This Cinnamon Roll Cake is everything you love about cinnamon rolls, but in an easy, no-fuss cake. It is delicious, sweet, and packed with cinnamon flavor, making it perfect for breakfast or dessert.
Since first making this recipe years ago, this cake has become so loved that it’s often requested for birthday breakfasts and holiday gatherings. And what makes it so amazing is the buttery cinnamon swirl baked right into the cake. Then, it’s topped with a delicious glaze that takes it out of this world.
If you’re looking for all of the delicious flavors of cinnamon rolls but in a fraction of the time (only 40 minutes from start to finish!), this is the cake to try. With loads of butter, cinnamon, glaze, and flavor, this recipe always gets rave reviews!
If you love sweet breakfast treats, try our Coffee Cake, Cinnamon Rolls, and French Toast Bake.
Why you’ll love it + Why it works:
- Easy to Make: Simple steps make this perfect for busy mornings or gatherings, plus it’s ready in only 40 minutes.
- Great for Sharing: A 9×13 pan feeds a crowd with ease. Make it for special mornings, like Christmas, or a lazy Sunday morning.
- Swirled Topping: The cinnamon mixture bakes into the cake for flavor in every bite.
- Moist Texture: The butter and milk keep the cake soft and tender.
Cinnamon Roll Cake Ingredients
Cake
- All-purpose flour (3 cups): Gives the cake structure and stability. See How to Measure Flour.
- Sugar (1 cup): Sweetens the cake and helps keep it moist.
- Baking powder (4 teaspoons): Helps the cake rise and stay light.
- Salt (½ teaspoon): Balances the sweetness and enhances flavor.
- Milk (1½ cups): Adds moisture and creates a smooth batter.
- Eggs (2 large): Helps bind the ingredients and adds structure.
- Vanilla extract (2 teaspoons): Enhances the overall flavor.
- Unsalted butter (½ cup, melted): Adds richness and keeps the cake soft.
Cinnamon Topping
- Unsalted butter (¾ cup, softened): Forms the base of the cinnamon topping. See How to Soften Butter Quickly.
- Light brown sugar (1 cup, packed): Adds sweetness and that classic caramel-like flavor.
- All-purpose flour (2 tablespoons): Helps thicken the topping slightly.
- Ground cinnamon (1 tablespoon): Brings that warm cinnamon roll flavor.
Glaze
- Powdered sugar (2 cups, sifted): Creates a smooth and sweet glaze.
- Milk (5 tablespoons): Thins the glaze to the perfect consistency.
- Vanilla extract (1 teaspoon): Adds flavor to the glaze.
How to Make Cinnamon Roll Cake
PREP. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease a 9-x-13-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.
BATTER. In a large bowl, whisk flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, milk, eggs, and vanilla together. Slowly stir in ½ cup melted butter and pour the batter into the prepared baking dish.
In a medium bowl, mix ¾ cup softened butter, brown sugar, 2 tablespoons flour, and cinnamon. Dollop the cinnamon sugar mixture over the top of the cake mixture evenly.
Swirl your topping and cake mixture with a knife, only inserting it halfway into the cake batter and going up and down the length of the pan.
BAKE. Bake for 28–32 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.
GLAZE. Meanwhile, mix powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla extract in a small bowl. Drizzle over the warm cinnamon roll cake.
Kristyn’s Recipe Tips
- Tender Cake: Do not overmix the batter to keep the cake light and soft.
- Cinnamon Swirl: Swirl gently so you keep defined ribbons of cinnamon throughout.
- Glaze: Drizzle glaze while warm so it soaks in slightly.
- Smooth Batter: Use room temperature ingredients for smoother mixing.
- Frosting: This recipe uses a glaze topping, but you can make a cream cheese frosting instead.
Cinnamon Roll Cake Recipe
Video
Ingredients
Cake
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup sugar
- 4 teaspoons baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1½ cups milk
- 2 large eggs
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- ½ cup unsalted butter, melted
Cinnamon Topping
- ¾ cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup packed light brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
Glaze
- 2 cups powdered sugar, sifted
- 5 tablespoons milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish and set aside.
- In a large bowl, mix flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, milk, eggs, and vanilla.
- Slowly stir in melted butter and pour the batter into the prepared baking dish.
- Cinnamon topping: In another bowl, mix softened butter, brown sugar, flour, and cinnamon. Dollop over the top of the cake mixture evenly.
- Swirl your topping and cake mixture with a knife, only inserting it halfway into the batter and going up and down the length of the pan.
- Bake for 28–32 minutes.
- Mix all glaze ingredients in a small bowl. Drizzle over the cake while it is still warm.
Notes
- Tender Cake: Do not overmix the batter to keep the cake light and soft.
- Cinnamon Swirl: Swirl gently so you keep defined ribbons of cinnamon throughout.
- Glaze: Drizzle glaze while warm so it soaks in slightly.
- Smooth Batter: Use room temperature ingredients for smoother mixing.
- Frosting: This recipe uses a glaze topping, but you can make a cream cheese frosting instead.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Recipe FAQ
Bake it 24 hours in advance and store, unglazed, covered at room temperature. You can also wrap the baked cake with plastic and foil and freeze up to 3 months. Just reheat it in the oven for a few minutes to get warm before drizzling with the glaze.
Cool and cover with foil or saran wrap. Leave it on the counter for 3-4 days or wrap and freeze it for up to 3 months.
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This recipe was originally published January 2013.
This looks wonderful! What is the best way to make in advance and reheat without drying it out?
I thought about making just the cake part and heating it up on low in the oven and also adding the topping just before serving. Would this work? Thanks.
That should work 🙂 It doesn’t have to be served warm. When I make it for functions, I will make the morning of, cover, then serve later. But, really it’s up to you.
Sounds great! Thanks!
I made this over the weekend. It is truly amazing. I should have swirled the filling in better to reach the bottom, but it was stil great. I did not have any vegetable oil so I used all butter…extra delicious!! Eat it warm. Still good cool, but better warm.
I am so glad you enjoyed it! Thank you for trying it & letting me know!
I thoroughly enjoyed making the cake and it turned out well for my first time. I didn’t get the swirl right. I made dinner for some students that I advise. I hope to make it again and get the swirl right this time.
Thank you for giving it a try!! You’ll get it right 🙂 Mine wasn’t perfect the first time & it usually comes out different every time.
Do you think I could make these as cupcakes? I want to be able to share this at school and I feel it may be easier to share, but I don’t know if that will mess with the cake.
Honestly, I haven’t tried. I’m not quite sure how those would work. You could always double the recipe, make the cake & pour the other half in cupcake liners, to see how’d they turn out?? I’d love to know! Good luck!
LOVE IT! I made it last night for my office today, and it was a smash. The only thing I did differently was I added Cream Cheese to my icing…….Awesome! I will totally make this again.
Love to hear that! I am so glad it was a hit! Adding cream cheese is a great idea!
Well I forgot to put the ingredient that is so important it is in the title! You guessed it, I forgot the cinnamon!
I enriched the glaze with cinnamon and maple syrup on a desperate attempt to give it more flavor!
It came out great , a bit bready but super soft with a crispy top. Amazing cake Kristyn , thanks you! I will be making it again!
LOL..oh, no! Thank you so much for trying it & hopefully, it will taste even better next time!
I would love to get more recipes and ideas.
Thank you.
Thank you for stopping by! I will keep ’em coming 🙂
I wanted to know would this be ok to make the night before and throw back in the oven the next morning to warm up or would it be dryer
You know, I haven’t tried. If anything, I would make it, but not bake it, until you are ready for it, then top with the glaze. I hope that helps 🙂
I made the Cinnamon Roll cake this morning and decided, with gusto, IT’S A KEEPER!
Thanks for sharing the recipe.
Yay!! I love to hear that! Thank you! It’s one of our favs!
I’ve made this cake TONS of times, and I absolutely love it. I have one issue, though. Every time I make it, the cinnamon mixture seems to transfer from the top of the batter to the bottom. The cake still has amazing flavor, but if you want any cinnamon taste you have to scrape the bottom of the dish pretty good.
It does sink and kind of goes throughout the whole cake, but some should be on top. I’m not sure why it would all sink to the bottom. I’m glad you like it though! I wish I could answer your problem!