This easy Sweet Potato Honey Bun Cake is insanely delicious and super reminiscent of a classic honey bun treat but in cake form. The tender cake is infused with real sweet potato flavor and layered with a gooey brown sugar cinnamon center. A quick, luscious icing finishes this delectable cake for the ultimate indulgence!

sweet potato honey bun cake slice on wire rack

It feels like forever since I’ve shared a new dessert recipe with you. The drought ends now because this insane deliciousness has entered the chat and whewwwwww, she’s a real banger, y’all. My birthday is on Saturday (6/7) and what a perfect time to celebrate with a new sweet treat!

When I tell you that I am obsessed with this one, gah. My lemon sweet rolls are my favorite dessert on the site but baby, this here honey bun cake is inching closer and closer to the top 👀…

sweet potato honey bun cake slices on wire rack with cake knife

Sweet Potato Honey Bun Cake 🧡

A classic honey bun is such a nostalgic staple that many of us grew up on during our childhood (and still enjoy as adults). I remember when my mom used to toss the Little Debbie ones in my lunch box on special occasions. Well, we’re taking all of the high notes of this coveted treat and putting its vibe into cake form. To start, this honey bun cake is super easy and straightforward.

I’m a big-time lover of finding a way to sneak sweet potato essence into my baked goods. The combination of gooey brown sugar and warm spices with the sweet potato, goodness gracious. To cap it off, a simple vanilla icing serves as a velvety blanket to finish. This cake is an absolute dream, peeps…

YOU WILL LOVE MMMKAY!

ingredients for sweet potato honey bun cake in bowls

What You’ll Need For The Recipe:

(Note: the full ingredients list, including measurements, is provided in the recipe card directly below.)

The ingredient line-up here features a handful of basic pantry baking staples like brown sugar, vanilla extract, cinnamon, and nutmeg to name a few.

A good ole boxed cake mix is the cake’s foundation in the recipe. We’ll doctor it up with other goods as well as sweet potato puree. Everything about this rich, warm, and mouthwatering cake gives low effort, high reward! 🙌🏾

sweet potato cake batter in large bowl with whisk
spoon sprinkling cinnamon brown sugar over cake batter in pan
sweet potato cake batter being poured in cake pan
baked sweet potato honey bun cake in cake pan

How To Make This Sweet Potato Honey Bun Cake:

(Note: please see the recipe card directly below for the complete written instructions.)

  • Whip up the cake batter and layer it in a 9×13-inch baking pan along with the brown sugar filling. Then bake away!
vanilla icing being spooned over sweet potato cake

Finish & Serve:

  • After baking, let the cake cool in the pan. Then pour the icing over the cake and evenly smooth. Let the cake sit for a bit to allow the icing to set.
  • Then slice the sweet potato honey bun cake into wedges and serve. 👅🤤!!!
sweet potato honey bun cake slices stacked on top of each other on wire rack

Why You’ll Love This Honey Bun Cake:

This cake is sooo easy to make, beyond scrumptious, and the most clutch bake to make for any occasion. Whether you’re entertaining, celebrating an event, or just looking to get your bake on…this sweet potato honey bun cake is a winner! It’s a unique and festive treat that will have everybody grabbing seconds, ha!

sweet potato honey bun cake slices

If you love sweet potato desserts, my sweet potato pound cake is a top reader-favorite, give this sweet potato cornbread a whirl for a twist on classic cornbread, and these sweet potato cinnamon rolls are incredible!

slice of sweet potato honey bun cake on small plate

With this Sweet Potato Honey Bun Cake, I’ve unlocked your new favorite dessert I fear…ha! It’s simply irresistible. Be sure to tag @butterbeready in your BBR recipe creations, I sure love to see it when you do. Until next time! 🤟🏾

Desserts that’ll knock ya block off:

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sweet potato honey bun cake slice on wire rack

Melt-In-Ya-Mouth, Sweet Potato Honey Bun Cake

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  • Author: Quin Liburd
  • Prep Time: 20 minutes
  • Cook Time: 35 minutes
  • Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
  • Yield: 12
  • Category: Desserts & Sweets
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: Southern
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Description

This easy Sweet Potato Honey Bun Cake is insanely delicious and super reminiscent of a classic honey bun treat but in cake form. The tender cake is infused with real sweet potato flavor and layered with a gooey brown sugar cinnamon center. A quick, luscious icing finishes this delectable cake for the ultimate indulgence!

Ingredients

For the sweet potato cake:

  • 1 (15.25-ounce) box yellow cake mix (we use Duncan Hines)
  • 1 cup whole milk
  • ½ cup sweet potato puree
  • 4 large eggs
  • ½ cup vegetable oil
  • 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
  • 1 cup packed dark brown sugar
  • 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
  • ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • Pinch of salt

For the icing:

  • 1 ½ cups powdered sugar, sifted if lumpy
  • 3 tablespoons whole milk
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Coat a 9×13-inch baking pan with non-stick spray and then line it with parchment paper for good measure and set aside.
  2. For the cake batter: In a large mixing bowl, combine the boxed cake mix, milk, sweet potato puree, eggs, oil, and vanilla extract. Whisk the cake mixture until well combined and smooth. Then set aside.
  3. For the brown sugar filling: In a medium bowl, combine the brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. Use your hand to stir the mixture until well combined.
  4. Back to the cake, pour half of the cake batter into the prepared baking pan. Then use a utensil to spread the batter to the edges as much as you can. Evenly sprinkle the brown sugar filling on top of the cake batter. Then evenly pour the remaining cake batter over the brown sugar- it’s okay if some of the brown sugar filling is still visible.
  5. Bake the cake at 350°F for 30-35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean. Meanwhile, prepare the icing.
  6. For the icing: In a medium bowl, combine the powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla extract. Whisk the icing until silky smooth and well combined. 
  7. After baking, let the cake cool in the pan for 15 minutes. Then carefully transfer the cake to a cooling rack to continue cooling and pour the icing over the cake. Use the back of a spoon to smooth the icing over the cake evenly. Then let the cake sit for 10-15 minutes for the icing to set.
  8. Slice the cake into 12 wedges and serve. Enjoy!

Notes

  1. Please read blog post in its entirety for more tips + tricks.

Recipe by: Quin Liburd- Butter Be Ready

Photography by: The Mindful Hapa

sweet potato honey bun cake slice on wire rack