Cinnamon Roll Cake

Introduction

What if you could enjoy all the flavors of a classic cinnamon roll without the rolling and waiting for dough to rise? That’s exactly what this Cinnamon Roll Cake delivers. Imagine a soft, fluffy cake swirled with buttery cinnamon sugar and drizzled with a luscious glaze — it’s like a cinnamon roll in cake form!

This recipe is easy enough for a weekday treat but special enough for holidays, brunch gatherings, or cozy weekend mornings. With just 15 minutes of prep, you can have a warm, gooey cake baking in the oven and filling your kitchen with irresistible aromas.


Ingredients

For the Cake:

  • 3 cups all-purpose flour
  • ¼ tsp salt
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 4 tsp baking powder
  • 1 ½ cups milk
  • 2 eggs
  • 2 tsp vanilla extract
  • ½ cup unsalted butter, melted

For the Cinnamon Swirl:

  • 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 cup brown sugar, packed
  • 2 tbsp all-purpose flour
  • 1 tbsp ground cinnamon

For the Glaze:

  • 2 cups powdered sugar
  • 5 tbsp milk
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract

Timing

  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 35–40 minutes
  • Total Time: 50–55 minutes

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1: Make the Cake Batter

  • In a large bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt.
  • Stir in milk, eggs, and vanilla until just combined.
  • Add melted butter and mix until smooth. Pour batter into a greased 9×13-inch baking dish.

Step 2: Add the Cinnamon Swirl

  • In a separate bowl, mix softened butter, brown sugar, flour, and cinnamon until combined.
  • Drop spoonfuls of the mixture over the cake batter.
  • Use a knife to swirl through the batter, creating a marble effect.

Step 3: Bake the Cake

  • Bake at 350°F (175°C) for 35–40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

Step 4: Glaze & Serve

  • Whisk together powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla until smooth.
  • Drizzle over warm cake. Serve immediately for maximum gooeyness.

Tips for Success

  • Don’t overmix the batter — it keeps the cake soft.
  • Swirl gently so you get pockets of cinnamon instead of mixing it all in.
  • For a richer flavor, add a pinch of nutmeg or cardamom to the cinnamon swirl.
  • If you love extra gooey cakes, double the cinnamon filling.

Nutrition (per serving, 12 servings)

  • Calories: 420
  • Protein: 5g
  • Carbs: 58g
  • Fat: 20g
  • Fiber: 1g
  • Sugar: 38g

Variations

  • Apple Cinnamon Roll Cake: Add diced apples to the swirl mixture.
  • Pumpkin Spice Twist: Add ½ cup pumpkin puree and pumpkin spice to the batter.
  • Cream Cheese Glaze: Replace half the milk in the glaze with softened cream cheese.
  • Mini Bundt Version: Bake in mini bundt pans for individual servings.

Serving Suggestions

  • Enjoy warm with a cup of coffee or chai latte.
  • Serve as part of a brunch spread with eggs, fruit, and bacon.
  • Top with a scoop of vanilla ice cream for dessert.

Storage & Reheating

  • Room Temperature: Store in an airtight container up to 2 days.
  • Fridge: Keeps for 4–5 days.
  • Freezer: Wrap slices individually and freeze up to 2 months.
  • Reheat: Microwave slices for 15–20 seconds to bring back that fresh-baked gooeyness.

Conclusion

This Cinnamon Roll Cake is the ultimate comfort dessert — gooey, sweet, and bursting with cinnamon flavor. It’s a low-effort, high-reward recipe that everyone will rave about.

👉 Pin this recipe now, bake it this weekend, and let your kitchen smell like a bakery!


FAQs

Q1: Can I use a cake mix as a shortcut?
Yes — a yellow or vanilla cake mix works well, then just add the cinnamon swirl.

Q2: Can I make this ahead?
Yes — bake the cake, cool, and glaze before serving. Store covered at room temp.

Q3: Can I cut the sugar?
You can reduce the sugar in the swirl and glaze slightly, but it won’t be as gooey.

Q4: Can I make this gluten-free?
Yes — substitute a 1:1 gluten-free flour blend.

Q5: Can I bake this in a round pan?
Yes, but adjust the baking time (around 30 minutes for 9-inch round pans).

Cinnamon Roll Cake

Recipe by Sara
Servings

4

servings
Prep time

30

minutes
Cooking time

40

minutes
Calories

300

kcal

Ingredients

  • For the Cake:
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour

  • 1 cup granulated sugar

  • 1 tbsp baking powder

  • ¼ tsp salt

  • 1 cup milk

  • 2 large eggs

  • 2 tsp vanilla extract

  • ½ cup unsalted butter, melted

  • For the Cinnamon Swirl:
  • 1 cup brown sugar, packed

  • 3 tbsp ground cinnamon

  • ½ cup unsalted butter, softened

  • For the Glaze:
  • 2 cups powdered sugar

  • ¼ cup milk

  • 1 tsp vanilla extract

Directions

  • Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.
  • In a bowl, whisk flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. Stir in milk, eggs, vanilla, and melted butter until smooth.
  • Pour batter into the baking dish.
  • In a separate bowl, mix brown sugar, cinnamon, and softened butter. Drop spoonfuls over the batter and swirl gently with a knife.
  • Bake 30–35 minutes, until a toothpick comes out clean.
  • Whisk glaze ingredients and drizzle over warm cake before serving.