Craving the gooey, cinnamon-swirled goodness of a cinnamon roll—without all the time and hassle? This Cinnamon Roll Cake is the answer. It’s soft, buttery, and loaded with cinnamon sugar flavor, all baked into a tender vanilla cake with a rich glaze on top. Best of all, it’s quick and easy to make—no yeast, rising, or rolling required!

Easy Cinnamon Roll Cake Recipe

Easy Cinnamon Roll Cake Recipe – Tastes Just Like the Real Thing

Author: Emily

Ingredients

Cake:

▢3 cups (360 g) all-purpose flour, stir, spoon & level
▢2 tsp baking powder
▢1 tsp baking soda
▢½ tsp salt
▢½ cup (113 g) unsalted butter, (1 stick) room temperature
▢1 cup (200 g) granulated sugar
▢2 large eggs, room temperature
▢2 tsp vanilla extract
▢1 cup (240 g) sour cream, or plain Greek yogurt, room temperature
▢½ cup (118 ml) milk, room temperature

Cinnamon Filling:

▢4 Tbsp butter, melted
▢½ cup (100 g) light brown sugar, gently packed
▢1 Tbsp ground cinnamon
▢1 Tbsp all-purpose flour

Glaze:

▢1 cup (120 g) powdered sugar
▢½ tsp vanilla extract
▢2 Tbsp milk

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350℉. Grease a 13×9-inch pan with nonstick cooking spray. (I like the kind with flour in it.) Set aside.
CAKE: In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Set the dry ingredients aside.
In the bowl of a stand mixer with the paddle attachment, cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add the eggs, vanilla, and sour cream. Mix together completely, scraping the bowl as needed.
Add half of the dry ingredients. Mix on low until just incorporated. Add all of the milk. Mix on low until just incorporated.
Add the remaining dry ingredients. Mix on low until just incorporated. Do not over-mix. The batter will be thick, but smooth.
CINNAMON FILLING: Melt the butter in a microwave-safe bowl in the microwave. Add the brown sugar, cinnamon, and flour. Stir together completely. Mixture should be thin and runny. NOTE: Do not let the filling cool and thicken, or it will be hard to swirl with the cake batter.
Spread the cake batter into the prepared 13×9-inch pan. Spoon the cinnamon-sugar mixture over the cake, including close to the edges, leaving some cake batter showing. Use the tip of a butter knife to swirl the two mixtures together.
Bake the cinnamon roll cake at 350℉ for 25-30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs. Allow the cake to cool for 15-20 minutes before adding glaze.
GLAZE: In a small bowl, stir together the powdered sugar, vanilla and milk. Drizzle or pour glaze over the cake. Serve while still slightly warm.

Why You’ll Love This Cinnamon Roll Cake

No yeast or rising time
Swirled with real cinnamon-sugar filling
Moist, buttery, soft crumb
Glazed with sweet vanilla icing
Perfect for brunch, holidays, or cozy weekends

Ingredients You’ll Need

For the cake:

All-purpose flour
Granulated sugar
Baking powder
Salt
Milk
Eggs
Vanilla extract
Melted butter

For the cinnamon swirl filling:

Softened butter
Brown sugar
Ground cinnamon
All-purpose flour

For the icing:

Powdered sugar
Milk or cream
Vanilla extract

Tip: Use room temperature ingredients for best mixing and baking results.

How to Make Cinnamon Roll Cake

Make the cake batter: Mix the dry and wet ingredients separately, then combine until smooth. Pour into a greased 9×13-inch baking dish.
Prepare the cinnamon filling: Stir together butter, brown sugar, flour, and cinnamon until smooth.
Swirl it in: Drop spoonfuls of the cinnamon mixture over the batter and swirl it with a knife or skewer.
Bake: Bake at 350°F (175°C) for 30–35 minutes until golden and set in the center.
Glaze: Whisk together the icing ingredients and drizzle over the warm cake.

Make It Your Way

Add chopped pecans or walnuts for crunch
Use a maple glaze instead of vanilla
Make it in muffin tins for single-serve cinnamon roll cupcakes
Sub half of the flour for whole wheat flour for a slightly heartier version

Storing & Reheating Tips

Store at room temperature for 2 days or refrigerate for up to 5 days
Reheat slices in the microwave for 10–15 seconds to bring back that fresh-from-the-oven softness
Freeze slices individually and thaw as needed for quick treats

Serve It Anytime

This Cinnamon Roll Cake is perfect for weekend brunches, Christmas morning, Easter, or any time you’re craving that nostalgic cinnamon roll flavor in a fraction of the time. Serve it warm with a cup of coffee or a cold glass of milk—it never disappoints!

Treat your family (or yourself!) to the sweet cinnamon comfort of this easy cinnamon roll cake. It’s a guaranteed crowd-pleaser that looks and tastes impressive with minimal effort.