Grandma's Honey Bun Cake

🕒 Prep: 10 min
🔥 Cook: 40 min
🍽 Serves: 12
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Grandma's Honey Bun Cake is a delightful blend of sweet, sticky, and comforting flavors. This cake brings the warmth of cinnamon and the richness of honey into each bite, making it a perfect treat for family gatherings or cozy afternoons at home. It’s easy to whip up and irresistibly good!

Ingredients for Grandma's Honey Bun Cake

Yellow cake mix: This is your base, providing structure and a tender crumb without a lot of effort. It’s a great shortcut for a homemade taste.

Vegetable oil: Keeps the cake moist and adds richness without overpowering the flavor.

Eggs: Essential for binding the ingredients and adding moisture and lift to the cake.

Sour cream: Adds moisture and a slight tang, balancing the sweetness and giving the cake a tender crumb.

Brown sugar: Enhances the sweetness while giving it a deeper, caramel-like flavor.

Ground cinnamon: Pairs perfectly with the brown sugar to create a warm, spiced layer that’s irresistible.

Honey: Adds a distinct floral sweetness and sticky texture, both inside the cake and in the glaze.

Powdered sugar: The base for the glaze, providing a smooth, sweet finish.

Milk: Thins the glaze to the right consistency, making it easy to drizzle.

Vanilla extract: Enhances all the flavors, adding depth and richness to the glaze.

Tips & Tricks

  • Make sure to grease your baking dish well to prevent sticking.
  • Use room temperature eggs for a smoother batter.
  • For an extra kick, add a pinch of nutmeg to the cinnamon-sugar mix.
  • If your glaze is too thick, add a bit more milk, one teaspoon at a time.

Serving Suggestions

This cake is wonderful on its own, but you can serve it warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream for an extra indulgent treat. A dollop of whipped cream also pairs beautifully with the honey and cinnamon flavors.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I make this cake ahead of time?
Yes, this cake can be made a day in advance. Store it covered at room temperature and glaze it just before serving.
What if I don't have sour cream?
You can substitute with plain Greek yogurt for a similar texture and tang.
Can I use a different type of oil?
Yes, melted butter or canola oil can be used in place of vegetable oil.

Grandma's Honey Bun Cake Recipe Walkthrough

First things first, preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grab a 9x13 inch baking dish and give it a good greasing. This ensures our cake won't stick and will pop right out when it's done baking.

In a large mixing bowl, combine your yellow cake mix, vegetable oil, eggs, and sour cream. Mix until everything is smooth and well-blended. This batter is your cake's foundation.

Next, in a separate bowl, stir together the brown sugar and cinnamon. This will be your sweet, spiced filling.

Pour half of your cake batter into the prepared baking dish, spreading it out evenly. Then, sprinkle your cinnamon-sugar mixture over the batter to create a delicious middle layer.

Drizzle half of the honey over the cinnamon-sugar layer. This will melt into the cake, adding a lovely sweetness and moisture.

Cover this with the remaining cake batter, spreading it gently. Drizzle the rest of the honey over the top.

Pop it into your preheated oven and let it bake for about 35-40 minutes. You'll know it's done when a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.

While the cake is baking, whisk together the powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla extract to create your glaze. It should be smooth and easy to drizzle.

Once the cake is out of the oven, let it cool slightly before drizzling the glaze over the top. Allow the glaze to set before slicing and serving.

Why You'll Love This Recipe

  • Easy to make with a box cake mix – minimal fuss, maximum flavor.
  • A perfect balance of sweetness and spice with its cinnamon-sugar layers.
  • The honey glaze adds a luscious, sticky finish that makes every slice memorable.
  • Great for gatherings or just a sweet snack at home.

Ingredients

1 box yellow cake mix
3/4 cup vegetable oil
4 large eggs
1 cup sour cream
1 cup brown sugar
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/2 cup honey
2 cups powdered sugar
1/4 cup milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Step-by-step Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease a 9x13 inch baking dish.
2. In a large mixing bowl, combine the yellow cake mix, vegetable oil, eggs, and sour cream until smooth.
3. In a separate bowl, mix together the brown sugar and cinnamon.
4. Pour half of the cake batter into the prepared baking dish.
5. Sprinkle the cinnamon-sugar mixture evenly over the batter.
6. Drizzle half of the honey over the cinnamon-sugar layer.
7. Spread the remaining cake batter over the top and drizzle with the remaining honey.
8. Bake in the preheated oven for 35-40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
9. While the cake is baking, prepare the glaze by whisking together the powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla extract until smooth.
10. Once the cake is done baking, let it cool slightly before drizzling the glaze over the top.
11. Allow the glaze to set before serving.

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