Easy cinnamon roll coffee cake tastes like a pan of cinnamon rolls without the yeast, rising or rolling. A simple buttery vanilla batter goes into a 9×13 pan, a gooey mix of melted butter, brown sugar and cinnamon is dropped over the top and swirled through with a knife, and a vanilla glaze goes on while the cake is still warm. It takes 15 minutes to mix and 30 to 35 minutes to bake, and cuts into 12 slices.
How to make it: Stir the melted butter, eggs and sugar together, then the flour, baking powder, salt, vanilla and milk. Spread the batter in a greased pan, drop spoonfuls of the cinnamon-sugar topping over it and swirl. Bake at 350°F until a toothpick comes out clean, then drizzle with a powdered sugar glaze.
Why You’ll Love It
- No yeast: all the cinnamon roll flavor in a stir-together cake.
- Gooey cinnamon swirl: the butter and brown sugar topping melts into ribbons through the cake.
- Pantry ingredients: flour, sugar, butter, eggs, milk and cinnamon.
- Feeds a crowd: a 9×13 pan for brunch, holidays or a bake sale.
Ingredient Notes
Cake: 1/2 cup melted butter, 2 eggs, 1 cup sugar, 3 cups flour, 2 teaspoons vanilla, 4 teaspoons baking powder, 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1 1/2 cups milk. It’s a soft, tender batter that bakes up like a white cake.
Cinnamon topping: 1 cup melted butter, 1 cup brown sugar, 2 tablespoons flour and 1 tablespoon cinnamon. The small amount of flour helps it stay in swirls instead of sinking into a puddle.
Glaze: 2 cups powdered sugar, 5 tablespoons milk and 1 teaspoon vanilla, whisked to the thickness of pancake syrup.
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Ingredients
For the cake
- 1/2 cup butter, melted
- 2 eggs
- 1 cup sugar
- 3 cups flour
- 2 tsp vanilla
- 4 tsp baking powder
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1 1/2 cups milk
For the cinnamon topping
- 1 cup butter, melted
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 2 tbsp flour
- 1 tbsp cinnamon
For the glaze
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 5 tbsp milk
- 1 tsp vanilla
How to Make Cinnamon Roll Coffee Cake
1. Heat the oven. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9×13 inch baking pan to prevent sticking.
2. Make the batter. In a large bowl, mix together melted butter, eggs, and sugar until well blended. Add flour, vanilla, baking powder, and salt to the bowl. Stir until just combined. Gradually add milk, mixing until the batter is smooth and free of lumps.
3. Fill the pan. Pour the batter into the prepared baking pan. Spread it evenly across the pan.
4. Swirl in the topping. In a small bowl, combine melted butter, brown sugar, flour, and cinnamon. Mix until smooth. Drop spoonfuls of the topping mixture evenly over the batter in the pan. Use a knife to swirl the topping into the batter, creating a marbled effect.
5. Bake. Place the pan in the preheated oven. Bake for 30-35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
6. Make the glaze. While the cake is baking, whisk together powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla in a small bowl until smooth. Aim for a glaze consistency similar to pancake syrup.
7. Glaze. Once the cake is done, remove it from the oven and let it cool slightly. While the cake is still warm, drizzle the glaze over the top. Allow it to set as the cake cools.
8. Serve. Serve the cake warm for a comforting treat or at room temperature for convenience.
How to Get the Best Cinnamon Swirl
- Drop, don’t pour. Spoonfuls of topping spread evenly; pouring it all in one spot makes a heavy, sunken patch.
- Swirl lightly. A few passes with a knife make ribbons. Too much swirling blends the topping into the batter.
- Keep the topping warm. Melted butter keeps it loose enough to drop and swirl. If it thickens, warm it for a few seconds.
- Glaze while warm. The glaze melts slightly into the top, like the icing on fresh cinnamon rolls.
Tips for a Tender Coffee Cake
- Don’t overmix. Stir the flour in just until combined, then add the milk.
- Measure the flour carefully. Spoon it into the cup and level it; packed flour makes a dry cake.
- Check the center. The swirl stays gooey, so test the cake part with a toothpick, not a pocket of topping.
- Grease the corners. The sugary topping can stick, so grease the pan well.
Variations
- Nuts: add chopped pecans or walnuts to the topping.
- Cream cheese glaze: beat a little softened cream cheese into the glaze.
- Apple: scatter finely diced apples over the batter before the topping.
- Extra cinnamon: stir a teaspoon of cinnamon into the batter too.
- Cake mix shortcut: use a yellow cake mix for the batter and keep the topping and glaze the same.
Another breakfast for a crowd is Crack Breakfast Casserole, assembled the night before and baked in the morning.
Another brunch bake is Chicken and Waffle Casserole, made with frozen waffles and popcorn chicken.
Storage
Coffee cake is best the day it’s baked. Keep leftovers covered in an airtight container, and warm slices for a few seconds in the microwave to soften the glaze and swirl. For longer storage, wrap slices well and freeze them, then thaw at room temperature.
What to Serve With It
Serve it warm with coffee or tea for breakfast, or with a scoop of vanilla ice cream for dessert. Add fresh fruit or a bowl of berries for a brunch table.
More cinnamon treats: cinnamon roll French toast rolls, cinnamon roll cheesecake, cinnamon sugar biscuit bites and easy cinnamon apple cake. For more brunch baking, try Amish apple fritter bread or baked apple fritters.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does cinnamon roll coffee cake need yeast?
No. Baking powder makes it rise, so there’s no proofing or kneading.
Why did my topping sink?
It was poured in one spot or swirled too much. Drop it in spoonfuls and swirl lightly.
Can I make it ahead?
Yes. Bake it the day before, cool it, and add the glaze before serving.
Can I bake it in a different pan?
Two smaller square pans work; start checking for doneness earlier.
Can I freeze it?
Yes. Wrap slices well, freeze them, and thaw at room temperature.
Can I use a cake mix?
Yes. Prepare a yellow cake mix batter and use the same topping and glaze.
Cinnamon Roll Coffee Cake at a Glance
This cinnamon roll coffee cake has the flavor of a cinnamon roll without any rolling or rising. It bakes in a 9×13 pan and serves 12.
- Cake: a simple vanilla batter spread in the pan.
- Cinnamon swirl: melted butter, brown sugar, flour and cinnamon dropped by the spoonful over the batter.
- Bake: at 350°F for 30 to 35 minutes.
- Glaze: powdered sugar, milk and vanilla drizzled over the warm cake, like cinnamon roll icing.
Final Notes
Drop the topping in spoonfuls, swirl lightly and glaze while the cake is warm. If you add pecans or a cream cheese glaze, tell me in the comments how it turned out.
Easy Cinnamon Roll Coffee Cake: A Swirled Delight of Comfort and Sweetness
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Ingredients
- 1/2 cup butter melted
- 2 eggs
- 1 cup sugar
- 3 cups flour
- 2 tsp vanilla
- 4 tsp baking powder
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1 1/2 cups milk
- 1 cup butter melted (for topping)
- 1 cup brown sugar for topping
- 2 tbsp flour for topping
- 1 tbsp cinnamon for topping
- 2 cups powdered sugar for glaze
- 5 tbsp milk for glaze
- 1 tsp vanilla for glaze
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9×13 inch baking pan to prevent sticking.
- In a large bowl, mix together melted butter, eggs, and sugar until well blended. Add flour, vanilla, baking powder, and salt to the bowl. Stir until just combined. Gradually add milk, mixing until the batter is smooth and free of lumps.
- Pour the batter into the prepared baking pan. Spread it evenly across the pan.
- In a small bowl, combine melted butter, brown sugar, flour, and cinnamon. Mix until smooth. Drop spoonfuls of the topping mixture evenly over the batter in the pan. Use a knife to swirl the topping into the batter, creating a marbled effect.
- Place the pan in the preheated oven. Bake for 30-35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- While the cake is baking, whisk together powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla in a small bowl until smooth. Aim for a glaze consistency similar to pancake syrup.
- Once the cake is done, remove it from the oven and let it cool slightly. While the cake is still warm, drizzle the glaze over the top. Allow it to set as the cake cools.
- Serve the cake warm for a comforting treat or at room temperature for convenience.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition values are estimates based on the listed ingredients and serving count. Actual values vary with brands, cuts and portion sizes.
