1. Home
  2. Recipes
  3. Easy Honey Bun Swirl Cake

Sweet Honey Bun Swirl Cake

Featured in Sweet Endings and Treats.

This Honey Bun Swirl Cake turns a humble box of yellow cake mix into something truly special. The secret lies in adding sour cream to the batter for extra moisture, then creating layers of brown sugar and cinnamon swirls throughout. A sprinkle of cinnamon-sugar topping adds extra sweetness, while the warm vanilla glaze poured over the hot cake seeps in to create an incredibly moist, honey bun-inspired dessert. It's the perfect solution when you want something that tastes homemade but comes together quickly. Best of all, it's nearly foolproof and always gets rave reviews from family and friends.
A smiling woman in a chef's jacket stands in a commercial kitchen, looking at the camera with various food containers and utensils in the background.
Updated on Wed, 22 Jan 2025 10:39:03 GMT
Print Recipe Pin Recipe Send Recipe Jump To Recipe
Moist honey bun swirl cake with cinnamon layers and a sweet glaze, perfect for dessert or brunch. Pin it
Moist honey bun swirl cake with cinnamon layers and a sweet glaze, perfect for dessert or brunch. | tasteofcook.com

A nostalgic twist on the classic honey bun, this cake transforms a beloved snack into a crowd-pleasing dessert. Each slice reveals beautiful swirls of cinnamon sugar throughout a tender, moist cake, all topped with a sweet vanilla glaze that seeps into every crevice.

When I first served this at a morning staff meeting, people couldn't believe it started with a cake mix. The sour cream makes such a difference in creating that perfect, tender crumb.

Essential Ingredients Selection

  • Cake Mix: Duncan Hines yellow cake mix provides the best texture base.
  • Sour Cream: Full-fat adds moisture and richness to the cake.
  • Brown Sugar: Light or dark both work - dark provides deeper molasses notes.
  • Cinnamon: Fresh, quality cinnamon makes a noticeable difference.
  • Powdered Sugar: Sift it for the smoothest glaze possible.

Detailed Cooking Instructions

Step 1: Creating the Perfect Batter
Start with room temperature ingredients for the smoothest mixing. Beat the batter until it's completely smooth but don't overmix - stop as soon as everything is incorporated. The sour cream should be fully blended with no white streaks remaining.
Step 2: Mastering the Swirl
Layer the filling carefully - sprinkle it evenly over the entire surface. Use a butter knife held vertically to create figure-eight patterns for the perfect swirl. Stop swirling before the filling is completely incorporated - distinct layers create better texture.
Delicious honey bun swirl cake featuring a tender crumb and rich cinnamon flavor. Pin it
Delicious honey bun swirl cake featuring a tender crumb and rich cinnamon flavor. | tasteofcook.com

Last weekend, I discovered that chilling the cake for 30 minutes after it's completely cooled makes for the cleanest cuts - perfect for presentation.

Sweet and fluffy honey bun swirl cake with a golden glaze and a hint of spice. Pin it
Sweet and fluffy honey bun swirl cake with a golden glaze and a hint of spice. | tasteofcook.com

This cake has become my go-to for morning meetings and brunches. There's something about the combination of warm cinnamon swirls and sweet glaze that makes people feel special, even on an ordinary day.

Frequently Asked Questions

→ Why add sour cream to the cake mix?
Sour cream makes the cake extra moist and gives it a more homemade taste and texture.
→ Can I make this ahead of time?
Yes, it stays fresh for several days when covered well. The glaze keeps it moist.
→ Why pour the glaze while the cake is hot?
This allows the glaze to seep into the warm cake, creating extra moisture and flavor throughout.
→ Do I have to add the pecans?
No, the pecans are optional. The cake is delicious with or without them.
→ Can I use a different flavor cake mix?
While yellow cake mix works best for that honey bun taste, vanilla cake mix can also work well.

Easy Honey Bun Swirl Cake

This easy cake transforms a yellow box mix into a honey bun-inspired treat with brown sugar cinnamon swirls and sweet vanilla glaze.

Prep Time
15 Minutes
Cook Time
45 Minutes
Total Time
60 Minutes


Difficulty: Easy

Cuisine: American

Yield: 12 Servings

Dietary: Vegetarian

Ingredients

→ Cake Base

01 1 box yellow cake mix
02 4 eggs
03 ⅓ cup water
04 ¾ cup vegetable oil
05 ¾ cup sour cream

→ Swirl Filling

06 1 cup brown sugar
07 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
08 ½ cup chopped pecans (optional)

→ Brown Sugar Topping

09 ⅓ cup brown sugar
10 ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon

→ Sweet Glaze

11 1 cup powdered sugar
12 2 tablespoons milk
13 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
14 Pinch of salt

Instructions

Step 01

Heat your oven to 350°F. Using an electric mixer, beat together your cake mix, eggs, water, oil, and sour cream for 2 minutes, scraping down the bowl halfway through. Pour this into a greased 9x13 pan.

Step 02

Mix your brown sugar, cinnamon, and pecans (if using) together. Sprinkle this evenly over the batter, then take a butter knife and swirl it all together until the brown sugar starts sinking into the batter.

Step 03

Mix up the topping by combining more brown sugar and cinnamon, then sprinkle this over everything.

Step 04

Pop it in the oven for 35-45 minutes. You'll know it's done when a cake tester or toothpick comes out clean from the center.

Step 05

While the cake bakes, whisk together the powdered sugar, milk, vanilla, and salt until smooth. Pour this glaze all over the cake as soon as it comes out of the oven.

Step 06

Cover the hot glazed cake with foil and let it cool completely. This helps keep all that moisture and sweetness locked in.

Notes

  1. This cake starts with a box mix but tastes completely homemade thanks to the sour cream and special additions
  2. The hot glaze seeps into the warm cake creating extra moisture and flavor

Tools You'll Need

  • 9x13 inch baking dish
  • Electric mixer
  • Mixing bowls
  • Silicone spatula
  • Aluminum foil

Allergy Information

Please check ingredients for potential allergens and consult a health professional if in doubt.
  • Contains wheat (cake mix)
  • Contains dairy (sour cream)
  • Contains eggs
  • Contains tree nuts if using pecans

Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)

It is important to consider this information as approximate and not to use it as definitive health advice.
  • Calories: 371
  • Total Fat: 20 g
  • Total Carbohydrate: 47 g
  • Protein: 4 g