🍥 Cinnabon-Style Cinnamon Roll Cake
All the flavor of cinnamon rolls — none of the waiting
✨ Introduction
Oh my gosh is right — this Cinnabon Cinnamon Roll Cake truly is the bomb. If you love gooey cinnamon rolls but don’t have the time (or patience) for yeast, rising, rolling, and proofing, this cake is your dream come true. It delivers that iconic cinnamon-sugar swirl, buttery richness, and sweet vanilla glaze in a simple, one-pan cake that’s ready in under an hour.
Perfect for breakfast, brunch, potlucks, holidays, or late-night cravings, this recipe tastes like it came straight from a bakery — with half the effort and all the comfort.
🧾 Ingredients
Cake Batter
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 4 teaspoons baking powder
- 1½ cups milk
- 2 large eggs
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 4 tablespoons butter, melted
Cinnamon Swirl Filling
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened (2 sticks)
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
- ⅔ cup chopped nuts (optional — walnuts or pecans)
Vanilla Glaze
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 4–5 tablespoons milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
🥣 Instructions (Step-by-Step)
1. Preheat & Prepare
Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
Lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking pan with oil or cooking spray.
2. Make the Cake Batter
In a large bowl, whisk together:
- Flour
- Salt
- Sugar
- Baking powder
Add:
- Milk
- Eggs
- Vanilla
Mix until smooth.
Gently stir in the melted butter until fully incorporated.
Pour the batter evenly into the prepared pan.
3. Prepare the Cinnamon Filling
In a separate bowl, mix together:
- Softened butter
- Brown sugar
- Cinnamon
- Nuts (if using)
Blend until thick, smooth, and spreadable.
4. Swirl the Magic
Drop spoonfuls of the cinnamon mixture evenly over the batter.
Use a knife to swirl and marble the filling throughout the cake, creating ribbons of cinnamon goodness.
5. Bake
Bake for 25–30 minutes, until:
- The top is golden
- A toothpick inserted in the center comes out mostly clean
6. Make the Glaze
While the cake bakes, whisk together:
- Powdered sugar
- Milk
- Vanilla
Adjust milk until glaze is thick but pourable.
7. Glaze & Rest
Remove cake from oven and immediately drizzle glaze over the warm cake.
Let cool slightly before slicing — or dig in while warm for ultimate gooeyness.
🍰 Methods & Baking Techniques
- Quick-Bread Method: No yeast, no waiting
- Swirl Method: Creates the cinnamon-roll effect without rolling dough
- Warm Glazing: Allows glaze to melt into the cake for extra moisture
Pro Tip: For ultra-gooey results, slightly underbake and let the cake finish setting as it rests.
📜 History & Inspiration
Cinnamon rolls trace their origins to Northern Europe, especially Sweden, where cinnamon buns (kanelbullar) became beloved staples. Over time, American bakeries — including the iconic Cinnabon — elevated them with richer doughs, heavy icing, and bold cinnamon flavor.
This cinnamon roll cake is a modern shortcut version, created by home bakers who wanted the same indulgent taste without the time-intensive yeast process.
🧬 Formation & Texture
The cake forms using baking powder instead of yeast, giving it a soft, tender crumb. The cinnamon-butter filling melts as it bakes, sinking into the batter and creating gooey swirls. The glaze seals in moisture, giving each bite that signature sticky-sweet finish.
❤️ Why Dessert Lovers Adore This Cake
- Tastes just like cinnamon rolls
- No yeast or rising time
- One pan, simple ingredients
- Perfect for breakfast or dessert
- Loved by kids, guests, and cinnamon fanatics
This recipe is especially adored by brunch lovers, holiday bakers, and anyone who believes cinnamon desserts should be extra gooey.
🌟 Conclusion
This Cinnabon Cinnamon Roll Cake proves you don’t need hours in the kitchen to create bakery-level comfort food. Warm, buttery, cinnamon-swirled, and dripping with vanilla glaze, it’s the kind of recipe that disappears fast and gets requested often.
🔥 Make it once — and it’ll become a forever favorite.