My famous Cinnamon Roll Pound Cake, Featured on TODAY Show and Rachael Ray, is a moist sour cream pound cake with a buttery cinnamon swirl dancing through the inside that’s finished with a decadent cream cheese icing. Featured in my cookbook Grandbaby Cakes, it is to die for! If you love this cake, you will also love this HoneyBun Cake, Sock It To Me Cake, and these Cinnamon Roll Biscuits.
I adore cinnamon rolls. Seriously who doesn’t? As I type this, I am imagining one now with its soft chewy dough filled with a buttery cinnamon swirl and topped with that pillow of glaze that takes this gooey treat over the top. Sounds great right? (Sorry if you are now craving cinnamon rolls but at least I have this cinnamon roll pound cake now).
HOW TO MAKE CINNAMON ROLL POUND CAKE
This cinnamon roll pound cake has three distinct components that work together flawlessly.
- Sour Cream Pound Cake Batter
- Cinnamon Swirl
- Cream Cheese Frosting
For the Sour Cream Pound Cake,
it begins with a standard creaming period of butter (room temperature of course) and sugar.
The ingredient that really changes the texture and moistness of this cake is the sour cream. I love adding it to cake batters because of the flavor richness and tanginess as well. My big mama made this cake all of the time because it just “works”. Each bite is super tender and buttery with that hint of sour cream.
The Cinnamon Swirl is the fun component of this cake!
It is a thick buttery and brown sugar based mixture that is hefty enough to stand up in the thick batter of the cake. The addition of the flour helps with that so it retains its rightful and important place in this cake. You can swirl this part with a skewer or cake knife. Totally up to you! If you have your kids involved, make sure to use a skewer for safety.
And Finally the Cream Cheese Glaze!
With a bit of cream cheese and powdered sugar, we create a thick yet pourable mixture that is very famous for melting over cinnamon rolls.
TIPS FOR HOW TO BAKE A CINNAMON POUND CAKE
To ensure that you create a perfect crumb and absolutely velvety texture for this cake, here are a few baking tips.
- REMEMBER: always make sure your butter and ingredients like your eggs and sour cream are at room temperature.
- Don’t rush the creaming period! We need to add additional air and lift to this cake so taking your time with mixing that butter and sugar at the beginning of your baking process will assist with this.
- Don’t overmix! Particulaly when adding your dry ingredinets. Cake flour is important for slowing down the gluten production as well which we don’t want to overact. Don’t have any? Make your own cake flour.
When to Serve Cinnamon Roll Pound Cake
Yep this recipe definitely made me proud. It is perfect for breakfast, brunch or even after dinner.
And its perfect for a work snack. I am rationalizing as I eat another slice and finish this post.
I also love serving this cake for holidays. Anything brunchy like an Easter or Mother’s Celebration make this cake absolutely perfect. And don’t forget Sunday Suppers!
Storing This Pound Cake
Because this cake has a cream cheese glaze, if you opt to pour over the entire cake, you must store in the refrigerator.
If you decide to keep the glaze on the side and just serve with slices, the cake itself can be stored at room temperature in an air tight container.
Either way, the cake should stay fresh for about 3-4 days. If you want to keep it longer than that, I suggest freezing slices that are wrapped super tight in plastic wrap not allowing any space for air to enter.
If you want more pound cake recipes, click HERE
Cinnamon Roll Pound Cake
Ingredients
For the Cake
- 1 1/2 cup unsalted butter room temperature
- 2 1/2 cups granulated sugar
- 6 large eggs room temperature
- 3 cups sifted cake flour
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1 cup sour cream room temperature
- 2 tbsp vegetable oil
- 1 tbsp vanilla extract
For the Cinnamon Swirl
- 1/3 cup unsalted butter melted (5 tbsp plus 1 tsp)
- 1/3 cup packed light brown sugar
- 1 tbsp all purpose flour
- 1 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
For the Icing
- 2 oz cream cheese room temperature
- 2 tbsp unsalted butter room temperature
- 1 1/2 cup confectioner's sugar
- 1/4 cup milk can be whole, 2% or even refrigerated coconut milk
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Instructions
For the Cake
- Preheat your oven to 325°F. Liberally prepare a 12-cup Bundt pan with the nonstick method of your choice. (I recommend the shortening and flour method to make sure this cake doesn’t stick as the swirl sugar mixture can sometimes sink a little to the bottom).
- In the bowl of your stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, beat the butter for 1 minute on high speed. Slowly add the granulated sugar. Cream together for an additional 5 minutes, until very pale yellow and fluffy. Add the eggs 1 at a time, combining well after each addition and scraping down the sides and bottom of the bowl as needed.
- Turn your mixer down to its lowest speed and slowly add the flour in 2 batches. Add the salt and baking soda. Be careful not to overbeat. Add the sour cream, oil, and vanilla extract. Scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl and mix the batter until just combined. Be careful not to overmix. Set the batter aside.
For the Cinnamon Swirl
- In a small bowl, whisk together all the ingredients until well combined. Set aside.
To Bake
- Pour ⅓ of the batter into the prepared pan.
- Drizzle ½ of the cinnamon swirl over the batter. Using a butter knife or skewer, swivel the mixture through the cake batter, creating a flourish pattern.
- Repeat with the rest of the cake batter and cinnamon swirl. Top with the remaining batter. Bake for 85 to 95 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out mostly clean.
- Let the cake cool in the pan on a wire rack for 10 minutes, then invert onto a serving plate. Let cool to room temperature. Lightly cover the cake with foil or plastic wrap so it does not dry out.
For the Icing
- Clean your stand mixer bowl and whisk attachment. Beat the cream cheese and butter for 2 minutes on medium-high speed.
- Reduce your mixer speed and carefully add the confectioners’ sugar in 2 batches, scraping down the sides and bottom of the bowl as needed. Once the sugar is fully incorporated, turn your mixer back up to medium-high speed. Add the milk and vanilla extract and beat until the icing is smooth and pourable.
- Drizzle the icing over the cooled pound cake. Serve at room temperature.
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What happens if you don’t add the oil?
It takes away from the moistness in my opinion.
This is an absolute best when it comes to roll pound cakes. That texture is absolutely perfect!
Where is the recipe for the buttery brown sugar swirl that you put in the cake? I want to make this recipe but cant find it on this page for the cinnamon roll pound cake. Thank you for your pound cake recipes.
I don’t see this recipe at all for the amounts to use for the cinnamon swirl. Can you tell me where to find the complete recipe?
Hi!! Where is the actual recipe for this cake?
Thanks!
LaTonya
I add walnuts to the swirl in the cake. It really good
How do I get the recipe for the cinnamon roll pound cake
Hi Tiffany, the recipe is in my cookbook now.
really want the cinnamon roll pound cake recipe all others okay
I have baked this three times in two different ovens. All three times, the cake collapsed (or fell) after taking it out. I love the book. I love the taste of the cake. But, it doesn’t look good (or like the pictures). I’m not a novice. I make bread breads, Ect. But, I’m doing something wrong. Any ideas?
Hi Paul, that’s so strange. I am wondering what might be the issue. It could be a few things: was the cake totally done? If it was underdone then it can sink. Check your oven temperature to make sure its correct. Make sure you aren’t overmixing it also. Have you changed any of the ingredients? Just trying to figure out what’s going on.
Hi Paul. The first thing that came to my mind is the expiration dates. (I haven’t been able to locate this recipe to print yet.) But, if a recipe calls for baking powder or baking soda, always remember to check the expiration dates on those items. Maybe that was the problem. Don’t give up. Happy baking. 🙂
Baked this cake yesterday. Delicious and moist, even though I probably should have taken the cake out sooner. Next attempt, I’ll begin checking around 50 min. I had bought a new bundt pan that was on the lighter side (weight). Not sure it would hold 12 cups, however, it worked out well. As this cake rose, I was concerned the pan was too small. Interesting rise since there isn’t any baking pdr in the recipe. I followed the directions completely, however, next time I think I’ll double the brown sugar mixture (we love cinnamon) as well as adding chopped pecans (we love nuts). Plus, I will mix up the Cinnamon Swirl and use immediately. Mine set for a bit and it was a challenge to swirl b/c the butter had thickened. After reading comments, I only added two tabl. of milk to the icing. Great consistency for me. Given that I thought it was over baked, I was pleased when we sampled the cake after it had set for several hours…it was scrumptious with a cold glass milk. Will be sharing with a friend in Calistoga, CA tomorrow. Hit with my hubby, too.
Wonderful! I’m so glad everyone enjoyed it. And doubling that sugar swirl sounds wonderful to me!