Description
A moist, dense, and incredibly easy cake that tastes like a giant cinnamon roll without the yeast or kneading. Made with simple pantry ingredients like cake mix and cream cheese icing, it’s ready in under 45 minutes.
Ingredients
Scale
- 15.25 oz yellow cake mix
- 3.4 oz instant vanilla pudding mix
- ½ cup vegetable oil
- 3 large eggs
- 1 cup water
- 1 cup packed brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons ground cinnamon
- ½ cup unsalted butter, melted
- 8 oz cream cheese, softened
- 1½ cups powdered sugar, sifted
- 2–3 tablespoons milk
- ½ cup chopped pecans or walnuts (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease a 9×13 inch baking pan.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine cake mix, pudding mix, oil, eggs, and water. Beat on medium speed for 2 minutes until smooth.
- In a medium bowl, mix brown sugar and cinnamon. In a small microwave-safe bowl, melt the butter and stir it into the sugar mixture until it resembles wet sand.
- Pour half of the cake batter into the prepared pan. Sprinkle half of the cinnamon-sugar mixture over the batter. Add remaining batter, then top with remaining cinnamon-sugar mixture.
- Gently drag a knife through the batter in a zig-zag pattern to create swirls.
- Bake for 35-40 minutes until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Let the cake cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
- While the cake cools, beat the softened cream cheese until smooth. Add powdered sugar and beat until combined. Add milk one tablespoon at a time until the icing is thick but spreadable.
- Spread the icing over the completely cooled cake. Slice into squares and serve.
Notes
Ensure eggs and cream cheese are at room temperature for best results. Do not overmix the swirl to maintain distinct layers. The cake tastes even better the next day as flavors meld. Can be frozen for up to 2 months.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 35-40 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 380
- Sugar: 38
- Sodium: 350
- Fat: 16
- Saturated Fat: 8
- Carbohydrates: 52
- Fiber: 1
- Protein: 4
Keywords: cinnamon roll cake, easy dessert, cake mix recipe, cream cheese icing, quick baking, family friendly