Heavenly Cinnamon Roll Layer Cake Recipe

Dreamy Cinnamon Roll Layer Cake Recipe For Sweet Tooths

Layers of buttery, soft dough swirled with decadent cinnamon roll magic create a dessert that redefines indulgence.

Warm spices and rich cream cheese frosting dance together in perfect harmony.

This heavenly cinnamon roll layer cake brings comfort and elegance to any table.

Bakers will fall in love with each luxurious slice that promises pure bliss.

Delicate cake layers capture the essence of classic cinnamon rolls, elevated to an extraordinary dessert experience.

Prepare to be transported by a symphony of sweet, spicy flavors that melt in your mouth.

Serve this showstopping cake and watch as everyone’s eyes light up with pure delight.

What You’ll Need For Cinnamon Roll Layer Cake

For Dry Ingredients:
  • All-Purpose Flour: The foundation of your cake, creating a tender and soft crumb with perfect structure.
  • Baking Powder: Ensures the cake rises beautifully and maintains a light, airy texture.
  • Salt: Enhances all other flavors and balances the sweetness of the cake.
  • Ground Cinnamon: Adds warm, spicy depth that mimics classic cinnamon roll flavor.
For Wet Ingredients:
  • Unsalted Butter, Vegetable Oil: Delivers rich moisture and helps create a tender cake texture.
  • Granulated Sugar: Provides sweetness and helps create a soft, delicate crumb.
  • Large Eggs: Bind ingredients together and add richness and structure to the cake.
  • Vanilla Extract: Adds complex, smooth flavor that complements the cinnamon perfectly.
  • Milk: Creates a smooth batter and helps ingredients blend seamlessly.
For Frosting and Filling Ingredients:
  • Cream Cheese, Unsalted Butter: Creates a smooth, rich base for the classic cream cheese frosting.
  • Brown Sugar: Delivers deep caramel notes that echo traditional cinnamon roll flavors.
  • Powdered Sugar: Sweetens and thickens the frosting for perfect spreading consistency.
  • Vanilla Extract: Rounds out the frosting with its warm, comforting flavor.
  • Milk: Adjusts frosting consistency for ideal spreadability.

Tools To Bake Cinnamon Roll Layer Cake

  • Stand Mixer: Essential for beating butter, creaming ingredients, and making smooth frosting.
  • Measuring Cups and Spoons: Precise measurements guarantee perfect cake texture.
  • 8-inch Round Cake Pans (3): Needed to create even cake layers for stacking.
  • Parchment Paper: Helps cake layers release easily from pans without sticking.
  • Whisk: Perfect for combining dry ingredients smoothly.
  • Spatula: Great for scraping bowl sides and spreading frosting.
  • Wire Cooling Rack: Allows cake layers to cool evenly without getting soggy.
  • Medium Mixing Bowls (2): One for dry ingredients, another for wet mixture.
  • Small Bowl: Used for preparing cinnamon swirl filling.
  • Toothpick: Helps check cake doneness by testing center.

How To Make Cinnamon Roll Layer Cake Fluffy

  • Warm Up the Oven

Crank the oven to a toasty 350F. Grab three cake pans and give them a quick spray with cooking oil and dust with flour to prevent sticking.

  • Create Cake Batter Magic

Whisk together your dry ingredients in one bowl. In another bowl, beat butter, oil, and sugar until they transform into a fluffy cloud. Gently fold in eggs and vanilla, then gradually mix in the dry ingredients and milk. Keep the mixing smooth and light.

  • Bake the Layers

Pour batter into prepared pans and slide them into the oven. Bake for about 25-30 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean. Let the cakes cool completely on a wire rack.

  • Craft Cinnamon Swirl Filling

Mix brown sugar, cinnamon, and melted butter into a delectable, aromatic spread.

  • Stack and Decorate

Place first cake layer on a serving plate. Spread cinnamon filling between each layer. Whip up cream cheese frosting by blending cream cheese, butter, powdered sugar, vanilla, and milk until silky smooth.

  • Final Flourish

Cover the entire cake with frosting. For extra pizzazz, drizzle additional cinnamon filling or a simple glaze on top. Slice and enjoy your delicious creation!

Ideas To Customize Cinnamon Roll Layer Cake

  • Cake Mastery Secrets: Expert tips and delightful variations to elevate your Cinnamon Roll Layer Cake experience.
  • Ingredient Temperature Trick: Allow butter, eggs, and cream cheese to reach room temperature before mixing to ensure smoother, more even batter and frosting texture.
  • Make-Ahead Magic: Prepare cake layers a day ahead and store wrapped in plastic at room temperature, which helps develop richer flavors and makes assembly easier.
  • Gluten-Free Transformation: Replace all-purpose flour with a gluten-free blend, adding xanthan gum for better structure and maintaining the cake's soft, tender crumb.
  • Dairy-Free Adaptation: Substitute butter with coconut oil, use almond milk instead of dairy milk, and replace cream cheese with a plant-based cream cheese alternative for a delicious vegan-friendly version.

Serving Suggestions For Cinnamon Roll Layer Cake

  • Sweet Breakfast Companion: Serve alongside a steaming cup of coffee or hot chocolate for a delightful morning treat that complements the cake's warm cinnamon flavors.
  • Elegant Dessert Pairing: Accompany the cake with a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream or a dollop of whipped cream to enhance its rich, creamy texture and add a cool contrast.
  • Festive Brunch Centerpiece: Present the cake as a stunning dessert at weekend brunches, family gatherings, or holiday celebrations, where its impressive layers will wow your guests and become a conversation starter.
  • Cozy Afternoon Indulgence: Slice and enjoy a piece with a hot tea or chai latte, creating a comforting moment of pure bliss that celebrates the cake's nostalgic cinnamon roll inspiration.

Keep Cinnamon Roll Layer Cake Soft And Tasty

  • Quick Chilling Strategy: Cool cake layers completely before frosting to prevent melting and sliding. Place layers on wire rack in cool, draft-free spot for approximately 60-90 minutes.
  • Refrigeration Protection: Store finished cake in sealed container or covered cake stand. Keeps fresh for 3-4 days when refrigerated at consistent 40°F temperature.
  • Freezing Technique: Wrap unfrosted cake layers individually in plastic wrap, then aluminum foil. Freeze up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in refrigerator before assembling and frosting.
  • Make-Ahead Magic: Prepare cream cheese frosting 2-3 days prior and store in sealed container. Bring to room temperature and re-whip briefly before spreading on cake layers.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 30 minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes

Calories: 469 kcal

Servings: 13

Print
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Heavenly Cinnamon Roll Layer Cake Recipe

Heavenly Cinnamon Roll Layer Cake Recipe


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4.7 from 32 reviews

  • Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
  • Yield: 13 1x

Description

Layers of cinnamon roll magic merge in this indulgent layer cake that celebrates classic breakfast flavors. Sweet cream cheese frosting and rich cinnamon swirls create a memorable dessert perfect for special occasions and weekend gatherings. Bakers can delight in this nostalgic treat.


Ingredients

Scale
  • 4 large eggs
  • 1 ¾ cups (350 g) granulated sugar
  • 2 ½ cups (300 g) all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup (240 ml) whole milk or buttermilk
  • ½ cup (115 g) unsalted butter (softened)
  • ½ cup (120 ml) vegetable oil
  • 2 ½ tsps baking powder
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • ½ tsp salt
  • 2 tsps vanilla extract
  • ½ cup (100 g) brown sugar
  • 2 tsps cinnamon
  • ¼ cup (60 g) unsalted butter (melted)
  • 8 oz (225 g) cream cheese (softened)
  • ½ cup (115 g) unsalted butter (softened)
  • 3 cups (360 g) powdered sugar
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 23 tbsps milk (for desired consistency)

Instructions

  1. Preparation: Preheat oven to 350F (175C) and meticulously prepare three 8-inch round cake pans with grease, flour, or parchment paper to guarantee seamless cake extraction.
  2. Dry Ingredient Blend: Thoroughly combine flour, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon in a mixing bowl, creating a harmonious dry ingredient foundation.
  3. Butter Mixture: Utilize an electric mixer to whip butter, oil, and sugar until the mixture transforms into a fluffy, voluminous composition.
  4. Egg Integration: Delicately introduce eggs one at a time, ensuring complete incorporation, then infuse vanilla extract to elevate flavor complexity.
  5. Batter Formation: Gently fold dry ingredients into the wet mixture, alternating with milk to maintain a silky, uniform batter consistency while preserving the cake’s delicate structure.
  6. Baking Process: Distribute batter evenly across prepared pans, smoothing surfaces for uniform layers, then bake for 25-30 minutes until golden and a toothpick emerges clean from the center.
  7. Cooling Stage: Allow cakes to rest in pans for 10 minutes, then transition to a wire rack for complete cooling to room temperature.
  8. Cinnamon Swirl Creation: Blend brown sugar, cinnamon, and melted butter into a luscious, homogeneous filling.
  9. Layer Assembly: Construct cake by positioning first round on serving plate, spreading a gossamer layer of cinnamon filling between each tier.
  10. Frosting Finale: Whip cream cheese and butter to silky smoothness, gradually introducing powdered sugar, vanilla, and milk until achieving a luxurious, spreadable frosting.
  11. Decorative Finish: Lavishly coat entire cake with cream cheese frosting, ensuring comprehensive coverage, and optionally embellish with additional cinnamon drizzle or powdered sugar glaze.

Notes

  • Prevent Overmixing: Gently fold dry ingredients to maintain the cake’s light, tender crumb and prevent a dense, tough texture.
  • Temperature Control: Let ingredients like eggs and butter reach room temperature for smoother blending and better cake structure.
  • Moisture Management: Check cake doneness early to avoid overbaking, which can lead to dry layers; a clean toothpick is your best indicator.
  • Filling Distribution: Spread cinnamon filling thinly and evenly between layers to ensure balanced flavor and prevent soggy cake bottoms.
  • Prep Time: 30 minutes
  • Cook Time: 15 minutes
  • Category: Desserts, Breakfast
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: American

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 13
  • Calories: 469
  • Sugar: 41 g
  • Sodium: 300 mg
  • Fat: 23 g
  • Saturated Fat: 14 g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
  • Trans Fat: 0 g
  • Carbohydrates: 60 g
  • Fiber: 1 g
  • Protein: 5 g
  • Cholesterol: 95 mg
Olivia Bennett

Olivia Bennett

Co-Founder & Content Creator

Expertise

Nutritional Analysis​, Dietary Accommodations​, Food Writing and Blogging​,

Education

University of Texas at Austin

  • Degree: Bachelor of Science in Nutrition
  • Focus: Emphasis on dietary planning, food science, and the relationship between nutrition and health.​

Institute of Culinary Education, New York, NY

  • Program: Plant-Based Culinary Arts Certificate
  • Focus: Specialized training in vegetarian and vegan cooking techniques, emphasizing whole foods and sustainability.​

Olivia Bennett is Cooking Crusade’s go-to expert for nutritious, feel-good food. Based in Austin, she blends her degree in Nutrition from the University of Texas with plant-based culinary training from the Institute of Culinary Education.

Olivia’s recipes are all about balance: vibrant, wholesome, and easy-to-love dishes that work for all kinds of eaters. Her mission is simple: to make healthy eating approachable and genuinely tasty, with tips that support your lifestyle, not complicate it.

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