Step-by-Step Guide to Making These Honey Bun Brownies

Preparing Your Baking Pan

Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a 9×13-inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on two sides. This makes removing and cutting the brownies much easier. Alternatively, grease the pan well with butter or cooking spray.

Making the Honey Bun Brownie Base

In a large mixing bowl, combine the yellow cake mix, vegetable oil, eggs, and vanilla extract. Mix with a wooden spoon or spatula until well combined. The mixture will be thick and slightly sticky—this is exactly what you want. Don’t add any extra liquid; the thickness creates that dense, brownie-like texture.

The batter won’t look like traditional brownie batter, and that’s fine. It’s more like very thick cookie dough. This texture is what transforms into those chewy, dense honey bun brownies everyone loves.

Spread the batter evenly into your prepared pan. Use the back of a spoon or an offset spatula to smooth it out. Getting it relatively even helps ensure uniform baking.

Creating the Perfect Cinnamon Swirl

In a small bowl, mix together the brown sugar and cinnamon. The brown sugar adds depth and that characteristic honey bun flavor, while the cinnamon provides warmth and aromatics.

Drizzle the melted butter over the top of your brownie base. You don’t need to spread it completely—just get it relatively distributed across the surface.

Sprinkle the cinnamon-sugar mixture evenly over the melted butter. Now comes the fun part: using a butter knife or skewer, swirl the cinnamon mixture into the batter. Make figure-eight patterns, zigzags, or spirals—whatever motion feels natural. The goal is to create beautiful marbled patterns throughout the brownies without mixing everything together completely.

Baking Your Honey Bun Brownies

Bake for 25-30 minutes. These brownies are done when the edges are set and golden brown, but the center still has a slight jiggle when you gently shake the pan. A toothpick inserted in the center should come out with a few moist crumbs—not wet batter, but not completely clean either.

Don’t overbake! The brownies continue cooking as they cool, and you want that fudgy, chewy texture. Overbaking creates dry, cake-like brownies rather than the dense, honey-bun-inspired treat you’re going for.

Let the brownies cool in the pan for at least 30 minutes before glazing. They need to be mostly cool so the glaze sets properly rather than just melting into the warm brownies.

Making and Applying the Sweet Glaze

While your honey bun brownies cool, make the glaze. In a medium bowl, whisk together the powdered sugar, milk, vanilla extract, and salt. The consistency should be thick but pourable—similar to honey. If it’s too thick, add milk one teaspoon at a time. If too thin, add more powdered sugar.

Pour the glaze over the cooled brownies, starting in the center and working outward. Use an offset spatula or the back of a spoon to spread it evenly, making sure to cover all the edges and corners. The glaze will pool slightly in the swirls, creating even more visual drama.

Let the glaze set for at least 30 minutes before cutting. For the cleanest cuts, use the parchment overhang to lift the entire brownie slab onto a cutting board, then use a sharp knife, wiping it clean between cuts.

Nutritional Information for Honey Bun Brownies

Per brownie (based on 24 servings):

• Calories: 180
• Total Fat: 7g
• Saturated Fat: 2g
• Cholesterol: 20mg
• Sodium: 130mg
• Total Carbohydrates: 28g
• Dietary Fiber: 0g
• Sugars: 20g
• Protein: 1g

These are definitely a treat to be enjoyed in moderation, perfect for satisfying that sweet tooth without the guilt of eating three regular brownies!

Presentation Tips for Your Brownies

The visual appeal of honey bun brownies is considerable. Those cinnamon swirls visible through the glossy glaze create an irresistible pattern that makes each square unique. The image of these brownies stacked two high, showing off those beautiful swirls with the shiny glaze catching the light, is enough to make anyone reach for a piece.

For serving:

• Cut into squares and arrange on a white platter to show off the swirls
• Serve warm with vanilla ice cream for an extra-special treat
• Package individual squares in cellophane bags tied with ribbon for gifts
• Display on a cake stand for parties
• Dust with extra cinnamon before serving for added visual appeal

Perfect Pairings with Honey Bun Brownies

These brownies pair beautifully with:

• Hot coffee: The slight bitterness balances the sweetness perfectly
• Cold milk: Classic and always satisfying
• Vanilla ice cream: Turn it into a honey bun brownie sundae
• Whipped cream: Adds lightness to the dense brownie
• Caramel sauce: For those who like extra sweetness