Honeybun Cake (The Old-Fashioned Bakery Favorite)

Old-fashioned Honeybun Cake made with yellow cake mix, sour cream, brown sugar, and cinnamon, then finished with a warm vanilla glaze. An easy, nostalgic dessert perfect for Valentine’s Day or any gathering.

Yes, it's that Honeybun Cake!

If you grew up loving those sticky, cinnamon-swirled honeybuns from the bakery case, (and who among us didn't?) this cake is about to feel very familiar.

Honeybun Cake is rich, tender, and unapologetically old-fashioned—layered with brown sugar and cinnamon, then finished with a warm vanilla glaze that soaks right into the top.

Are you swooning yet?

I am!

I decided to bake this cake on the night before winter storm Fern blew in. (Hey, I didn't know if I would be able to bake in the days that followed.) Of all the sweet treats I could have chosen, I went with this one because of the brown sugar and cinnamon component.

Yep, I love that combination!

This is the kind of cake that doesn’t need fancy decorations or bright colors to win people over. The name alone tells you everything you need to know. Cozy. Sweet. Nostalgic. And absolutely perfect for sharing—especially on Valentine’s Day, when not everyone wants chocolate.

So, what are you waiting for? Let's bake up a honey cake for your honey!

At a Glance

• Skill Level: Easy
• Flavor Profile: Cinnamon, brown sugar, buttery vanilla
• Options Included: Cake-mix shortcut, swirl variation, glaze finish
• Best For: Valentine’s Day, potlucks, church gatherings, cozy weekends, non-chocolate dessert lovers

Honey Bun Cake Ingredients

I've included a recipe card at the bottom of this post, so feel free to jump down there for a longer look, but here's a quick peek at what you'll need. This is a doctored cake mix and it starts with a box of white (or yellow) cake mix. Most recipes call for yellow but I only had white on hand. I remedied that by substituting melted butter for the oil.

Cake

• 1 box yellow cake mix
• 4 large eggs
• 1 cup sour cream
• ¾ cup vegetable oil (or melted and cooled butter, if you go with a white cake mix)
• ¼ cup milk

Cinnamon Swirl

• 1 cup brown sugar
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

Vanilla Glaze

• 2 cups powdered sugar
• 3–4 tablespoons milk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

How to Make Honeybun Cake

This is such a simple cake!

Preheat the oven
Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.

Mix the batter
In a large bowl, combine the cake mix, eggs, sour cream, and oil. Beat until smooth and thick.

Add milk a little at a time until the batter is thick but spreadable—it should not be pourable.

Prepare the cinnamon swirl
In a small bowl, mix together the brown sugar and cinnamon.

Layer the cake
Ready. . .Set. . .Layer!

Spread half of the batter into the prepared pan.

Sprinkle evenly with the cinnamon sugar mixture.

Spoon the remaining batter over the top and gently spread to cover. Lightly swirl with a knife if desired.

Bake
Bake for 30–35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out with a few moist crumbs.

Glaze while warm
Whisk together powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla until smooth.

Pour the glaze over the warm cake.

Allow it to soak into the surface. (Now we're looking more like a honeybun!)

Serve and enjoy!

Tips for the Best Honeybun Cake

• The batter will be thick—this is intentional and helps create that classic honeybun texture.
• Pour the glaze on while the cake is still warm for maximum flavor and moisture.
• This cake slices best once it has cooled slightly, but it’s also wonderful served warm.

Storage

Store Honeybun Cake covered at room temperature for up to 2 days, or refrigerate for up to 5 days.
The flavors deepen overnight, making it a great make-ahead dessert.

Why You’ll Love This Honeybun Cake

Honeybun Cake has been around forever, and for good reason. It comes together easily with pantry staples, bakes up beautifully every time, and somehow tastes even better the next day. The thick batter creates a tender, almost bakery-style crumb, while the cinnamon sugar layer melts into pockets of sweetness as it bakes.

And that glaze? It’s poured on warm so it sinks into every crack and swirl, giving the cake that signature honeybun feel.

Other Cinnamon Favorites

If you love cinnamon, we've got a plethora of recipes loaded with it! Here are some personal favorites!

• How to Make Cinnamon Rolls from Canned Biscuits
• Cinnamon Sugar Pound Cake
• Easy Cinnamon Sugar Muffins

Thanks for Stopping By

Before you go, please take the time to leave a review and pin some photos to your Pinterest boards!

About the Baker

Hi there! I'm Janice Thompson, author and baker, and owner of Out of the Box Baking. I love cakes with personality—the kind that don’t need embellishment to be memorable. Honeybun Cake is one of those timeless, name-says-it-all desserts that feels like it belongs at every table. At Out of the Box Baking, I’m all about approachable recipes that deliver big flavor without fuss, and this one checks every box.