Strawberry Honeybun Cake with Strawberry Cream Icing

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šŸ“ Strawberry Honeybun Cake with Strawberry Cream Icing

šŸ’– 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. It’s 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.


šŸ“ 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

🄣 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 batter—don’t overmix, just create light swirls to marble the cinnamon sugar through the cake.

Step 4: Bake

Place in the oven and bake for 35–40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Allow it to cool completely before icing.


šŸ° 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.


šŸŽ‚ 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 20–30 minutes before slicing for clean edges.

šŸ“œ 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 strawberries—often 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.


🄰 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.

🧁 Formation Tips (a.k.a. Baker’s Secrets)

  • Use room temperature ingredients for a smooth batter and even bake.
  • Don’t over-swirl the cinnamon layer—it 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.

šŸŽ‰ Conclusion

The Strawberry Honeybun Cake with Strawberry Cream Icing is more than a dessert—it’s a celebration of comfort, color, and care. It’s the kind of treat that’s as good with a glass of milk as it is with a flute of champagne.

It’s 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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