This recipe for Cinnamon Roll Swirl Cake tastes just like a fresh cinnamon bun, but so much easier to make!
Is there any better aroma than something baking in the oven with cinnamon? As a child it was the smell of my Mom's cinnamon rolls, we could smell them baking a block from our house as we ran home from school. Cinnamon is my all time favorite spice to use, from decadent desserts to warm ciders on a cold winter night. My Cinnamon Raisin Scones with Cinnamon Cream Cheese Butter are exceptional recipes using cinnamon.
What I love about this Cinnamon Swirl Cake recipe is that it is so easy to make, yet incredibly tasty! You get the great cinnamon bun flavor without spending all day baking. Another awesome thing about this cinnamon recipe is that it consists of ingredients that are usually readily available in our pantry. A moist coffee cake recipe for brunch, tea time, or after dinner dessert.
I baked this cinnamon roll cake in a 9 x 13 inch baking pan, but a decorative bundt pan is also a great option for a more elegant presentation. The baking time will be slightly longer.
I topped this Cinnamon Roll Swirl cake recipe with a simple glaze, but a cream cheese frosting would also taste fantastic. I have a great cream cheese frosting recipe, check it out on my Moist Banana Cake recipe.
This post was originally published November 5th, 2013. Occasionally I update with fresh tips, content, and photos. Current update September 10, 2023.
Cinnamon Roll Swirl Cake
Ingredients
Cake Batter
- 3 cups flour
- 4 teaspoons baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 ½ cups milk
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- 2 eggs
- ½ cup butter melted
Cinnamon Swirl Mix
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons flour
- 2 tablespoons cinnamon
- 1 cup butter almost to point of melted, very soft
Cake Glaze
- 2 cups confectioners' sugar also called powdered sugar or icing sugar
- 5 tablespoons milk
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
Cake Batter
- In a medium bowl whisk together flour, baking powder, salt,
- Using standing mixer with paddle attachment, blend together sugar, milk, eggs and vanilla (a hand mixer will also work).
- Add flour mixture and mix until combined. Do not overmix.
- Once full combined, with mixer on low speed, slowly add in the butter.
- Pour into a greased 9 x 13 baking pan.
Cinnamon Swirl Mix
- Mix together brown sugar, flour and cinnamon small bowl.
- Make sure butter is very soft, but not melted. Stir into the brown sugar mixture and combine well.
- Pour over the cake batter and using a knife swirl the cinnamon mixture into the cake batter.
- Bake at 350º F for 35-45 minutes.
Cake Glaze
- Stir together confectioners' sugar, milk and vanilla extract until smooth.
- When cake is done, remove from the oven, and while still warm drizzle the glaze over cake.
Vivian Kaufman says
Made this a lot. Everyone in my family loves it.
Laureen King says
Thanks Vivian, my family loves this cake as well. It gets devoured instantly!
WENDY SWANSON says
The First time I made this - I went by the Recipe. The Second Time - I Doubled the Powder Sugar and Glaze Recipe. We liked it better with More Glaze. It is FANTASTIC !
Laureen King says
Thats great Wendy, so glad you enjoyed the recipe!!
Kayla says
Hi! I was wondering if you can use a Bundt pan for this or does it have to be a 8 by 8 pan?
Laureen King says
Kayla the recipe is for a 9x13 pan which should work well in a bundt pan but may require longer baking.
violet says
Hi, the mixture seemed to rise too much during baking and became a dome shape. there were also few pockets with the cinnamon topping overflowing. any idea why it turned out this way? the cake was still nice and yummy though.
Laureen King says
Hi Violet, I'm not quite sure, I have never had this happen. Possibly you over-mixed the batter.
Kay Downing says
Can you freeze the cinnamon swirl cake
Laureen King says
I have not froze this cake, never lasts that long, but I'm sure it would freeze well.