Vanilla Cake with Cinnamon Swirl and Cream Cheese Glaze Recipe
This delicious vanilla cinnamon swirl Bundt cake combines a moist, fluffy vanilla cake with a sweet cinnamon swirl throughout. Topped with a rich cream cheese glaze and a sprinkling of cinnamon sugar, it’s a perfect treat for breakfast, dessert, or any occasion requiring a comforting, flavorful cake.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour
- Yield: 12 servings 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
Vanilla Cake
- 1 box vanilla cake mix (15.25 ounces)
- 3 eggs
- ½ cup vegetable oil
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Cinnamon Swirl
- ½ cup brown sugar (packed)
- ⅓ cup all purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon cinnamon
- ⅓ cup butter (melted)
Cream Cheese Glaze
- 8 ounces cream cheese (softened)
- ½ cup butter (softened)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 cups powdered sugar
Cinnamon Sugar Mixture
- ⅓ cup sugar (granulated or sanding)
- 2 teaspoons cinnamon
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F to ensure it’s at the right temperature for baking the cake evenly.
- Prepare Vanilla Cake Batter: In a large mixing bowl, combine the vanilla cake mix, eggs, vegetable oil, buttermilk, and vanilla extract. Use a handheld or stand mixer to blend everything together until you have a thick, smooth batter with no lumps. Set aside once mixed.
- Make Cinnamon Swirl Mixture: In a small bowl, stir together the brown sugar, all purpose flour, cinnamon, and melted butter until fully combined. This mixture will create the sweet cinnamon swirls inside the cake.
- Prepare Bundt Pan: Liberally spray your Bundt pan with nonstick cooking spray to ensure the cake releases easily after baking.
- Assemble Cake Layers: Pour half of the vanilla cake batter into the prepared Bundt pan. Spoon half of the cinnamon swirl mixture over the batter. Use a toothpick or skewer to gently swirl the cinnamon mixture throughout the batter. Repeat by adding the remaining vanilla cake batter evenly over the swirl, then top with the rest of the cinnamon mixture and swirl again carefully.
- Bake the Cake: Place the Bundt pan in the oven and bake for 40-45 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with a few moist crumbs but no raw batter. Remove the cake from the oven and allow it to cool in the pan for at least 15 minutes.
- Cool and Unmold Cake: After 15 minutes, invert the Bundt pan onto a serving plate to release the cake. Let it cool completely at room temperature before glazing.
- Prepare Cream Cheese Glaze: In a small bowl, combine softened cream cheese and softened butter. Use a handheld mixer to blend until smooth and creamy. Add vanilla extract and powdered sugar, continuing to mix until the glaze reaches a thick frosting consistency. If too thick, add a tablespoon of milk or microwave for 20 seconds to loosen.
- Apply Glaze: Transfer the cream cheese glaze to a piping bag (or a zipper bag with a corner cut off). Drizzle the glaze over the top of the cooled cake in a zigzag pattern for an attractive finish.
- Add Cinnamon Sugar Topping: While the glaze is still wet, mix together the granulated sugar and cinnamon. Sprinkle the cinnamon sugar mixture liberally over the glazed cake for extra sweetness and spice.
- Serve or Store: Serve the cake immediately or store covered in the refrigerator for up to 4 days to maintain freshness and flavor.
Notes
- Use a Bundt pan to achieve the perfect shape and even baking.
- Ensure the cake is cooled completely before glazing to prevent the glaze from melting.
- For an extra moist cake, bring the eggs, buttermilk, and butter to room temperature before mixing.
- If you prefer less sweetness, reduce the powdered sugar in the glaze slightly.
- The cinnamon sugar topping adds a nice crunchy texture but can be omitted if you prefer a softer glaze topping.
- Leftover cake can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
Keywords: vanilla cinnamon swirl cake, cream cheese glaze cake, Bundt cake recipe, cinnamon cake, easy cake recipe
