Introduction
The Comfort of the Honey Bun
What is more comforting than a honey bun? A warm, sticky glazed dough-ring kissed with cinnamon and then—and it’s the easiest part—spiraled to perfection, honey buns harken back to fond memories that unite us in nostalgia. There’s something sublime in the simplicity of the honey bun—a pleasure for the most ordinary of days. This cake embodies the honey bun, transforming the individual handheld treat into a shareable baked good. It is the warm spices, decadent sugar content, and sweet embrace that evoke the honey bun in dessert form. With every bite, memories flood in enhanced by the grandeur of cake.
Why a Honey Bun Cake?
The essence of the honey bun should not be limited to a single serving. In fact, a honey bun cake enlarges the experience of a honey bun with the potential for a cake that can be displayed as a centrepiece or as a family dessert. A honey bun cake folds together decadence blended with simplicity, making it easy for inexperienced bakers or attractive to seasoned bakers. This recipe embodies all the gooey, spiced revisions of the original, but is properly portioned in cake to share. A wonderful nod to nostalgia repurposed for modern tables.
Recipe Details
Servings
The honey bun cake recipe provides enough for 12 generous pieces (more or less depending on your group size) to be served all at once or over the course of three days. The best part is that each piece maintains a moisture level with the remaining glaze creating a sticky, sweet confection that balances cake and glaze equally.
Baking time
Bake the cake for approximately 40-45 minutes until a golden color is achieved. If unsure of doneness, and the cake is springy to the touch, a toothpick inserted into the middle will elegantly verify the cake’s readiness.
Ingredients
For the Cake
✅ 1 box yellow cake mix (15.25 oz)
✅ 4 large eggs
✅ 1 cup sour cream
✅ ¾ cup vegetable oil
✅ 1 cup buttermilk
For the Glaze
✅ 2 cups powdered sugar
✅ ¼ cup milk
✅ 1 tsp vanilla extract
✅ ½ tsp cinnamon (for that honey bun flair)
Instructions
Making the Batter
Start by preheating the oven to 350 F (175 C), and grease a 9×13 baking pan. In a large bowl, mix together the yellow cake mix, eggs, sour cream, vegetable oil and buttermilk. Stir until smooth, and work out lumps. You want a smooth batter that looks silky. This is just the cake base, you may be confused why the cake has sour cream and buttermilk in it. That is what makes this cake moist and soft like a honey bun!
Making the Cinnamon Swirl
In a small bowl, combine 1 cup brown sugar and 2 tablespoons cinnamon together. This combo is exactly what you need for the honey bun swirl. Pour half the batter into the baking pan and then sprinkle the cinnamon-sugar mixture on top of the batter evenly. Top with the rest of the batter, and using a spatula, smooth over the top, then gently swirl with a knife around the top of the batter until you have a marbled looking pattern that resembles the honey bun spiral.
Bake!
Bake for 40-45 minutes or until a toothpick pops out clean in the middle of the cake. The cake should be light golden brown and the cinnamon swirl should be peeking out!
How to Serve
Similar to banana bread, the Cinnamon Honey Bun cake may be sliced and served as-is or with cream cheese or whipped cream on the side.
How to Store
To store, keep covered in the refrigerator for several days. The cake stays incredibly moist! I have found that it holds well in the refrigerator for about a week, but can last longer. Feel free to freeze the cake and thaw slowly when you are ready to serve, although you may want to take out a slice to have first!
Ingredient Choices
You should choose full-fat sour cream and buttermilk to keep the cake moist. Fresh cinnamon makes a big difference in the honey bun experience so look in your spice cabinet. Using quality ingredients can be the difference in texture and flavor and may help you remember each bite.
Baking Tricks
You do not want to over-mix the batter as you want a nice tender crumb. When swirling the cinnamon layer into the batter, use a gentle hand so you do not fold the layers together too vigorously. Turn your radar on at 40 minutes to check it. You do not want it to overbake to preserve the honey bun softness.
Storing and Serving
Store cake in an air-tight container at room temperature for 3 days or in the refrigerator for about a week. For the most flavor serve it at room temperature.
Nutritional facts
Caloric people
You get about 420 calories per serving, which is a decent price to pay for the honey bun lover in you. This value includes wonderful ingredients and sugar glaze.
Macros
Total Fat: 18g (Saturated Fat: 5g)
Cholesterol: 70mg
Sodium: 320mg
Total Carbohydrate: 60g (Dietary Fiber: 1g, Sugars: 45g)
Protein: 5g These values remind you how indulgent a honey bun cake is, but how nurturing it is at the same time.
Prelude
The sensory experience
A honey bun cake is such a unique combination of textures and flavors. The moist golden cake encloses a ribbon of cinnamon-sugar that evokes the spiral from a honey bun. The icing melts on your tongue, as it continues to be slightly spiced and sweet. The strong smell of baking cinnamon cake wafts though the air wrapping you in warmth and nostalgia. The marbled interior and glossy icing finish are exciting, along with a naturally soft crumb (finishing soft). It speaks to every sense, taking the common dessert experience to the next level.
Perfect Occasions for Serving
Whether you are attending a brunch, a potluck, or a low-key evening in, this honey bun cake fits any occasion. It is perfect for a family reunion, assembling three generations of memory-making sharing bites of cake and favorite stories. It also fits nicely into the habitual autumn gatherings where sharing a meal is fuel for small talk and sharing a coffee. It can be used at birthdays or together on dessert night. It has big feelings similar to a cake and acts as a win-win for everyone. It also provides easy construction and a recognizable relationship to your audience. It elevates all occasions while sharing the heart and taste of a big bite of honey bun in each bite.
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