This Cinnabon Cinnamon Roll Cake is SO scrumptious and easy to make! It tastes like the gooey center of a cinnamon roll in a soft and moist cake!
I absolutely LOVE anything to do with cinnamon rolls. Cinnabon’s are my top favorite, but any soft and gooey roll is my absolute weakness and favorite treat!
I also love cake, so naturally, this cake was right up my alley.
I know cakes aren’t usually the most holiday-time dessert, but I love cakes year-round and this one is no exception. It is every bit as comforting and cozy as its fellow pumpkin and apple counterparts – probably because of those thick ribbony swirls of cinnamon and brown sugar. I grew up eating cinnamon sugar toast, so that flavor combination will always be my top favorite and so cozy to me!
The cake itself is very moist and soft – a good vanilla cake with those thick swirls of the cinnamon and brown sugar. As it bakes, the cinnamon sugar mixture seeps deep into the cake, creating these delicious ribbons. The cake is capped off with a simple glaze that really sends this cake over the top!
If Cinnabon made a cake, it would definitely taste like this!
One of the best parts is, you can do a little customization if you’d like! You could add in chopped pecans or walnuts to the brown sugar & cinnamon mixture, or add in miniature chocolate chips for a little chocolaty kick. I like mine written as is because I am a purist, but these would be tasty additions!
The cinnamon brown sugar mixture can get very gooey, so my tip for ensuring your cake is done baking is to stick a cake tester or toothpick into the center of the cake, not into a brown sugar ribbon. As the cake bakes, the brown sugar mixture will depress a little into the cake batter, creating what’s almost like tunnels. To make sure you don’t overcook your cake, test it into the cake, not the brown sugar “tunnel.”
But whatever you do, you MUST make this fantastic Cinnabon Cinnamon Roll Cake! Comfort food at its peak!
*adapted from The Country Cook
Cinnabon Cinnamon Roll Cake
Ingredients
For the Cake:
- 1½ cups milk
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 large eggs
- 1 Tbsp baking powder
- 1 cup white granulated sugar
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup salted butter melted
For the Filling:
- 3/4 cup (1½ sticks) salted butter, softened
- 1 cup packed light brown sugar
- 2 Tbsp all-purpose flour
- 1 Tbsp ground cinnamon
For the Glaze:
- 2 cups confectioners' sugar
- 5 Tbsp milk
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350° degrees F. Liberally spray a 9x13 light metal rectangular baking pan with cooking spray; set aside.
- For the cake: In a large bowl, combine all of the cake batter ingredients except for the melted butter. Slowly add in the melted butter until fully combined. Pour the cake batter into the prepared pan. Set aside.
- For the filling: In a medium bowl, beat together the softened butter, brown sugar, flour and cinnamon together until moistened. Drop heaping Tablespoonfuls of the brown sugar filling mixture evenly over the top of the cake batter. Using a butter knife, swirl the brown sugar filling into the cake batter.
- Bake for 35-40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center of the cake portion comes out clean or with moist but not wet crumbs. Cool for at least 20 minutes.
- For the glaze: IN a small bowl, whisk together the confectioners' sugar, milk, and vanilla extract until combined. Drizzle over the warm cake.
Notes
This cake is super delicious and totally comforting! Like a deep dish, cakey cinnamon roll!
Have a super sweet day!
xo, Hayley
Gen says
This recipe was simple and delicious had a lot of fun making it with my younger family members can’t wait to make it again for Thanksgiving ? !!
thedomesticrebel says
Hi Gen, thanks so much! So glad you loved it!
Susan says
I only have unsalted butter. Should I add salt to the recipe & how much?
thedomesticrebel says
Hi Susan, add 1/2 tsp to the cake batter!
Patricia says
Would this recipe work if I divided the batter among individual ramekins or freezer-safe foil loaf pans? The recipe sounds absolutely wonderful, but for a family of 3, it is a little too much. It would be nice to have one or 2 pans of it stashed in the freezer for “emergencies”…
thedomesticrebel says
Hi Patricia! I think it would work very well divided among two loaf pans and baked, then frozen!
Rosalia says
This cake is not only delicious, but easy to make! Huge hit with my loyal taste testers (mom and dad) and I can’t wait to make it for our socially distant Christmas get together!
thedomesticrebel says
Rosalia, so glad you enjoyed! Thanks for your review!
Dawn says
Absolutely delicious. We get a similar type of treat at my favorite bakery and this is just as good! I will definitely be making it again.
Dawn says
I forgot to add that I used buttermilk since I had it on hand. It worked great!
Maurica says
Can you use a cake mix then just add bitter to it for the batter part?
thedomesticrebel says
Hi Maurica, I’m not sure what you’re asking here. You could probably use a cake mix for the cake base and then add the filling ingredients to the cake mix batter. I have not tried that so I don’t know if it would taste as good.
Cathy L. says
Since its only 2 of us, I made a half recipe in an 8×8 pan and it didn’t come out as high as the picture, so I had my doubts, but boy was it good! This is a very easy recipe with ingredients most people already have in the house. I will definitely be making it again. Thank you for sharing your recipe.
CrisV says
Could I use sugar substitutes?
thedomesticrebel says
Hi CrisV, I have not tried this with a sugar substitute but I am sure it would work if you got the proper ratio.
Wendy says
Made this today for Father’s Day brunch and WOW!! So yummy!! I’ve been wanting to make cinnamon rolls but have been too lazy- this was the perfect solution! And actually, we all agreed that it’s easier to eat this way, too! I had to make it gluten free and dairy free due to dietary restrictions, but it still turned out perfectly (used GF flour and Country Crock plant butter). Will definitely make this again!
Linda M. Jardee says
Don’t you normally mix the wet ingredients with sugar first & then add the dry in? Confused.