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š Strawberry Honeybun Cake with Strawberry Cream Icing
š Introduction
The Strawberry Honeybun Cake is a dreamy dessert that brings together the fruity brightness of strawberries, the comforting sweetness of honeybun cake, and the creamy richness of a luscious strawberry cream icing. Itās a cake that feels like a warm hug, a summer picnic, and a birthday surprise all at once.
With roots in the traditional Southern Honeybun Cake, which mimics the taste of the beloved breakfast pastry, this version gives it a berry twist. Whether you’re baking for a special someone, a spring brunch, or simply your own sweet tooth, this recipe is love at first bite.
š Ingredients
For the Strawberry Honeybun Cake:
- 1 box strawberry cake mix (15.25 oz)
- ½ cup vegetable oil
- 3 large eggs
- 1 cup sour cream
- ½ cup whole milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ cup brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
- ½ cup chopped strawberries (optional, for extra fruitiness)
For the Strawberry Cream Icing:
- 4 oz cream cheese, softened
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
- 1½ cups powdered sugar
- ¼ cup pureed fresh strawberries (or strawberry jam)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- A pinch of salt
š„£ Method & Instructions
Step 1: Preheat and Prepare
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour a 9×13-inch baking dish, or line it with parchment paper for easier removal.
Step 2: Make the Cake Batter
In a large mixing bowl, combine:
- Strawberry cake mix
- Eggs
- Oil
- Sour cream
- Milk
- Vanilla extract
Mix until smooth and creamy. You can use a hand mixer or stand mixer on medium speed for about 2 minutes.
Step 3: Add the Honeybun Layer
In a small bowl, mix together:
- Brown sugar
- Cinnamon
Pour half of the cake batter into the prepared pan. Sprinkle the cinnamon sugar mix evenly across the surface. Add chopped strawberries if using.
Pour the remaining cake batter on top and spread evenly.
Use a butter knife to gently swirl the batterādonāt overmix, just create light swirls to marble the cinnamon sugar through the cake.
Step 4: Bake
Place in the oven and bake for 35ā40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Allow it to cool completely before icing.
š° Make the Strawberry Cream Icing
In a mixing bowl, beat together:
- Softened cream cheese
- Butter
Add:
- Powdered sugar
- Strawberry puree or jam
- Vanilla extract
- Pinch of salt
Beat until smooth, light, and fluffy. If too thick, add a tiny splash of milk. If too thin, add more powdered sugar.
š Assemble the Cake
Once the cake has cooled:
- Spread the Strawberry Cream Icing generously over the top.
- Garnish with fresh strawberry slices, if desired.
- Chill for 20ā30 minutes before slicing for clean edges.
š History & Inspiration
The Honeybun Cake is a retro Southern classic, inspired by the beloved sticky honey buns found in bakeries and breakfast tables across the U.S. Its cinnamon-sugar swirl and rich moist base are hallmarks of comfort food.
Adding strawberry flavor modernizes the recipe with a fruity, romantic twist. It brings together the nostalgia of a honeybun with the bright sweetness of strawberriesāoften associated with love and summer.
This cake evolved from generations of home bakers who experimented with boxed mixes to create desserts that taste like a hug from grandma.
š„° Lovers of This Cake
This cake has found a place in the hearts of:
- Berry Lovers: Who crave the fresh taste of strawberries in every form.
- Sweet Tooths: Who appreciate the rich, sugary cinnamon swirl.
- Romantics: Who bake this as a gift or celebration of love.
- Home Bakers: Who love easy recipes that look fancy but come together effortlessly.
- Kids: Who will love the color, the icing, and every gooey bite.
š§ Formation Tips (a.k.a. Bakerās Secrets)
- Use room temperature ingredients for a smooth batter and even bake.
- Donāt over-swirl the cinnamon layerāit should be marbled, not mixed in.
- Chill the icing slightly before spreading if you want neater layers.
- Add a splash of lemon juice to the icing for a tangy contrast to the sweet cake.
- Make it a layer cake by baking in two 8-inch pans and adding icing in between.
š Conclusion
The Strawberry Honeybun Cake with Strawberry Cream Icing is more than a dessertāitās a celebration of comfort, color, and care. Itās the kind of treat thatās as good with a glass of milk as it is with a flute of champagne.
Itās a cake for celebrations, cuddles, spring mornings, and midnight cravings. For lovers of strawberries and lovers of life, this is a recipe to make again and again.
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