This Oreo Honeybun Cake with Cinnamon Cookies n’ Cream Icing is the perfect fusion of nostalgic comfort and cookies-and-cream indulgence. With soft layers of moist honeybun-flavored cake swirled with cinnamon sugar and topped with a rich, creamy icing loaded with crushed Oreos and a hint of cinnamon, this dessert is a must-bake for Oreo lovers and sweet tooths alike.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
I love how this recipe brings together the familiar taste of a classic honeybun cake with a unique twist. The Oreo and cinnamon combo in the icing adds texture and a cookies-and-cream richness that perfectly balances the cinnamon warmth in the cake. It’s moist, flavorful, and an easy showstopper that’s ideal for holidays, potlucks, or just a weekend treat. Plus, it’s made with simple pantry ingredients and comes together quickly.
Ingredients
(Here’s a tip: Check out the full list of ingredients and measurements in the recipe card below.)
- Yellow cake mix
- Eggs
- Sour cream
- Vegetable oil
- Brown sugar
- Ground cinnamon
- Vanilla extract
- Crushed Oreo cookies
- Powdered sugar
- Butter
- Cream cheese
- Ground cinnamon (for the icing)
- Milk or heavy cream
Directions
- I preheat the oven to 350°F and grease a 9×13 inch baking pan.
- In a large bowl, I mix the yellow cake mix, eggs, sour cream, vegetable oil, and vanilla extract until smooth.
- In a separate bowl, I stir together the brown sugar and ground cinnamon.
- I pour half of the cake batter into the prepared pan, then sprinkle the cinnamon sugar mixture evenly over it.
- I pour the remaining cake batter on top and gently swirl the layers with a butter knife for that honeybun effect.
- I bake for 35–40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.
- While the cake is cooling, I make the icing by beating the butter and cream cheese until smooth.
- I mix in powdered sugar, cinnamon, vanilla, and just enough milk to get a spreadable consistency.
- Finally, I fold in the crushed Oreos and spread the icing generously over the cooled cake.
Servings and timing
This recipe yields about 12–15 servings. I find it takes around 15 minutes to prepare and 35–40 minutes to bake, with about 20 minutes of cooling time before icing.
Variations
I sometimes swap out the yellow cake mix for a butter pecan mix for an even richer flavor. If I want a stronger chocolate presence, I double up on the Oreos or add mini chocolate chips into the batter. For a lighter icing, I skip the cream cheese and just use a buttercream base. And if I’m out of Oreos, chocolate sandwich cookies work just fine.
storage/reheating
I keep leftovers covered in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. To reheat, I pop individual slices in the microwave for about 15–20 seconds—just enough to warm it up without melting the icing too much. For longer storage, I wrap the cake in plastic and foil and freeze it for up to 2 months. When ready to serve, I thaw it overnight in the fridge.
FAQs
Can I use a different cake mix flavor?
Yes, I’ve tried this with butter golden and even spice cake mix—it always turns out delicious.
Do I need to use cream cheese in the icing?
No, but I like how it adds a tangy richness. You can leave it out and use more butter for a classic buttercream-style frosting.
Can I make this cake ahead of time?
Absolutely. I bake it a day ahead and ice it once it’s completely cool. The flavors deepen overnight.
Can I use store-bought frosting?
If I’m short on time, I’ll grab a tub of cream cheese or vanilla frosting and stir in cinnamon and crushed Oreos. It works in a pinch.
How do I crush the Oreos for the icing?
I usually put them in a zip-top bag and crush them with a rolling pin. I like a mix of fine crumbs and small chunks for texture.
Conclusion
This Oreo Honeybun Cake with Cinnamon Cookies n’ Cream Icing is a cozy, sweet treat that brings the best of both worlds together. It’s easy to whip up, packed with comforting cinnamon warmth, and topped with a creamy, cookie-filled finish. Whether for a celebration or a casual dessert night, it’s one I always come back to.
Print
Oreo Honeybun Cake with Cinnamon Cookies n’ Cream Icing
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
- Yield: 12–15 servings
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
This Oreo Honeybun Cake blends the nostalgic flavor of honeybun cake with the indulgence of cookies-and-cream icing, swirled with cinnamon sugar and topped with a rich Oreo-loaded frosting.
Ingredients
- 1 box yellow cake mix
- 4 large eggs
- 1 cup sour cream
- 2/3 cup vegetable oil
- 1 tbsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1 tbsp ground cinnamon
- 1/2 cup crushed Oreo cookies (for icing)
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 1/2 cup butter, softened
- 4 oz cream cheese, softened
- 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon (for icing)
- 2–4 tbsp milk or heavy cream
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease a 9×13 inch baking pan.
- In a large bowl, mix yellow cake mix, eggs, sour cream, vegetable oil, and vanilla extract until smooth.
- In a separate bowl, stir together brown sugar and ground cinnamon.
- Pour half of the batter into the pan, then sprinkle the cinnamon sugar mixture evenly over it.
- Pour remaining batter on top and gently swirl with a knife.
- Bake for 35–40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean. Let cool.
- Beat butter and cream cheese until smooth. Mix in powdered sugar, cinnamon, vanilla, and enough milk to reach spreadable consistency.
- Fold in crushed Oreos and spread icing over cooled cake.
Notes
- Substitute yellow cake mix with butter pecan or spice cake for variation.
- Add mini chocolate chips for extra chocolate flavor.
- Use store-bought frosting mixed with cinnamon and crushed Oreos if short on time.
- Crush Oreos using a rolling pin for a mix of crumbs and chunks.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 410
- Sugar: 34g
- Sodium: 320mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 9g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11g
- Trans Fat: 0.5g
- Carbohydrates: 49g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 4g
- Cholesterol: 60mg