Honey Bun Cake Recipe with Cinnamon Swirl and Glaze

If you love the warm, sweet flavor of a classic honey bun, this Honey Bun Cake made from a boxed cake mix is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser. It combines a tender, moist cake with cinnamon-brown sugar ribbons and finishes with a simple vanilla glaze for a bakery-style dessert right from your oven.

Kate’s Recipe Rundown

This Honey Bun Cake is a doctored-up cake mix that captures the nostalgic flavor of a honey bun pastry—cinnamon, brown sugar, and a sweet glaze. It’s an easy recipe that requires no electric mixer and takes advantage of a box cake mix as a time-saving base.

A few quick notes: I prefer Duncan Hines yellow cake mix because its weight and texture closely match classic recipes that call for a standard-sized mix. Using full-fat sour cream makes the cake especially moist and tender. This cake is a great option for potlucks, book clubs, or simple after-dinner dessert.

Ingredients

• 1 box yellow cake mix (I use Duncan Hines)
• 3/4 cup vegetable oil
• 4 eggs
• 1 cup full-fat sour cream
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
• 2 cups powdered sugar (for glaze)
• 1/4 cup milk (for glaze)
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract (for glaze)

Notes: Boxed cake mixes vary in weight between brands; using a mix close to the traditional size produces the best texture. Full-fat sour cream helps keep the cake moist and tender.

How to Make Honey Bun Cake with Cake Mix

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 13×9-inch baking dish or line it with parchment.
2. In a large bowl, whisk together the cake mix, oil, eggs, and sour cream until smooth and well combined. No electric mixer is needed—stirring by hand works fine.
3. In a small bowl, combine the brown sugar and cinnamon until evenly mixed.
4. Pour half of the batter into the prepared baking dish and spread it evenly.
5. Evenly sprinkle the cinnamon-brown sugar mixture over the batter layer. If you like, add 1/2 cup chopped pecans or walnuts for extra crunch.
6. Dollop the remaining batter over the cinnamon layer in spoonfuls. Use the tip of a knife or an offset spatula to gently swirl the top batter, creating visible cinnamon ribbons without fully blending them into the batter.
7. Bake at 350°F for about 35 minutes, or until the cake is golden around the edges and a toothpick inserted near the center comes out with a few moist crumbs (not raw batter).

Glazing the Cake

1. While the cake is still warm from the oven, whisk together the powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla until smooth. Adjust the milk to reach a pourable glaze consistency—thicker glaze will set on the cake, while thinner glaze soaks in more.
2. Pour the glaze over the warm cake, letting it drizzle down the edges and into the cinnamon swirls.
3. Allow the cake to cool before slicing so the glaze sets and the slices hold together cleanly.

Frequently Asked Questions

Recipe

Honey Bun Cake with Cake Mix

Prep time: 15 mins • Cook time: 35 mins • Total time: 50 mins • Serves: 15

Ingredients

• 1 box yellow cake mix
• 3/4 cup vegetable oil
• 4 eggs
• 1 cup sour cream
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1 tablespoon cinnamon
• 2 cups powdered sugar (glaze)
• 1/4 cup milk (glaze)
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract (glaze)

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a 13×9-inch baking dish.
2. Mix cake mix, oil, eggs, and sour cream by hand until smooth.
3. Pour half the batter into the baking dish.
4. Combine brown sugar and cinnamon; sprinkle over the batter.
5. Top with remaining batter and swirl lightly with a knife.
6. Bake 35 minutes, until edges are golden and a toothpick comes out mostly clean.
7. Whisk powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla; pour over warm cake. Let cool before cutting.

Notes

You can make this cake a day or two in advance; once cool, cover tightly. Leftovers keep a few days at room temperature or longer in the refrigerator. To freeze, wrap tightly—frozen cake will keep for a couple of months. If adding nuts, stir 1/2 cup chopped pecans or walnuts into the batter or sprinkle them on top while the glaze is still wet.

Nutrition (per serving)

Calories: 395 kcal • Carbohydrates: 60 g • Protein: 3 g • Fat: 16 g • Sugar: 46 g

More Doctored Up Cake Mix Recipes

Enjoy making this easy, nostalgic Honey Bun Cake—perfect for sharing or enjoying with a quiet cup of coffee. —Kate