Soft, fluffy vanilla cake layered with rich cinnamon sugar swirls and topped with warm cream cheese glaze — all the flavors of cinnamon rolls in an easy, sliceable cake
Time & Yield
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Prep Time: 15 minutes
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Bake Time: 30–35 minutes
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Total Time: 50 minutes
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Servings: 12
Ingredients
Cake Batter
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3 cups all-purpose flour
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1 cup granulated sugar
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4 tsp baking powder
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½ tsp salt
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1½ cups milk
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2 large eggs
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2 tsp vanilla extract
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½ cup melted butter or oil
Cinnamon Swirl
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1 cup brown sugar
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2 tbsp ground cinnamon
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½ cup softened butter
Cream Cheese Glaze
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4 oz cream cheese, softened
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2 cups powdered sugar
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3–4 tbsp milk
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1 tsp vanilla extract
Step-by-Step Instructions
Step 1: Prepare Pan & Oven
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Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
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Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.
Step 2: Make Cake Batter
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In a large bowl, whisk flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt.
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Add milk, eggs, vanilla, and melted butter.
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Mix until smooth and lump-free.
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Pour batter evenly into prepared baking dish.
Step 3: Make Cinnamon Swirl
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In a bowl, mix brown sugar, cinnamon, and softened butter until smooth.
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Drop spoonfuls over cake batter.
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Swirl gently using a knife to create ribbons.
Step 4: Bake
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Bake 30–35 minutes, or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.
Step 5: Make Glaze
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Beat cream cheese until smooth.
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Add powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla.
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Mix until pourable but thick.
Step 6: Glaze & Serve
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Pour glaze over warm cake.
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Let set slightly before slicing and serving.
Tips for Best Results
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Don’t over-swirl — thick cinnamon ribbons taste best.
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Use room temperature ingredients for smooth batter.
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Glaze while warm so it melts slightly into cake.
Variations
Apple Cinnamon Roll Cake: Add 1 cup finely diced apples
Nutty: Add chopped pecans or walnuts
Cupcake Version: Bake in muffin tins 18–20 minutes
Dairy-Free: Use almond milk + dairy-free cream cheese
Storage
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Room Temp: 2 days (covered)
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Refrigerator: 5 days
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Freezer: Up to 2 months
FAQs
Q: Can I make ahead?
Yes — bake, cool, glaze before serving.
Q: Can I use boxed cake mix?
Yes — use vanilla cake mix and swirl filling.
Q: Can I reheat?
Yes — microwave slices 15–20 seconds.
Nutrition (Approx. per slice)
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Calories: 380
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Fat: 18g
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Carbs: 52g
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Protein: 5g
