store it in the refrigerator for up to 1 week, or freeze it up for 1 month. If you freeze it, allow it to thaw completely at room temperature before serving.

More Cinnamon Sweets You’ll Love

• Air Fryer Cinnamon Rolls
• Mexican Cinnamon Cookies
• Churro Cheesecake Bars
• Cinnamon Streusel Muffins
• Cinnamon Roll Peach Cobbler

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