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Tasty Potato Honey Cake

Featured in Sweet Desserts.

You need to sample this wonderful cake that came about when I was playing around in my kitchen! It's this fantastic blend of sweet potato, yellow cake, and honey bun flavors that somehow click together amazingly. The trick is the warm spice swirl running all through it that makes every bite exciting, and the maple topping just makes it incredible. Takes roughly 75 minutes from start to finish but it's mostly just baking time. Even my fussy aunt who "hates sweet potatoes" grabbed another piece. It's now my family's top request for autumn get-togethers!
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punchofyummy
Updated on Thu, 13 Mar 2025 18:31:51 GMT
A piece of glazed pumpkin cake is being lifted from a pan. Pin it
A piece of glazed pumpkin cake is being lifted from a pan. | pinchofyummy.com

This Sweet Potato Honey Bun Cake blends autumn tastes with down-home comfort. Combining sweet potatoes, a cinnamon-sugar swirl, and drizzled with maple topping, it's soft, juicy, and packed with warm, snug feelings. Great for morning meals, after-dinner sweets, or special occasions, you'll definitely want another slice!

The Heartwarming Background of This Snug Cake

Whenever I bake this cake my home gets filled with amazing smells of spices and sweet potatoes. It's pretty awesome how a store-bought cake mix turns into something that seems totally made from scratch. The mix of earthy sweet potatoes with that honey bun style creates a real comfort food experience in every mouthful.

What You'll Need

  • Sweet Potatoes: Grab canned ones to save time or fresh if you want that homemade feel.
  • Yellow Cake Mix: Pick any brand you like for a soft and tasty foundation.
  • Cream Cheese: Brings moisture and creaminess. Make sure it's soft before using.
  • Vegetable Oil: Makes your cake stay moist and soft.
  • Eggs: They hold everything together and give structure.
  • Spice Swirl: Brown sugar mixed with cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg creates warm, cozy ribbons.
  • Maple Icing: Powdered sugar, milk, and maple syrup come together for a sweet, buttery topping.

Creating It Step by Step

Mix Your Batter
Blend the cake mix with mashed sweet potato, cream cheese, eggs, and vanilla until it's smooth. Put it aside for now.
Create Layers
Put half your batter in a greased pan, sprinkle the sugar and spice mix over it, then pour the rest of the batter on top. Take a knife and make gentle swirls through it all.
Cook It
Pop it in the oven at 350°F (175°C) for 27-29 minutes until it turns golden and starts pulling away from the sides. Let it cool all the way before adding icing.
Finish With Icing
Stir powdered sugar, milk, and maple syrup together until smooth. Pour over your cooled cake and wait 10 minutes before cutting slices.

My Favorite Tricks

After making this cake many times I've picked up some useful tips. Get your cream cheese really soft before starting it'll make your batter much smoother. Don't skimp on mashing those sweet potatoes nobody wants to bite into chunks. When you're doing the swirl part go easy we want those spicy layers to stay separate. And don't rush the cooling time before icing your cake the wait makes everything perfect.

How to Enjoy and Keep

This cake works great as part of a festive breakfast or the sweet finish to a cozy meal. I love watching people's reactions when they take their first bite with coffee on the side. Sometimes I'll top it with a bit of whipped cream or some toasted pecans for something special. You can keep any extra pieces in a sealed container for a few days though at my place it usually disappears pretty fast.

Ways to Switch It Up

What's great about this cake is how you can change it to suit what you like. Try adding some chopped pecans if you want crunch or use your own favorite spice mix. I sometimes use honey for the icing instead of maple syrup or sprinkle some cinnamon sugar on top. Every little change brings something new to this already tasty cake.

A close-up of a moist, glazed pumpkin dessert cut into squares, with a few pieces arranged on a white plate. Pin it
A close-up of a moist, glazed pumpkin dessert cut into squares, with a few pieces arranged on a white plate. | pinchofyummy.com

Frequently Asked Questions

→ Why does the cream cheese need to be softened?
Soft cream cheese mixes easier into the batter. When it's too cold, you'll get chunks that mess up how your cake feels in your mouth.
→ How do I get the best sweet potato texture?
Crush your sweet potatoes completely before adding them to your mix. Chunks can change how your cake turns out. Canned sweet potatoes work fine if you're in a hurry.
→ Why shouldn't I over-swirl the batter?
A light swirl keeps the flavor layers separate. Too much swirling will blend the spice mix too much into your batter, and you'll lose those nice flavor layers.
→ Why wait for the cake to cool before icing?
When the cake's too hot, your icing will just run off instead of staying put. Let it cool all the way for about 30 minutes before you put the icing on.
→ What pan size works best?
This cake works great in a 9x13 baking dish. Make sure you spray the bottom and sides with nonstick spray so your cake comes out easily.

Conclusion

This inventive cake mixes sweet potato with yellow cake mix and honey bun tastes, showing off a warm spice swirl and maple topping. Done in around 75 minutes for a special and yummy treat.

Potato Honey Cake Treat

A mouthwatering blended cake mixing sweet potato, yellow cake mix, and honey bun tastes with a spicy swirl and maple topping. Great for every celebration.

Prep Time
5 Minutes
Cook Time
70 Minutes
Total Time
75 Minutes
By: Amelia

Category: Sweet Desserts

Difficulty: Intermediate

Cuisine: American

Yield: 24 Servings (24 slices)

Dietary: Vegetarian

Ingredients

01 1½ cup sweet potato mash.
02 15.25 oz box of yellow cake mix.
03 4 ounces soft cream cheese.
04 ¾ cup cooking oil.
05 4 large eggs at room temp.
06 1 tablespoon vanilla flavoring.
07 ½ cup packed light brown sugar.
08 ¾ teaspoon cinnamon powder.
09 1 teaspoon ginger powder.
10 ¼ teaspoon freshly ground nutmeg.
11 1¼ cup powdered sugar.
12 3 tablespoons fresh milk.
13 1 tablespoon real maple syrup.

Instructions

Step 01

Get your oven hot at 350F with the rack in the middle. Coat a 9x13 dish with cooking spray. Combine all the spice swirl stuff in a small bowl.

Step 02

Throw the cake mix, sweet potato, soft cream cheese, oil, eggs and vanilla into your stand mixer. Whisk for a minute till everything's blended.

Step 03

Put half the mix in your pan, sprinkle the spices on top, then add the rest of the batter. Run a knife through it to make swirls but don't mix it completely.

Step 04

Pop it in the oven for 27-29 minutes until it's golden and starts pulling away from the edges. Let it sit in the pan for 30 minutes to cool down.

Step 05

Stir together the powdered sugar, milk and maple syrup for your topping. Spread it all over the cake after it's cooled. Wait another 10 minutes before you cut into it.

Notes

  1. You'll get 24 squares about 2x2 inches each.
  2. Sweet potatoes from a can work fine too.
  3. Make sure your cream cheese isn't cold.

Tools You'll Need

  • Baking pan 9x13 inches.
  • Electric stand mixer.
  • Several mixing bowls.

Allergy Information

Please check ingredients for potential allergens and consult a health professional if in doubt.
  • Watch out for dairy in the cream cheese.
  • Contains eggs.

Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)

It is important to consider this information as approximate and not to use it as definitive health advice.
  • Calories: 208
  • Total Fat: 10 g
  • Total Carbohydrate: 28 g
  • Protein: 2 g