Heavenly Sweet Potato Honey Bun Cake Recipe That Melts Hearts

Dessert lovers swoon over this delectable sweet potato honey bun cake that blends rich, earthy flavors with unexpected sweetness.

Warm spices dance through each tender crumb, creating a mouthwatering experience.

Southern comfort meets bakery-style indulgence in this simple yet stunning treat.

Soft, moist layers promise pure delight with every single bite.

The homemade cake brings together classic ingredients in a surprisingly elegant way.

Drizzled with a luscious glaze, this dessert turns an ordinary moment into something extraordinary.

You’ll want to savor each delectable slice slowly and share the magic with those closest to you.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 40 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour

Calories: 280 kcal

Servings: 12

Honey Bun Cake Ingredient List

• Sweet Potato: Adds natural sweetness, moisture, and vibrant orange color to the cake, packed with nutrients.
• Cake Mix: Provides convenient, consistent cake structure and saves preparation time.
• Vegetable Oil: Ensures cake's tenderness and helps ingredients blend smoothly.
• Eggs: Bind ingredients together and create a rich, stable cake texture.
• Milk: Enhances cake's moisture and contributes to smooth batter consistency.
• Sour Cream: Adds tanginess and helps create a soft, tender crumb.
• Honey: Introduces natural sweetness and helps retain cake's moisture.

• Brown Sugar: Creates a caramel-like layer with deep, rich sweetness.
• Ground Cinnamon: Adds warm, aromatic spice that complements sweet potato flavor.

• Cream Cheese: Provides creamy, tangy base for luxurious frosting.
• Butter: Adds richness and helps create smooth icing texture.
• Vanilla Extract: Enhances overall flavor with subtle, sweet aroma.
• Ground Cinnamon: Reinforces warm spice notes in the icing.
• Powdered Sugar: Sweetens and thickens the cream cheese frosting.
• Milk: Adjusts icing consistency for perfect spreadability.

Equipment for Swirling Cinnamon Into Cake

• Large mixing bowl: Essential for combining cake ingredients and creating smooth batter.
• Medium mixing bowl: Perfect for preparing cinnamon sugar and cream cheese icing.
• Electric mixer: Helps blend ingredients quickly and creates smooth, creamy textures.
• 9×13-inch baking pan: Standard size for making this delicious cake.
• Wire cooling rack: Allows cake to cool evenly without getting soggy.
• Knife or skewer: Useful for creating marbled effect in cake batter.
• Measuring cups and spoons: Ensures accurate ingredient measurements.
• Spatula: Helps spread batter and icing evenly.

Bake a Sweet Potato Honey Bun Cake at Home

• Prepare Oven and Pan

Warm up your oven to 350F and get your baking dish ready by coating it with grease and flour.

• Create Cake Base

Blend sweet potato, cake mix, oil, eggs, milk, sour cream, and honey in a large bowl until the mixture becomes smooth and well combined.

• Add Cinnamon Sugar Layer

Sprinkle a layer of brown sugar and cinnamon mixture over half the batter in the pan, creating a delicious swirled effect by gently mixing the layers with a knife.

• Bake the Cake

Cook the cake for 35-40 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean when inserted into the center.

• Cool and Rest

Let the cake cool in the pan for 15 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

• Whip Up Cream Cheese Icing

Mix cream cheese and butter until creamy, then add vanilla, cinnamon, and powdered sugar. Adjust consistency with milk until you reach the perfect spreading texture.

• Frost and Serve

Cover the cooled cake with the luscious cinnamon cream cheese icing, slice into squares, and enjoy your delightful sweet treat.

Tips That Add Spice and Keep It Soft

• Master the Sweet Potato Honey Bun Cake
• Use room temperature ingredients like eggs and cream cheese to ensure a smooth, well-blended batter that creates a tender cake texture every single time.
• When creating the marbled effect, use a gentle figure-eight motion with your knife to create beautiful, soft swirls without overmixing the batter.
• Swap the regular cake mix with a gluten-free cake mix and ensure all other ingredients are certified gluten-free for those with dietary restrictions.
• Replace cream cheese with dairy-free cream cheese alternatives and use plant-based milk and butter to make this cake friendly for lactose-intolerant friends.
• This cake freezes beautifully for up to 3 months when wrapped tightly in plastic wrap and stored in an airtight container, perfect for advance party planning.

Serve With a Smooth Cream Cheese Icing

• Rustic Brunch Delight: Serve warm slices alongside fresh berries and a steaming cup of coffee for a cozy weekend morning treat.
• Elegant Dessert Presentation: Dust the iced cake with extra ground cinnamon and garnish with candied pecans for a sophisticated touch that adds crunch and visual appeal.
• Portable Party Squares: Cut into smaller bite-sized pieces for potlucks, picnics, or casual gatherings, making it easy for guests to enjoy without utensils.
• Family Comfort Pairing: Complement the cake with a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream or a dollop of whipped cream to enhance its warm, sweet flavors and create a decadent dessert experience.

Store Slices in the Fridge

• Keep cake in an airtight container in refrigerator for up to 5 days. Cover with plastic wrap to maintain moisture and prevent drying out.
• Allow cake to sit at room temperature for 30 minutes before serving to enhance flavor and softness. Remove from fridge and let natural warmth improve texture.
• Wrap individual cake slices in plastic wrap, then aluminum foil. Store in freezer-safe container for maximum 2 months. Thaw overnight in refrigerator before enjoying.
• Store unused cream cheese icing separately in sealed container. Refrigerate for 7-10 days. Stir well before reusing and add tiny splash of milk if consistency seems thick.

FAQs

• What are the key ingredients that make this cake unique?

The sweet potato adds moisture and natural sweetness, while honey provides depth of flavor and helps create a soft texture in the cake.

• Can I use fresh sweet potatoes for this recipe?

Yes, boil or roast fresh sweet potatoes and mash them thoroughly before measuring. Canned sweet potato puree also works perfectly if you want a quicker option.

• Is this recipe beginner-friendly?

Absolutely! The recipe uses a cake mix as a base, which simplifies the process and makes it easy for home bakers of all skill levels to create a delicious dessert.

• How do I know when the cake is fully baked?

Insert a toothpick into the center of the cake – if it comes out clean with no wet batter, the cake is done. The edges will also start to pull away slightly from the pan’s sides.

Irresistible Sweet Potato Honey Bun Cake

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4.6 from 38 reviews

• Total Time: 1 hour
• Yield: 13 1x

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Description

Sweet Potato Honey Bun Cake weaves Southern comfort with indulgent flavor, creating a memorable dessert experience. Cinnamon cream cheese icing crowns this irresistible treat you’ll savor with pure delight.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• 1 box (15.25 oz / 432 g) yellow cake mix
• 3 large eggs
• 1 cup (230 g) mashed sweet potato
• ½ cup (120 mL) milk
• ½ cup (120 mL) sour cream
• ¼ cup (60 mL) vegetable oil
• ¼ cup (60 mL) honey
• ½ cup (100 g) brown sugar, packed
• 1 tbsp ground cinnamon
• 115 g (4 oz) cream cheese, softened
• ¼ cup (60 g) unsalted butter, softened
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1 ½ cups (180 g) powdered sugar
• 12 tbsps milk (as needed for consistency)

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Instructions

1. Preheat Preparation: Warm the oven to 350F (175C) and ready a 9×13-inch baking pan with a light grease and flour coating.
2. Batter Creation: Whisk mashed sweet potato, cake mix, vegetable oil, eggs, milk, sour cream, and honey in a large mixing bowl until achieving a silky, homogeneous texture.
3. Cinnamon Sugar Blend: Combine brown sugar and ground cinnamon in a small bowl to create a fragrant layer.
4. Layer Composition: Pour half the batter into the prepared pan, evenly distribute the cinnamon sugar mixture across the surface, then cover with remaining batter.
5. Marbling Technique: Use a knife or skewer to gently swirl the layers, creating an artistic, marbled pattern throughout the cake.
6. Baking Process: Slide the pan into the preheated oven and bake for 35-40 minutes, confirming doneness with a clean toothpick test.
7. Cooling Stage: Rest the cake in the pan for 15 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
8. Icing Preparation: Whip cream cheese and butter until smooth, then fold in vanilla extract, ground cinnamon, and powdered sugar until fully incorporated.
9. Icing Refinement: Adjust the consistency by gradually adding milk, one tablespoon at a time, until reaching a spreadable texture.
10. Final Touch: Generously spread the cinnamon cream cheese icing across the cooled cake, ensuring an even, luxurious coating, then slice and serve with joy.

Notes

Optimize Sweet Potato Handling: Drain excess moisture from mashed sweet potato to prevent a soggy cake texture, using a cheesecloth or fine mesh strainer for best results.

Balance Cinnamon Swirl: Distribute cinnamon sugar mixture evenly and sparingly to prevent clumping and ensure consistent flavor throughout each slice.

Prevent Overmixing: Gently fold cake ingredients until just combined to maintain a light, tender crumb and avoid developing tough gluten structures.

Customize Dietary Needs: Substitute gluten-free cake mix, dairy-free cream cheese alternatives, and plant-based milk for accommodating various dietary restrictions without compromising taste and texture.

• Prep Time: 20 minutes
• Cook Time: 40 minutes
• Category: Desserts, Snacks
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 13
• Calories: 290
• Sugar: 23 g
• Sodium: 300 mg
• Fat: 10 g
• Saturated Fat: 3 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 5 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 42 g
• Fiber: 1 g
• Protein: 4 g
• Cholesterol: 55 mg