Honey Bun Cake 100% from scratch, made without a cake mix.
I’ve been seeing pictures of Honey Bun Cake on pinterest lately but every recipe I click on calls for a boxed cake mix. I like to make things from scratch if at all possible so I decided to make a new version of Honey Bun Cake made without having to use a cake mix from the store. So if you’ve been searching like me & trying to find a recipe for Honey Bun Cake that doesn’t require a store bought cake mix then I have the perfect recipe for you!
In case your wondering Honey Bun Cake tastes like a cinnamon roll…like a really, really good cinnamon roll…like one of the best cinnamon rolls I’ve ever had, only in cake form!
I have to warn you, the batter is a little on the thick side & when you spread the top half of the batter on, things may look a little messy. I was a little worried that I was creating a disaster but when it came out of the oven & I sliced the first piece I knew all was well.
- -Cake-
- 2¼ cups all purpose flour
- 1½ cups sugar
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- 1 cup sour cream
- ⅛ cup vegetable oil (or 2 Tablespoons)
- 1 stick (1/2 cup) butter, softened (I used salted butter)
- 1 tablespoon vanilla
- 3 eggs
- -Streusel- (for the middle)
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 2 teaspoons cinnamon
- -Glaze-(for topping)
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 4-5 Tablespoons milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 9x13" baking pan.
- Combine flour, sugar, & baking powder, stir & set aside.
- In another mixing bowl combine softened butter, sour cream, vegetable oil, vanilla, & eggs & mix well. Add in the flour/sugar mixture. Stir well.
- Pour half of the batter in prepared baking pan & smooth it down with a spatula.
- Mix the brown sugar & cinnamon together in a small bowl & sprinkle over the batter.
- Now add the remaining batter & smooth it over the brown sugar/cinnamon mix.
- Bake for 35-40 minutes or until the top is golden brown & a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean.
- Prepare the glaze by mixing the ingredients together in a bowl until a smooth spreading consistency is reached.
- Once the cake comes out of the oven, use a fork to prick holes in the top of the cake. Pour glaze over cake & quickly spread it out with a knife or the back of a spoon. Let cool for about 1 hour.
Can this be cooked in a Bundt pan? If so, how should the cooking time & temp be adjusted?
Hi Mary, I’m not sure if this recipe would turn out as good in a bundt pan. It’s supposed to make a thin sheet cake, it might be too dense if it’s made in a bundt pan. If you do try it I would leave the temperature at 350 & cook it longer, maybe 45-50 min. or longer.
I made it as a bundt cake but altered the recipe just a little but it’s amazing
Thanks for commenting, I’m glad you liked it Nadia!
how do u make the icing
Hi Christ, Step #8 in the instructions tells how to make the glaze/icing. You basically just stir the 3 ingredients together. Thanks!
I made this cake tonight. In the past I used yellow cake mix, but now I will never use it again! This cake tastes amazing!
Hi Ashley- Thanks for commenting, I’m so glad you liked it!
If you are looking to make a cake from scratch that is dog gone “GOODER” ( yep my made up word) well here you go. This cake will make you speak not so proper grammar lol. It’s that good. My hubby and the staff at work loved it.
Thanks for commenting! I’m so glad you liked this recipe!
What is streusel ?
Hello Chris, It is in the recipe below. The cinnamon & sugar that goes in the center of the cake.
This was the first cake I’ve ever made from scratch. It’s an easy to follow recipe and my husband loved it! The second time I made this I made it into cupcakes, drizzled the glaze lightly, topped with a cinnamon buttercream and chopped walnuts. Now I’m preparing to make it for the family christmas! I love this recipe!
I’m glad you liked this recipe! Love the idea of making them into cupcakes, I will have to give that a try. Have a Merry Christmas & thanks for commenting!
Nadia, what were the changes you made to make this a Bundt cake & how long did it take to cook?
Made this yesterday and it is sooo good! Thanks for sharing
Sherita, I’m so glad you liked it! Thanks for commenting!
I tried the bundt cake and it didn’t do to good. But I’m gonna try it again in a flat pan
I always make it as a sheet cake. I still would have thought a bundt cake pan would work too as long as it was cooked for longer. Sorry to hear it didn’t work in a budnt pan for you.
Im about to try this out on next Tuesday and surprise my hubby and family with it and i can’t wait to see how everyone likes it because I love it and i always used white cake mix but know in doing it from scratch. Thanks Katie for ingredients. Santana
Hi Santana! I hope everyone likes it. I just made it last week again for my family :)
Can I use unsalted butter
Yes, but you might want to add a little salt to the recipe like 1/4 teaspoon. I always use salted butter when I make it.
My batter came out really thick..is it supposed to be that way?
Hi Alexis, Yes the batter is supposed to be really thick. I had to use a rubber spatula to pat it down in pan.
Best cake I’ve ever made! I use this batter for other cakes as well!
Hey Kimberly! I’m so glad you liked it!
Can I use buttermilk if I don’t have sour cream?
Hi, I think buttermilk would work for this recipe, it might taste just a little different.
I went out and got some sour cream and the cake was absolutely delicious!!!!
This is almost identical to the recipe I use (I do water instead of oil) and I ALWAYS use a bundt pan. Just make sure not to over mix or it will stick to the bundt pan because of the sugar. Hope this helps for those doing a bundt cake. I bake mine at 350 for 40 mins. If you would like to see a picture check out my instagram @_missbrittanynicole. Happy baking :)
Hi Brittany, Thanks for sharing your tips! I will have to try making it in a bundt pan some time.
Love this recipe! I make it in Two pie plates so I can bring one to work and one for home. Decrease the icing by half and it is plenty sweet enough.
Hi Kris, I’m so glad you liked the recipe. Thanks for taking the time to comment, we appreciate it!
Can you use cake flour for this recipe?
Hi Mar, Yes you can substitute cake flour.
Do you refrigerate leftovers
Hi Chan, You can refrigerate the leftover cake if you want. I don’t think it has to be refrigerated though. Thanks!
What size cake pan did you use
Hi Carol, I used a 9×13″ pan. The recipe instructions below should list all the info you need to make the cake. Thanks!
Hi the semisweet sisters! I made this last night and it is AMAZING!! I made only a few modifications in the cake like using only 1/4 cup sugar; 1/4 cup of plain yogurt as I didn’t have sour cream; about 1/4 cup of unsalted butter and 2 tbsp of imitation vanilla extract. I used almond milk, pure vanilla extract but only about 2 or 3 tbsp powdered sugar for the glaze so it was more like a nice almond milk glaze. I also baked them into muffins and they are just so delicious!!! Wonderful recipe!! ❤️ thank you!! ?
Hi Jennifer, Thanks for sharing. I am so glad the recipe turned out for you with the modifications. Thanks for taking the time to comment, we appreciate it!
Hi. I’ve made this cake twice. It tastes great. There is always one side that sinks a little. Have you experienced this? How can this be avoided?
Hi Sam, There are many different things that can cause a cake to sink. Some of those reasons include: Underbaking the cake, Opening the oven door too early, Closing the oven door too sharply, Cooling the cake too quickly, Batter sitting too long before baking. I’m not sure what causes your cake to sink on one side but it may be one of the factors above. Thanks for taking the time to comment, we appreciate it.
Hello, can you use pecans or walnuts in this cake batter?
Hello, Yes, you can add nuts to the cake batter.
Could you use Mayo instead of sour cream?
Hi Laura, Mayo is listed as a substitute for sour cream. I think it will have a slightly different flavor but it would work. Thanks.
Can you use a 8×8 square cake pan for this recipe/cake
Hi Adrianne, If you want to cut the recipe in half you can bake it in an 8×8″ square pan. Thanks.
Can you use a 8×8 inch cake pan
You can make 1/2 a recipe if you are using an 8×8″ baking dish.
Wow this was a hit! Made only half recipe last night but it was so good we’re making this for a second day in a row!
So glad you liked the recipe. I make half a batch sometimes as well. Thanks for taking the time to comment, we appreciate it!
Can this be made dairy-free? How? Thanks!
You would just want to use a dairy free alternative sour cream, milk, and butter for the recipe. They sell many different brands at the grocery stores. You want to use a dairy free butter alternative that says it works for baking. It will say on the packaging. Thanks.
My grandkids loved this Honey Bun cake only thing I done different I made my own sour cream, I’ve made this cake times each time is always something different about it my family loves it! Thank you!
Pamela, So glad you like the Honey Bun Cake Recipe. That’s great that you made your own sour cream, I’ve never tried that. Thanks for taking the time to comment, we appreciate it.
What substitutes can I use for sour cream cause I don’t have any
You can use plain or vanilla yogurt, buttermilk or whole milk as a substitute for sour cream.