Indulge in Sweet Delight: Sweet Potato Honey Bun Cake with Cinnamon Cream Cheese Icing Recipe

Photo byVal Reed

If you love cozy desserts that combine warm spices, a touch of sweetness, and rich creaminess, then this Sweet Potato Honey Bun Cake with Cinnamon Cream Cheese Icing is the perfect treat. The marriage of tender sweet potatoes and fragrant cinnamon creates a dessert that feels like comfort on a plate, making it ideal for chilly evenings or festive gatherings.

This cake is not just your ordinary dessert; it's a unique twist on the classic honey bun cake, with the added richness of sweet potatoes for moisture and flavor. Imagine slicing into a beautifully swirled cake, its cinnamon sugar layer melding perfectly with the fluffy sweet potato batter. Once it cools, it gets a generous topping of cinnamon cream cheese icing, chopped pecans, and a drizzle of caramel sauce to create a truly indulgent experience. It’s a delightful dessert that will leave everyone asking for seconds.

Recipe: Sweet Potato Honey Bun Cake with Cinnamon Cream Cheese Icing

Ingredients:

For the Cake:

• 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1 cup packed brown sugar
• 1 cup mashed sweet potatoes (about 1 medium sweet potato)
• 4 large eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1 cup sour cream

For the Cinnamon Swirl:

• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4 cup melted butter

For the Cinnamon Cream Cheese Icing:

• 8 oz cream cheese, softened
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 2 cups powdered sugar
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2-3 tablespoons milk or heavy cream (as needed for consistency)

For the Topping:

• 1/2 cup chopped pecans
• 1/4 cup caramel sauce (store-bought or homemade)

Directions:

Prepare the Oven and Pan:

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. Grease and flour a 9x13-inch baking pan or line it with parchment paper.

Make the Cake Batter:

1. In a large bowl, cream together the softened butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until light and fluffy.
2. Beat in the mashed sweet potatoes until well combined.
3. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Mix in the vanilla extract.
4. In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg.
5. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture, alternating with the sour cream, beginning and ending with the flour mixture. Mix until just combined.

Prepare the Cinnamon Swirl:

1. In a small bowl, mix together the granulated sugar and ground cinnamon.
2. Stir in the melted butter until combined.

Assemble and Bake:

1. Pour half of the cake batter into the prepared pan and spread evenly.
2. Sprinkle the cinnamon sugar mixture evenly over the batter.
3. Pour the remaining batter on top and smooth it out.
4. Use a knife or skewer to swirl the cinnamon mixture into the batter.
5. Bake in the preheated oven for 35-40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.

Make the Cinnamon Cream Cheese Icing:

1. In a large bowl, beat the softened cream cheese and butter together until smooth and creamy.
2. Gradually add the powdered sugar, beating until well combined.
3. Mix in the ground cinnamon and vanilla extract.
4. Add milk or heavy cream as needed to achieve a spreadable consistency.

Cool and Frost the Cake:

1. Allow the cake to cool completely in the pan on a wire rack.
2. Once cooled, spread the cinnamon cream cheese icing evenly over the top of the cake.

Add the Topping:

1. Sprinkle the chopped pecans over the icing.
2. Drizzle caramel sauce on top of the pecans.

Serve: Slice and enjoy the Sweet Potato Honey Bun Cake with its delicious cinnamon cream cheese icing and caramel drizzle. It’s perfect for gatherings, holidays, or just a cozy night in.

This cake will undoubtedly bring warmth and comfort with every bite. The soft, sweet cake combined with the rich cream cheese icing and the crunch of pecans is a dessert that feels indulgent but familiar. Whether you're serving this at a holiday dinner or simply craving something sweet, this honey bun cake delivers on every front.

The Sweet Potato Honey Bun Cake is a cozy, indulgent dessert that combines the earthy sweetness of mashed sweet potatoes with a warm swirl of cinnamon, brown sugar, and pecans. This cake is soft and moist, thanks to ingredients like sour cream and mashed sweet potatoes, while the cinnamon swirl adds a delightful burst of flavor. To top it all off, a rich cream cheese icing with a hint of cinnamon creates a creamy finish, perfect for the fall season or any special occasion.

Key Ingredients and Steps:

• Cake Base: The cake features a combination of mashed sweet potatoes, eggs, sour cream, and butter or oil, providing both richness and moisture. Some recipes suggest using a yellow cake mix for ease, while others opt for a fully homemade version with flour and baking powder​(Butter Your Biscuit)​(Homestead Goddess).
• Cinnamon Swirl: This element blends brown sugar, cinnamon, and chopped pecans for a delicious layer within the cake​(Plowing Through Life).
• Icing: The cinnamon cream cheese icing adds a perfect touch of sweetness, along with pecans for a delightful crunch​(optimal recipes)​(Plowing Through Life).

This cake is ideal for festive tables or as a cozy dessert for cold evenings, pairing wonderfully with coffee or tea. You can find variations of the recipe across the web, such as those from The Feedfeed and Homestead Goddess, which provide tips on enhancing flavor by toasting pecans or adjusting the sweetness depending on personal preference​(The Feedfeed)​(Homestead Goddess).