This strawberry honey bun cake has so much strawberry flavor. Butter and cream cheese is added to doctor up the strawberry cake mix. Strawberry cinnamon sugar filling and a oh so pink strawberry icing.
I’ll show you step by step how easy it is to make this recipe, perfect a baby shower, bridal, birthday, or during the holidays. Try this viral TikTok Honey Bun Cake recipe.
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Strawberry Honey Bun Cake
There is something so nostalgic about a classic honey bun. Honey buns are a cross between a doughnut and a cinnamon roll. Popular brands are Little Debbie, Hostess, Freshly’s or TastyKate, it’s a must try sweet treat.
Inspired by a traditional honey bun cake, strawberry flavor is added in every layer.
It starts by doctoring up a box of strawberry cake mix with butter and cream cheese making it flavorful and moist. Layering a strawberry cinnamon sugar filling and topping it with a pink strawberry glaze. The Best Strawberry Honey Bun Cake Ever!!
Love Strawberries? Check out these recipes Strawberry Crunch Tres Leches Cake and Strawberry Crunch Chocolate Covered Strawberries.
Ingredients and Substitutions
Cake Mix - Strawberry Flavored.
Cream Cheese - This recipe uses a whole block of full-fat variety, but you can substitute low-fat.
Eggs- Four large whole eggs.
Butter - Salted or unsalted will be delicious.
Oil - A neutral oil like vegetable or canola.
Strawberries- Freeze dried is best.
Sugar- White or cane sugar is preferred. Powdered sugar for the icing.
Cinnamon - Choose your favorite ground cinnamon brand or even a pumpkin or mixed spice blend.
Glaze- Strawberry glaze or topping will give that nice pink hue. Substitute strawberry jam if preferred.
Strawberry Cinnamon Sugar Filling Substitutions
After this strawberry honey bun cake bakes, the filling is thick with sweet cinnamon strawberry flavor. The texture is similar to a jam or jelly.
Substitute very smooth strawberry jam, jelly, or the glaze or topping used in the pink strawberry icing.
I recommend pouring all of the cake batter into the greased baking pan. Mixing about ½ cup smooth jam or glaze with ground cinnamon.
Spoon small portions onto the cake batter, then with a toothpick or butter swirl the mixture it into the cake batter. It’s ready to bake.
Tips & Suggestions
Add a touch of honey to the icing for that classic flavor.
Swap the strawberry cake mix for white or French vanilla, if preferred.
Make the glaze while the cake is baking, so it’s ready to pour when the cake is hot.
Bring the butter and cream cheese to room temperature or softened, it will be easier to mix.
Add strawberry or almond extract to the icing for extra boost in flavor.
How To Serve
This strawberry honey bun cake is best served warm with an extra drizzle of icing. Top with fresh strawberries or this strawberry crunch shortcake crumble and a glass of milk.
Try this Strawberry Crunch Banana Pudding or Easy Strawberry Cinnamon Rolls with Cream Cheese Frosting !!
Leftovers and Storage
Leftover strawberry honey bun cake should be stored in the refrigerator, in an airtight container for 4 days.
Cut slices or uncut cake can be wrapped in plastic wrap or parchment paper and stored in a freezer zipper bag in the freezer for up to 3 months.
How To Make Strawberry Honey Bun Cake Step By Step
Make Strawberry Cinnamon Sugar Filling
- Grab the freeze dried strawberries, sugar and ground cinnamon and prep them.
2. In a motor and pestle, pound the freeze dried strawberries to a fine powder.
3. Add the sugar and ground cinnamon.
4. Mix until combined and set aside.
Make Strawberry Cake Batter
- Preheat the oven to 325℉.
- Grab all the prepped ingredients.
3. Place the softened cream cheese and butter into a mixing bow.
4. With a hand mixer on low-medium speed, cream together the cream cheese and butter until smooth.
5. Add cake mix, eggs, and oil. Mix for about 2 minutes.
6. Give the strawberry batter a good mix with a rubber spatula and set aside.
Layer The Cake
- Grease the 9x13 baking pan with butter or oil.
- Spread about half of the cake batter into the baking pan.
3. Sprinkle the strawberry cinnamon sugar mixture.
4. Top with the remaining cake batter, spreading evenly.
5. Place into the oven and bake for about 40-45 minutes.
Make Strawberry Icing or Glaze
- Grab the ingredients and prep them.
2. In a small bowl mix together powdered sugar, strawberry glaze or topping, and water.
3. Mix until smooth. Add extra water if needed. Set aside.
Topping The Cake
- Remove the cake from the oven and let cool for 5-10 minutes.. Check that a toothpick comes out clean with a slight crumb.
2. With a toothpick poke holes all over the cake.
3. Drizzle the strawberry icing onto the hot cake. Smooth out evenly. Reserve some of the icing to drizzle on to the cake when serving.
4. Let the cake cool a bit. It's best served warmed with an extra drizzle of icing and fresh strawberries. Enjoy.
Strawberry Honey Bun Cake
Equipment
- Mixing Bowls
- Hand Mixer
- Measuring Tools
- Rubber Spatula or Mixing Spoon
- Toothpick
- 9x13 Baking Dish
- Motor and Postal / Mini Food Processor / Rolling Pin and Zipper Bag
Ingredients
Cake Batter
- 15.25 Box Strawberry Cake Mix
- ½ Cup Butter (Softened)
- 8oz Block Cream Cheese (Softened)
- ¼ Cup Vegetable Oil
- 4 Eggs
- Extra Butter or Oil To Grease Baking Pan
Strawberry Cinnamon Sugar Filling
- ⅔ Cup White Sugar
- 1-2 Tsp Ground Cinnamon
- 1oz Freeze Dried Strawberries
Strawberry Icing or Glaze
- 2 Cups Powdered Sugar
- ¼ Cup Strawberry Glaze or Topping
- 2-3 tablespoon Water (extract if needed)
- Touch of Honey (Optional)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 325℉.
Make Strawberry Cinnamon Sugar Filling
- In a motor and pestle, pound the freeze dried strawberries to a fine powder.
- Add the sugar and ground cinnamon. Mix until combined and set aside.
Make Cake Batter
- In a mixing bowl with a hand mixer on low-medium speed, cream together softened cream cheese and butter until smooth.
- Add cake mix, eggs, and oil. Mix for about 2 minutes.
Layer
- Grease the 9x13 baking pan baking pan with butter or oil.
- Spread about half of the cake batter in the the baking pan.
- Sprinkle strawberry cinnamon sugar mixture.
- Top with the remaining cake batter, spreading evenly.
- Place into the oven and bake for about 40-45 minutes. Until a tooth comes out clean with a slight crumb.
Make Strawberry Icing or Glaze
- In a small bowl mix together powdered sugar, strawberry glaze or topping, and water.
- Mix until smooth. Add extra water if needed. Set aside.
Glaze The Cake With Icing
- Remove the cake from the oven and let cool for 5-10 minutes.
- With a toothpick poke holes in the cake.
- Drizzle icing onto the hot cake. Smooth out evenly. Optional- Reserve some of the icing to drizzle on when serving.
- Let the cake cool a bit. It's best served warmed with an extra drizzle of icing and fresh strawberries. Enjoy.
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