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Home » Blog » Recipes

Cinnamon Roll Cake from Scratch

Updated: Jun 28, 2022 · Published: Aug 21, 2021 by Kara · This post may contain affiliate links · This blog generates income via ads

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This homemade cinnamon roll cake is from scratch and it is a family pleaser. The cake is moist with an added cinnamon swirl throughout and topped with a vanilla glaze.

Jump to Recipe
large slice of cinnamon cake on a white plate

This cake comes together pretty quickly and you’ll just bake it in a 13×9 inch pan which makes everything so much easier.

It’s also perfect for any gathering, or you can eat it warmed up for breakfast with a cup of coffee.

cinnamon roll cake pin title graphic

Hey there! Before you scroll, there’s lot’s of important stuff in the post!…including the FAQ section, which may answer any questions you might have about this recipe. Enjoy!

Jump to:
  • Ingredient Notes:
  • Mixing method:
  • Tips & FAQs:
  • Supplies & tools:
  • Recipe
  • Video:
  • Other posts you might like:

This cake is really great for the holidays, but it also works for non-holiday occasions.

Bring it with you for your next potluck or get-together and you’ll be everyone’s hero.

cinnamon roll cake with fork

Now, let’s talk a little bit about just some of the ingredients for this recipe. (The entire ingredient list is in the recipe card lower in this post.)

Ingredient Notes:

All-purpose flour: You won’t be using any fancy flour with this one, just plain all-purpose flour.

Buttermilk: You really want to use real buttermilk if you can get it. It really makes a difference because it gives this cake flavor and helps to make it moist If you absolutely can’t get buttermilk, you can make a substitute, which we’ll get to in the FAQ section below.

Unsalted butter: You’ll use this for both the cake and the cinnamon swirl. You want to make sure and go with real butter and not margarine and make sure you’re using unsalted butter, since using salted may add a bit too much salt.

Cinnamon: This is the main event ingredient in this recipe. I love Saigon cinnamon, but you can use any cinnamon you have.

*The recipe card close to the end of this post will go into all the ingredients and amounts.

top view of 13x9 inch cake

Mixing method:

The mixing method for this cake couldn’t be easier. You’ll just mix all the ingredients together except the butter. Then you’ll add in the melted butter and mix.

cinnamon roll cake steps collage

Next, you’ll pour the batter into a greased 13×9 pan and you’ll then mix up the cinnamon swirl. Drop the cinnamon swirl mixture onto the cake batter and you’ll swirl with a knife and bake.

All of the steps will be in the recipe card below.

swirling cinnamon cake batter

Tips & FAQs:

Do I have to use buttermilk? Can I substitute it?

It’s really best if you can use real buttermilk. It makes the cake so much tastier and more moist. If you can’t get it though, you can make the substitution below.

To make sour milk as a substitution: Pour 1 ½ cup of milk into a cup or bowl. Take out 1 ½ tablespoon of the milk and replace it with 1 ½ tablespoon of vinegar or lemon juice. Mix together and let it sit for a couple of minutes before adding to the batter.

Can I use vanilla extract instead of vanilla bean paste?

Yes, you can. You’ll use the same amount that the recipe calls for, you don’t need to adjust. If you can get vanilla bean paste though, the flavor is even better.

Can I use salted butter instead of unsalted?

Unsalted butter is best here, but you are welcome to try salted if that’s all you have.

Make sure to grease the pan before adding the batter.

I find that greasing the pan with vegetable shortening works the best as sometimes the spray can seem to over-brown the bottom of the cake.

Make sure to read all the instructions in the recipe card. As it will contain all the details.

cinnamon roll cake close up on a plate

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Supplies & tools:

  • Electric mixer
  • 13×9 inch pan
  • Cooling racks
  • Silicone spatula

Ok let’s get to the recipe!

Note About Recipe Measurements: I write recipes using volume (cups) measurements because here in the U.S., this is what people are more familiar with and I don’t want anyone to feel intimidated when baking. For metric/weight measurements, click the ‘metric’ button under the ingredients in the recipe card below. The weights are converted by a program, not me, and it’s just a best guess. I can’t guarantee that weighing the ingredients will produce the exact same results, since I test recipes using volume measurements.

Recipe

large slice of cinnamon cake on a white plate

Cinnamon Roll Cake from Scratch

This homemade cinnamon roll cake is from scratch and it is a family pleaser. The cake is moist with an added cinnamon swirl throughout and topped with a vanilla glaze.
4.67 from 15 votes
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Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Cinnamon Roll Cake from Scratch
Prep Time: 20 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes minutes
Total Time: 50 minutes minutes
Servings: 15 servings
Calories: 392kcal
Author: Kara @I Scream for Buttercream

Ingredients

For the cake:

  • 3 cups all-purpose flour
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ¾ cup granulated sugar
  • 2 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 ½ cup buttermilk (see substitution in the notes)
  • 2 eggs
  • 2 teaspoon vanilla bean paste (or vanilla extract)
  • ½ cup melted unsalted butter (1 stick)

For the cinnamon swirl:

  • ½ cup softened unsalted butter (1 stick)
  • 1 cup packed light brown sugar
  • 2 tablespoon all-purpose flour
  • 1 tablespoon cinnamon

For the glaze:

  • 2 cups powdered sugar
  • 5 tablespoon milk
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla bean paste (or vanilla extract)
US Customary – Metric
Have questions?Check out the Tips & FAQ section or the video in the post!
Prevent your screen from going dark

Instructions

For the cake:

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees Farenheight.
  • Grease a 13×9 inch pan and set it aside.
  • In a large mixing bowl, add the flour, salt, granulated sugar, baking powder, baking soda, buttermilk (or sour milk), eggs and vanilla. Mix with an electric mixer until well combined. Scrape down the sides of the bowl and mix again, just until all ingredients are incorporated.
  • Turn the mixer on medium and slowly add in the melted butter. Mix only until the ingredients are well combined. Don't mix for several minutes here as that will make the cake dense.
  • Pour the batter into the greased 9×13 inch pan and set it aside while you make the crumb topping.

For the cinnamon swirl:

  • Mix all the topping ingredients together very well. Depending on how soft the butter is, you may need to use a mixer. Sprinkle (or drop) the mixture over the cake and swirl the cinnamon mixture and batter with a knife to marble.
  • Bake in the oven at 350 degrees Farenheight for approximately 30-35 minutes. Let the cake sit on a rack for about 20 minutes before adding the glaze.

For the glaze:

  • Mix all the glaze ingredients together. Once the cake is fully baked and cooled for about 20 minutes , drizzle the glaze over it. Serve the cake warm.

Notes

*If you don’t have buttermilk, you can make sour milk as a substitution: Pour 1 ½ cup of milk into a cup or bowl. Take out 1 ½ tablespoon of the milk and replace it with 1 ½ tablespoon of vinegar or lemon juice. Mix together and let it sit for a couple of minutes before adding to the batter.
This cake is best eaten warm. Store leftovers well covered in the fridge and heat for a bit in the microwave to warm up slices.
Nutritional values are an estimate. 
Make sure to check out the TIPS & FAQs for this recipe in the blog post, which may answer questions about substitutions.
*This recipe card may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Nutrition

Calories: 392kcal | Carbohydrates: 63g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 14g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 58mg | Sodium: 193mg | Potassium: 155mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 42g | Vitamin A: 459IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 85mg | Iron: 2mg
Some recipes have difficulty levels.Check out what they mean here: Difficulty Levels Explained
Baking at higher elevation?Adjustments will need to be made for that. This website does not specialize in higher elevation baking. Please take time to do your research on what adjustments should be made.
DisclaimersTo see food safety, allergy & nutrition disclaimers, go here: Disclaimers

How to Share

I’d love for you to share this recipe link or tag it, but please do not share screenshots or copy/paste the recipe to social media as the content and photographs are copyright protected and we (bloggers) work really hard on our content. Sharing the link, tagging us on socials and pinning it is super appreciated though!

Video:

Other posts you might like:

  • Cinnamon Swirl Sour Cream Bundt Cake
  • Cinnamon Buttercream
  • Cinnamon Cream Cheese Buttercream

Don’t forget to pin it below!

cinnamon cake pin graphic with text
cake with cinnamon swirl pin graphic with text overlay
« Chocolate Cream Cheese Buttercream
Chocolate Buttermilk Cake »
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Filed Under: Cakes, Recipes Tagged With: Christmas cakes and recipes, cinnamon, coffee cake, fall cakes and recipes, sheet cakes, winter cakes and recipes

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Oliver

    August 27, 2021 at 10:22 am

    4 stars
    Thanks for sharing such wonderful recipes.

    Reply
    • Kara Jane

      August 27, 2021 at 7:25 pm

      Hey Oliver…you’re so welcome!

      Reply
  2. Bob

    September 02, 2021 at 4:27 pm

    Have you ver added maple syrup or maple extract ti the frosting? If so how much did you add and how much less sugar did you use? Thanks. Great looking recipe.

    Reply
    • Kara Jane

      September 03, 2021 at 7:20 pm

      I haven’t tried that out, but I’d probably go with the extract if you want a stronger maple taste. I’d start off with a 1/2 teaspoon at first and see how it comes out, then adjust if needed. If you go with the actual syrup, I’d probably add maybe a few tablespoons but only a tablespoon or two of the milk at first…mix, then check the consistency. You’re right though as adding the syrup would probably just make the glaze even sweeter…maybe too sweet…so that’s another benefit of going with the flavoring instead.

      Reply
    • Sandi

      August 30, 2022 at 6:44 pm

      Does this work as a three layer cake. Will it stand up to the weight of buttercream and extra layers?

      Reply
      • Kara

        September 02, 2022 at 2:51 pm

        Hi Sandi, I haven’t tried it as a layer cake. It may work fine, but it would probably only be enough batter for two, 8-inch round cake layers. It should withstand the weight of buttercream although I have not personally tested that out.

        Reply
  3. Ellie

    August 17, 2023 at 6:37 pm

    5 stars
    Wow! This is delicious. I used heavy cream with the lemon juice for the buttermilk since I wanted to use it up. I followed the recipe and my batter was really really thick. I added a wee bit more heavy cream. But I managed and mixed in the streusel. Didn’t look all swirled in and pretty, and I had some spots heavier on the streusel but it came out just fine. Made the glaze. Tastes exactly like a cinnamon roll😋Thanks for the easy recipe.👍

    Reply
    • Kara

      August 18, 2023 at 4:10 pm

      Hi Ellie, so glad you liked it! I suspect the batter was a bit thicker because of the heavy cream, but that’s a guess. I’m so glad it ended up coming out fine though! Thank you for your wonderful review. 😊

      Reply
  4. Kim Duke

    March 02, 2025 at 10:38 pm

    If you don’t have light brown sugar can you use dark brown sugar for the swirl?

    Reply
    • Kara

      March 03, 2025 at 4:33 pm

      Hi Kim, yes dark brown sugar should work just fine.

      Reply
4.67 from 15 votes (13 ratings without comment)

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Hey there, I’m Kara!

Hi, I'm so glad you're here! Cake shows up at our most important and happiest moments in life, like birthdays, weddings, baby showers and holidays. It's also for those everyday moments...it makes them even better. Put simply, cake just makes us happy! I love trying out new cake flavor combinations and decorating ideas. Have a look around and I bet you can find a cake recipe or tutorial for any of life's big moments and those everyday moments too. Click here if you want to learn more about me!

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