My Cinnamon Roll Mistake
I once tried to make cinnamon rolls from scratch. It was a mess. The dough was too sticky. I felt so frustrated. My kitchen looked like a flour bomb went off.
That’s why I love this cake. It gives you all the cozy cinnamon taste, but it is so much easier to make. No tricky dough to worry about. Have you ever had a baking disaster? I still laugh at mine.
Why This Cake is So Special
This cake is like a big, warm hug. It mixes everything into one pan. You get the soft cake, the sweet cinnamon swirl, and the creamy frosting. Doesn’t that sound amazing?
This matters because good food brings people together. Sharing a warm slice can make a bad day better. It is a simple joy. What is your favorite comfort food? Is it cake, or maybe cookies?
Let’s Talk About the Swirl
The best part is making the cinnamon swirl. You drop little spoonfuls on the batter. Then you take a knife and swirl it all around. It is like making edible art.
Fun fact: Cinnamon comes from the bark of a tree. Isn’t that neat? It is why it smells so warm and woody. This matters because cooking is a chance to be creative. There is no wrong way to make your swirls.
The Magic of Warm Cake
Please, serve this cake warm. The heat makes the frosting melt just a little. It sinks into all the cinnamony cracks. The smell will fill your whole house. It is pure happiness.
I love to make this on a quiet afternoon. It turns an ordinary day into something special. Do you like your desserts warm from the oven, or cool from the fridge? I am team warm, all the way.
A Simple Joy to Share
You do not need a special reason to make this cake. A rainy Tuesday is reason enough. It is a simple way to show someone you care. Even if that someone is just you.
This matters because the best memories are often simple. They are about the taste of something sweet and the feeling of being cozy. What memory does the smell of cinnamon bring back for you?
Ingredients:
| Ingredient | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| All-purpose flour (or cake flour) | 1 1/2 cups | For the cake |
| Granulated sugar | 1/2 cup | For the cake |
| Baking powder | 2 teaspoons | For the cake |
| Salt | 1/4 teaspoon | For the cake |
| Milk | 3/4 cup | For the cake |
| Large egg | 1 | For the cake |
| Vanilla extract | 1 teaspoon | For the cake |
| Butter, melted | 1/4 cup | For the cake |
| Butter, softened | 1/2 cup | For the cinnamon swirl |
| Light brown sugar | 1/2 cup | For the cinnamon swirl |
| All-purpose flour | 1 Tablespoon | For the cinnamon swirl |
| Ground cinnamon | 1 Tablespoon | For the cinnamon swirl |
| Powdered sugar | 1 cup | For the frosting |
| Butter, softened | 2 Tablespoons | For the frosting |
| Cream cheese | 4 ounces | For the frosting |
| Milk | 1-2 Tablespoons | For the frosting |
| Vanilla extract | 1/2 teaspoon | For the frosting |
My Cozy Cinnamon Roll Cake
Oh, this recipe brings back such happy memories. My grandson calls it breakfast cake. I just call it delicious. It has all the warm, gooey goodness of a cinnamon roll. But it is so much easier to make. No waiting for dough to rise. Just mix, swirl, and bake. Your kitchen will smell like a cozy hug. Does not that sound wonderful?
Step 1: First, get your oven nice and hot at 350 degrees. Grease your baking dish well. I use my old glass one. It has seen so many cakes. In a big bowl, mix the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. Then pour in the milk, crack in the egg, and add the vanilla. Stir it all together until it is smooth. Finally, stir in that melted butter. It makes the batter so rich.
Step 2: Now for the fun part, the cinnamon swirl. Mix the soft butter, brown sugar, flour, and cinnamon. You will get a thick, sweet paste. Drop little spoonfuls all over the top of your cake batter. Then take a knife and swirl it through. Make pretty patterns. (My hard-learned tip: do not over-swirl or you will lose the ribbons of cinnamon!).
Step 3: Pop the pan into the oven. Now, the hardest part is waiting. Bake it for about 30 to 37 minutes. You will know it is done when a toothpick poked in the middle comes out clean. I still laugh at that time I took it out too early. What a mess! The smell is just amazing, is not it?
Step 4: While the cake is baking, make the frosting. Beat the soft butter and cream cheese together. Then mix in the powdered sugar, vanilla, and a splash of milk. You want it to be soft enough to drizzle. When the warm cake comes out, pour that frosting right over the top. It will melt into all the swirls. Perfection!
This cake is best eaten warm, on the same day you make it. It never lasts long in my house. What is your favorite cozy baking smell? Share below!
Cook Time: 30–37 minutes
Total Time: About 50 minutes
Yield: 9 servings
Category: Dessert, Breakfast
Three Fun Twists to Try
This cake is wonderful as it is. But sometimes, it is fun to play with your food. Here are a few ideas I have tried over the years. They always make my family smile. You can get so creative in the kitchen.
Apple Pie Twist: Add a layer of thinly sliced apples on the batter before you add the cinnamon swirl.
Chocolate Chip Swirl: Mix a handful of mini chocolate chips right into the cinnamon swirl mixture.
Nutty Crunch: Sprinkle chopped pecans or walnuts on top with the cinnamon swirl for a lovely crunch.
Which one would you try first? Comment below!
Serving Your Sweet Masterpiece
I love serving this cake warm right from the pan. It feels so homey. For a special treat, add a scoop of vanilla ice cream on the side. The cold ice cream with the warm cake is a dream. A few fresh berries on the plate make it look so pretty, too.
What to drink with it? A tall, cold glass of milk is always the best friend to a sweet cake. For the grown-ups, a hot cup of coffee with cream is just perfect. It balances the sweetness so nicely.
Which would you choose tonight?
Keeping Your Cinnamon Roll Cake Cozy
This cake is best warm from the oven. But life is busy. You can store leftovers in the fridge. Just cover the pan tightly with foil. It will stay good for about two days.
You can also freeze it for later. Wrap pieces individually in plastic wrap. Then pop them into a freezer bag. I once sent a frozen piece to my grandson at college. He said it tasted like home.
To reheat, warm a slice in the microwave for 20 seconds. This brings back that soft, just-baked feel. Batch cooking saves you time on a busy week. It means a sweet treat is always ready for you. Have you ever tried storing it this way? Share below!
Simple Fixes for a Perfect Cake
Sometimes the cake can be dry. Do not overmix your batter. Stir it just until the flour disappears. A lumpy batter is a happy batter.
Your cinnamon swirl might sink to the bottom. Make sure your butter for the swirl is soft. But not melted. I remember when my first cake had all the swirl on the bottom. It was still tasty, though.
The frosting might be too thick. Just add a tiny bit more milk. Stir until it is smooth and pourable. Getting the texture right builds your cooking confidence. A good swirl makes every bite full of flavor. Which of these problems have you run into before?
Your Cinnamon Roll Cake Questions
Q: Can I make this gluten-free? A: Yes. Use your favorite gluten-free flour blend. It works just fine.
Q: Can I make it ahead? A: You can mix the dry ingredients the night before. This saves you time in the morning.
Q: What if I don’t have brown sugar? A: Use white sugar with a teaspoon of molasses. It will taste very similar.
Q: Can I double the recipe? A: Absolutely. Use a 9×13 inch pan. Just bake it a few minutes longer.
Q: Is the frosting optional? A: No, it is the best part. But you can use a simple powdered sugar glaze instead. Which tip will you try first?
Bake With Love From My Kitchen to Yours
I hope you love baking this cake as much as I do. The smell of cinnamon fills your whole house. It is a wonderful feeling. *Fun fact: Cinnamon was once a gift for kings.* It is that special.
I would love to see your beautiful creations. Sharing food is a way of sharing joy. Have you tried this recipe? Tag us on Pinterest! I always look for your photos. Thank you for baking with me today.
Happy cooking!
—Grace Ellington.
Cinnamon Roll Cake
Description
A delicious and easy Cinnamon Roll Cake that brings all the warm, gooey flavors of a cinnamon roll in a simple cake form. Perfect served warm with cream cheese frosting.
Ingredients
Cinnamon Roll Cake:
Cinnamon Swirl:
Cream Cheese Frosting:
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease an 8×8” baking dish.
- Cake Batter: In a large bowl, combine the flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, milk, egg and vanilla. Stir in melted butter. Pour mixture into prepared pan and smooth into an even layer.
- Cinnamon Swirl: Combine 1/2 cup butter, 1/2 cup brown sugar, 1 Tablespoon flour, and 1 Tablespoon ground cinnamon, mixing until smooth.
- Swirl into cake: Drop small spoonfuls of the mixture evenly over the top of the cake batter. Use a knife to swirl through the cake and disperse the mixture throughout the cake batter.
- Bake 30-37 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Drizzle cream cheese frosting over warm cake. Serve warm.
- Cream Cheese Frosting: Cream the butter and cream cheese together. Add powdered sugar, vanilla, and enough milk to make a smooth, soft frosting. Drizzle frosting over the cake with a spoon, or use a ziplock bag and snip a hole out of one of the corners to pipe the frosting on.
Notes
- This cake is best served warm from the oven, the same day it’s made.