Cinna-Bun Cake:

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Sure! Here’s a complete and cozy deep-dive recipe for a delicious Cinna-Bun Cake—the perfect hybrid between a cinnamon roll and a tender vanilla cake. It’s loaded with flavor, warmth, and nostalgia. This version includes an engaging introduction, detailed ingredients, instructions, methods, a bit of history, serving suggestions, and a loving conclusion for you and your fellow sweet tooth lovers.

🍰 Cinna-Bun Cake: A Hug in Every Bite

Imagine all the soft, gooey, cinnamon-sugar comfort of your favorite cinnamon rolls… but without all the rolling, proofing, or yeast! Welcome to the world of Cinna-Bun Cake, where simplicity meets indulgence. This cake is moist, buttery, and marbled with rich cinnamon swirls, then topped with a sweet vanilla glaze that soaks right in.

Whether you’re baking for a lazy Sunday brunch, holiday breakfast table, or just because you need a warm sweet treat, this cake is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser.

🧾 Ingredients

🎂 Cake Base

  • 3 cups all-purpose flour
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 4 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1½ cups milk (whole or 2%)
  • 2 large eggs
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

🍯 Cinnamon-Sugar Topping

  • 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 cup brown sugar (light or dark)
  • 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon

🍶 Glaze

  • 2 cups powdered sugar
  • 5 tablespoons milk
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

🧑‍🍳 Method & Instructions

1. Preheat & Prep

  • Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
  • Grease a 9×13 inch baking pan (glass or metal) with butter or non-stick spray.

2. Make the Cake Batter

  • In a large bowl, whisk together:
    • Flour
    • Salt
    • Sugar
    • Baking powder
  • In a separate bowl, combine:
    • Milk
    • Eggs
    • Vanilla extract
  • Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and mix until smooth. Don’t overmix—just until fully combined.
  • Pour the batter evenly into the prepared baking pan.

3. Swirl the Topping

  • In a medium bowl, mix the softened butter, brown sugar, flour, and cinnamon until it forms a smooth, thick paste.
  • Drop spoonfuls of this topping over the cake batter.
  • Use a butter knife or skewer to swirl the topping into the batter, creating a beautiful cinnamon-marble effect.

4. Bake

  • Bake for 35 to 40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean or with moist crumbs.
  • While the cake is baking, prepare your glaze.

5. Make the Glaze

  • In a small bowl, whisk together:
    • Powdered sugar
    • Milk
    • Vanilla extract
  • Adjust consistency: Add more milk for a thinner glaze, or more sugar for a thicker one.

6. Finish & Serve

  • While the cake is still warm (not hot), drizzle the glaze all over the top.
  • Let it soak in and settle for 10–15 minutes before serving.

🕰️ The Sweet History of Cinnamon Rolls… and Cake

Cinnamon rolls, or “kanelbullar” in Swedish, date back to Sweden in the 1920s. Known for their yeasted dough, cinnamon filling, and pearl sugar topping, they became a Nordic breakfast staple and later traveled worldwide. In the U.S., they took on a gooier, richer form, often drenched in cream cheese frosting.

The Cinna-Bun Cake is a modern American invention—a shortcut twist that captures the same flavors but with cake batter instead of dough, making it quicker, fluffier, and easier for everyday baking. It’s often shared in family kitchens, potlucks, and breakfast buffets.

❤️ Lovers of the Cinna-Bun Cake Say…

“It tastes like a warm hug from grandma!”
“Every bite melts in your mouth.”
“I brought this to a brunch and it vanished before the coffee finished brewing!”

From busy moms to home bakers, from sweet-toothed kids to nostalgic grandparents, this cake is a universal favorite. It brings people together in a way only cinnamon, sugar, and love can.

🍽️ Serving Suggestions

  • Serve warm with a mug of coffee or chai.
  • Top with a scoop of vanilla ice cream for dessert.
  • Add chopped pecans or walnuts to the topping for a nutty crunch.
  • For extra decadence, mix cream cheese into the glaze!

🫶 In Conclusion: A Cake for All Seasons

The Cinna-Bun Cake is more than just dessert—it’s an experience. A fragrant, sweet, and spiced indulgence made to share with people you love. It’s perfect for holidays, Sunday mornings, birthday brunches, or just a cozy night in with a blanket and a book.

So grab your whisk, turn on your oven, and let the aroma of cinnamon and sugar fill your kitchen. Fall in love at first bite. 💛

Would you like a printable PDF version, or a mini version of this recipe for small batches?

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