Step 1: Preheat the Oven

Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish with nonstick spray or butter and set it aside.

Step 2: Prepare the Sweet Potatoes

If you haven’t already, cook and mash the sweet potatoes. You can bake them in the oven, steam, or boil them until fork-tender. Allow the mashed sweet potatoes to cool slightly before using.

Step 3: Mix the Wet Ingredients

In a large mixing bowl, cream the softened butter, granulated sugar, and honey together using an electric mixer until light and fluffy. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Mix in the vanilla extract and the cooled mashed sweet potatoes until smooth.

Step 4: Combine the Dry Ingredients

In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, alternating with the buttermilk. Mix until just combined—do not overmix.

Step 5: Prepare the Swirl Mixture

In a small bowl, combine the brown sugar, ground cinnamon, and chopped pecans. This will create the delicious swirl throughout the cake.

Step 6: Layer the Cake Batter and Swirl

Pour half of the cake batter into the prepared baking dish, spreading it evenly with a spatula. Sprinkle the cinnamon-pecan mixture evenly over the batter. Pour the remaining batter on top and smooth it out. Use a butter knife to gently swirl the batter and pecan mixture together for a marbled effect.

Step 7: Bake the Cake

Bake the cake in the preheated oven for 45–50 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Allow the cake to cool slightly in the pan while you prepare the glaze.

Step 8: Make the Honey Glaze

In a medium bowl, whisk together the powdered sugar, honey, milk, and vanilla extract until smooth. Adjust the consistency by adding more milk if needed—you want it to be pourable but not too thin.

Step 9: Glaze and Serve

Drizzle the honey glaze evenly over the warm cake. Let the glaze set for a few minutes before slicing and serving. Enjoy warm or at room temperature.