Amazing Cinnamon Roll Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting

It was Thanksgiving morning, and while everyone else reached for pies and pumpkin rolls, I craved something warm and soft with cinnamon in every bite. This Cinnamon Roll Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting saved the day. It tastes like fresh cinnamon rolls straight from the oven but skips the dough drama. Perfect for holiday brunch or a lazy morning with coffee.

Why You’ll Love This Cinnamon Roll Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting

This Cinnamon Roll Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting is sweet, moist, and packed with buttery cinnamon flavor. You get the rich swirl of a cinnamon roll, plus that creamy tangy finish — all in one simple bake. Every slice melts in your mouth.

It’s way easier than making traditional cinnamon rolls. No kneading, no waiting, no yeast. Just stir, swirl, bake, and frost.

You can serve it for breakfast, brunch, or dessert. It’s also a terrific crowd-pleaser, especially during fall and holiday gatherings.

Ingredients You’ll Need

For the Cake Batter

• All-purpose flour (3 cups): Gives structure to the cake
• Salt (1/4 teaspoon): Balances the sweetness
• Granulated sugar (1 cup): Sweetens the base
• Baking powder (4 teaspoons): Helps the cake rise
• Milk (1 1/2 cups): Keeps it moist
• Eggs (2 large): Bind everything together
• Vanilla extract (2 teaspoons): Adds a cozy, rich flavor
• Melted butter (1/2 cup): Brings richness and softness

For the Cinnamon Swirl

• Softened butter (1 cup): Creams easily and spreads beautifully
• Brown sugar (1 cup): Adds depth and caramel notes
• Flour (2 tablespoons): Thickens the swirl slightly
• Ground cinnamon (1 tablespoon): The star of the show

This swirl melts into the batter, creating gooey cinnamon streaks throughout.

For the Cream Cheese Frosting

• Cream cheese (6 ounces): Softened for easy mixing
• Powdered sugar (2 cups): Sweetens and smooths the frosting
• Milk (4 tablespoons): Thins the frosting to your liking
• Vanilla extract (1/2 teaspoon): Boosts the creaminess

This frosting brings a tangy-sweet finish that ties everything together.

How to Make Cinnamon Roll Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting

Make the Cake Batter

Start by preheating your oven to 350°F. Grease a 9×13-inch pan.

In a large bowl, mix the flour, salt, sugar, and baking powder. Then add the milk, eggs, and vanilla. Stir until mostly combined. Pour in the melted butter and mix until smooth.

Spread the batter evenly into your prepared pan.

Add the Cinnamon Swirl

In a separate bowl, mix softened butter, brown sugar, flour, and cinnamon until creamy.

Drop spoonfuls of this mixture over the cake batter. Then, take a butter knife and gently swirl it in.

Make sure not to over-mix. The beauty lies in those rich cinnamon rivers baked into each slice.

Bake the Cake

Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

The top should look golden and slightly crackly. Your kitchen will smell like a cinnamon-sugar dream.

Prepare the Cream Cheese Frosting

While the cake bakes, beat together the cream cheese, powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla until smooth and fluffy.

Adjust the milk to reach your desired consistency. Thicker if you like it spreadable, thinner if you want more of a glaze.

Frost and Serve

Let the Cinnamon Roll Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting cool for 10 to 15 minutes. It should still be warm, but not hot, so the frosting melts into the swirls just right.

Then, spread the cream cheese frosting evenly over the top. It will melt slightly into the cake and create the perfect gooey topping.

How to Store and Reheat Cinnamon Roll Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting

This cake keeps well, which makes it great for holidays and busy mornings.

• Room temp: Store covered for up to 2 days.
• Fridge: Keeps well for 5 days.
• Freezer: Wrap tightly and freeze for up to 3 months.

This Cinnamon Roll Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting is great for prepping ahead. You can make it a day early and reheat slices in the microwave for that fresh-from-the-oven warmth.

Tips for Serving Cinnamon Roll Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting

• Want thinner frosting? Add more milk, a tablespoon at a time.
• Like it thicker? Use less milk and whip it longer.

This cake is delicious on its own, but you can dress it up:

• Add chopped pecans or walnuts to the cinnamon swirl.
• Drizzle with caramel for an extra indulgent touch.
• Reduce sugar slightly if you prefer a less sweet dessert.

Pair it with a hot mug of coffee or a spiced chai latte for the ultimate cozy moment.

For more fall-inspired favorites, check out these Pumpkin Cookies with Caramel Frosting. Or, if you’re looking for another cinnamon-forward bake, try this Easy Cinnamon Apple Cake next.

FAQs

More Such Recipes

If you love this recipe, you’ll probably enjoy these too:

• Fall Pumpkin Spice Roll Cake – a spiced cake roll alternative to cinnamon rolls
• Baked Apple Fritters – a cozy, cinnamon-sugar breakfast option
• Easy Cinnamon Apple Cake – packed with sweet apple flavor and cinnamon warmth

Conclusion

This Cinnamon Roll Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting brings all the joy of cinnamon rolls to your table, minus the work. It’s soft, sweet, and swirled with love. Make it for Thanksgiving, a Sunday brunch, or just because you need something warm and cozy.

Tag me on Pinterest or Facebook if you try it — I’d love to see how it turns out in your kitchen.

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