Description
There’s something truly magical about the aroma of cinnamon filling the kitchen—it instantly brings warmth, comfort, and memories of lazy Sunday mornings or holiday breakfasts when everyone gathered around the table still in their pajamas. This Ooey Gooey Cinnamon Roll Cake captures all the magic of traditional cinnamon rolls, but in a fuss-free, cake form that’s perfect for breakfast, brunch, or even dessert.
This cake reminds me of my grandmother’s cozy kitchen, where she always had something sweet baking in the oven. Cinnamon rolls were her specialty, but they took hours to make. So when I discovered a way to get all that sticky, buttery, cinnamon-sugar goodness in cake form—without kneading dough or waiting for it to rise—I knew I’d found a new family favorite.
Whether you’re serving this for a special occasion or just a quiet morning with coffee, this cake hits all the right notes: sweet, soft, spiced, and absolutely irresistible.
Ingredients
For the Cake Batter:
3 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 tsp salt
1 cup granulated sugar
4 tsp baking powder
1 1/2 cups milk
2 eggs
2 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
For the Cinnamon Swirl Filling:
1 cup unsalted butter, softened
1 cup packed brown sugar
2 tbsp all-purpose flour
1 tbsp ground cinnamon
For the Glaze:
2 cups powdered sugar
5 tbsp milk
1 tsp vanilla extract
Instructions
Step 1: Preheat and Prepare Start by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish and set it aside. This size works perfectly for getting those delicious gooey swirls throughout every bite.
Step 2: Make the Cake Batter In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, salt, sugar, and baking powder. In another bowl, mix the milk, eggs, and vanilla until well combined. Slowly add the wet ingredients to the dry, stirring just until smooth. Then, gently fold in the melted butter. The batter will be thick and creamy—almost like pancake batter with a little extra oomph.
Step 3: Pour the Batter Pour the cake batter into your greased baking dish and spread it out evenly with a spatula. Set aside while you make the swirl.
Step 4: Make the Cinnamon Swirl In a medium bowl, combine the softened butter, brown sugar, flour, and cinnamon. Stir until it forms a smooth, spreadable paste. This is where the flavor magic happens.
Step 5: Swirl It In Drop spoonfuls of the cinnamon mixture all over the top of the cake batter. Then, using a butter knife or toothpick, swirl the cinnamon filling through the batter. You don’t need to overdo it—just enough to create beautiful ribbons of cinnamon sugar in every slice.
Step 6: Bake Bake the cake in the preheated oven for 35–40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out mostly clean. The edges will be golden, the center puffed up, and your house will smell like a cinnamon dream.
Step 7: Glaze Time While the cake is still warm (but not hot), whisk together the powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla for the glaze. Drizzle generously over the top of the cake. The glaze will sink into the crevices and add the perfect sweet finish.
Notes
This cinnamon roll cake is best served warm, fresh from the oven or gently reheated. It’s perfect with a morning cup of coffee, a tall glass of milk, or even a scoop of vanilla ice cream if you’re going full dessert mode.