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This recipe brings a creative twist to comfort baking with a bold mix of sweet, salty and savory. Air fryer cornbread cake with honey buttercream combines rich cornmeal cake with bits of candied bacon and a whipped honey frosting. It’s cooked in the air fryer for easy cleanup and perfect texture. The frosting is light but flavorful, balancing sweet honey with salty notes. It’s the kind of dessert that makes an impression without needing hours in the kitchen.

A slice of Air Fryer Cornbread Cake with Honey Buttercream frosting and crumbled topping is being served from a whole cake on a black plate, making for a unique cornbread dessert.

Air fryer cornbread cake with honey buttercream is sweet, savory and tender, topped with candied bacon and fluffy whipped frosting for the ultimate comfort dessert.

If you like this, you might also enjoy lemon ricotta cake, maple bacon turkey sliders or cheesy jalapeno corn dogs.

A slice of Air Fryer Cornbread Cake with Honey Buttercream frosting and bacon bits sits on a black plate, with a fork beside it.

Why You’ll Love It

Sweet and salty combo: Candied bacon and honey bring balance to every bite.
Air fryer friendly: No oven required for this easy bake.
Fluffy and rich: The buttercream is soft, sweet and perfectly whipped.
Showstopper finish: Looks beautiful and tastes even better.

A slice of moist Air Fryer Cornbread Cake with Honey Buttercream frosting and sprinkled nuts sits on a yellow cake stand.

Air Fryer Cornbread Cake Ingredients

A complete list of ingredients and amounts can be found in the recipe card below.

All purpose flour: Provides structure and helps the cake hold its shape.
Cornmeal: Adds texture and classic cornbread flavor.
Baking soda and baking powder: Help the cake rise and stay fluffy.
Salt: Balances the sweet ingredients.
Brown sugar: Adds depth and a hint of molasses.
Eggs: Bind the ingredients and provide richness.
Buttermilk: Keeps the cake moist with a subtle tang.
Unsalted butter: Used in both the batter and frosting for richness.
Maple extract: Brings warmth and enhances sweetness.
Honey: Adds natural sweetness and moisture.
Bacon: Thick-cut slices, candied for crisp, salty-sweet contrast.
Sugar: Granulated sugar is used for candying the bacon, while powdered sugar gives the frosting its smooth, fluffy texture.
Sour cream: Adds tang and helps the frosting stay light.
Sea salt: Balances the sweetness in the frosting.

Assorted baking ingredients and bacon slices arranged in bowls and plates on a wooden surface, perfect for preparing sweet cornbread with icing or trying out your favorite air fryer cornbread recipe.

How to Make Cornbread Cake with Honey

For more detailed instructions with weights and measurements, jump to the printable recipe card.

Candy the bacon: Coat both sides with sugar, then air fry until crisp. Crumble and reserve some for the frosting.
Mix the dry ingredients: Combine flour, cornmeal, brown sugar, baking soda, baking powder and salt in a large bowl.
Mix the wet ingredients: In another bowl, whisk eggs, buttermilk, melted butter, maple extract and honey.
Combine and mix: Pour wet mixture into the dry ingredients, stir until smooth, then fold in crumbled bacon.
Air fry the cake: Pour into a greased pan, cover with foil and cook until set.
Make the frosting: Whip butter and salt, then slowly add powdered sugar. Beat in honey and sour cream, then fold in reserved bacon.
Frost and garnish: Spread frosting over cooled cake, add extra candied bacon and drizzle with honey.

A close-up of moist Air Fryer Cornbread Cake with Honey Buttercream, topped with bacon bits on a black plate, with a fork beside it.

Substitutions and Variations

Use maple syrup instead of honey: For a deeper, woodsy sweetness.
Try turkey bacon: For a lighter option with similar texture.
Add spice: A pinch of cayenne or chipotle powder adds a mild kick.

A slice of Air Fryer Cornbread Cake with Honey Buttercream frosting and crumbled bacon on a black plate, with a fork beside it.

Serving Suggestions

With a drink: Enjoy an iced gingerbread latte, hot chocolate or perhaps a Starbucks copycat pink drink with a slice of this delicious cake.
With a cocktail: Whip up vodka lavender cocktails or perhaps a clementine martini.

A slice of moist sweet cornbread with icing, topped with white frosting and bacon crumbles, creates a unique cornbread dessert.

How to Store Air Fryer Cornbread Cake with Honey and Bacon

Store: Keep the cake covered and refrigerated and eat within a week. You can also keep it at room temperature but only if unfrosted.
Freeze: Freeze slices of this cake for up to 3 months.
Thaw: Defrost in the fridge overnight.

Close-up of an Air Fryer Cornbread Cake with Honey Buttercream frosting, topped with bacon bits, with a slice missing, on a black plate.

Top Tips

Don’t skip the foil: It keeps the top from burning while the center cooks.
Let the cake cool fully: Frosting will melt on a warm cake.
Whip the frosting long enough: This makes it fluffy and smooth.

A slice of moist Air Fryer Cornbread Cake with Honey Buttercream and bacon crumbles sits on a black plate, offering the perfect balance of sweet cornbread with icing and savory flavor.

Honey and Bacon Cornbread Cake FAQs

What’s the history of cornbread?

It’s believed corn first originated in Mexico’s Tehuacan valley 7000 years ago. It was roasted then ground into a meal and shaped into cakes which were then added to stews. Corn all that time ago didn’t look like modern corn today. Instead, it resembled wild grass with a few seeds on the stalk. The best seeds were planted for the following year’s harvest which is how the corn cross-pollinated. The Colonial diet held corn in high regard as a staple. It was mixed with eggs, yeast and molasses to make a cake of sorts. The Iroquois pounded corn into flour then added water and maybe nuts and/or berries. This dough was cooked in boiling water to make little corn dumplings.

Can I make this without bacon?

Yes, just omit it. The cake and frosting will still have great flavor.

Do I have to use an air fryer?

You can bake it in a conventional oven. Just check for doneness with a toothpick.

Can I double the frosting?

Yes, especially if you want a thicker layer or extra for piping.

A slice of Air Fryer Cornbread Cake with Honey Buttercream and bacon bits on top, served on a yellow plate.

Cornbread Cake with Honey Butter Frosting Recipe

A slice of frosted Air Fryer Cornbread Cake with Honey Buttercream is lifted from the whole cake on a black plate, showcasing its delightful crumbled toppings and creamy Honey Buttercream frosting.
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5 from 13 votes

Air Fryer Cornbread Cake with Honey Buttercream

By: Bella Bucchiotti
This sweet and savory cake has everything you love about cornbread, but in dessert form. It’s soft, lightly sweetened with honey and topped with a fluffy buttercream and crunchy bacon. You can make the whole thing in your air fryer, no oven needed.
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 46 minutes
Total Time: 56 minutes
Servings: 9

Equipment

Ingredients 

For the Cornbread Cake 

For the Candied Bacon 

For the Honey Buttercream Frosting 

Instructions 

  • Preheat the air fryer to 375 degrees F for 5 minutes.  

Make the Candied Bacon

  • Combine brown sugar and sugar in a small bowl, then pour onto a plate. Dip both sides of the bacon into the sugar mixture. To prevent the bacon from smoking in the air fryer, add 2 to 3 tablespoons of water into the tray under the basket.
  • Arrange bacon in the air fryer basket and cook for 6 minutes. No need to flip. Crumble the bacon and set aside ¼ cup for the frosting. 

Make the Cornbread Cake

  • Prepare cornbread cake. In a large mixing bowl, combine flour, cornmeal, brown sugar, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Whisk well to thoroughly combine. 
  • In a separate bowl, whisk eggs, buttermilk, melted butter, maple extract and honey. Make a small well in the center of the dry ingredients, then pour in the egg mixture.
  • Use a dough whisk or wooden spoon to lightly mix, then add the candied bacon. Mix well until smooth

Bake the Cornbread Cake

  • Pour cornbread batter into an 8-inch round cake pan. Cover with foil to prevent burning.
  • Cook for 40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean

Make the Honey Buttercream Frosting

  • Use a stand mixer or hand mixer for this step to properly whip the buttercream. Add the butter and salt to a mixing bowl and beat until fluffy, about 2 minutes.
  • Slowly start to incorporate the powdered sugar a little bit at a time, about 2 minutes. Once fully incorporated, add the honey and sour cream. Set the mixer to medium/high speed and mix for 1 more minute.
  • Fold in the candied bacon. 

Frost and Garnish the Cake

  • Remove cornbread cake from the pan and frost. Garnish with candied bacon and drizzle with honey.

Notes

Don’t skip the foil: It keeps the top from burning while the center cooks.
Let the cake cool fully: Frosting will melt on a warm cake.
Whip the frosting long enough: This makes it fluffy and smooth.

Nutrition

Calories: 418kcal | Carbohydrates: 67g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 15g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 86mg | Sodium: 781mg | Potassium: 163mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 40g | Vitamin A: 447IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 104mg | Iron: 2mg
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Assorted baking ingredients and bacon slices arranged in bowls and plates on a wooden surface, perfect for preparing sweet cornbread with icing or trying out your favorite air fryer cornbread recipe.
Two raw bacon strips coated in brown sugar on a white square plate, with more bacon on a tray nearby—perfect alongside sweet cornbread with icing for an irresistible sweet and savory pairing.
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Cake batter for Air Fryer Cornbread Cake with Honey Buttercream frosting sits in a round pan inside an air fryer basket on a wooden countertop.
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Air fryer cornbread cake with honey buttercream is a fun, unexpected twist on classic flavors. The balance of cornmeal, honey and bacon makes it savory enough for cornbread lovers but sweet enough for dessert fans. It’s easy to make, even easier to serve and tastes like comfort food with a fancy edge. Whether you’re baking for a gathering or just trying something new, this recipe offers the perfect mix of texture and taste.

Other Recipes to Try

Round cornbread dessert with frosting and crumbled bacon on top, displayed on a black plate—an irresistible sweet cornbread with icing for a unique treat.
A slice of sweet cornbread with icing and candied bacon sits on a yellow plate, making this cornbread dessert an irresistible treat.
Bella Bucchiotti

Bella Bucchiotti is a Canadian-based syndicated food, travel, and lifestyle writer, photographer, and creator at xoxoBella. She founded xoxoBella in 2015, where she shares her love for food, dogs, sustainability, fitness, crafts, outdoor adventures, travel, and philanthropy to encourage others to run the extra mile, try new recipes, visit unfamiliar places, and stand for a cause. Bella creates stress-free and family-friendly recipes for weeknight dinners and festive feasts.

 

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Recipe Rating




5 from 13 votes (3 ratings without comment)

13 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    Okay, this cornbread cake was next-level! The candied bacon gave it a fun twist, and the honey buttercream was so light but flavorful. I can’t believe it all came out of the air fryer.

    Reply