101 Cooking For Two

  • Recipes
  • About
  • FAQs/Help
  • Shop
  • ๐Ÿ“–Emails
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipes
  • About
  • FAQs/Help
  • Shop
  • ๐Ÿ“–Emails
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Recipes
  • About
  • FAQs/Help
  • Shop
  • ๐Ÿ“–Emails
ร—
๐Ÿ Home ยป Recipes ยป Breakfast Recipes

Small Cinnamon Coffee Cake

Published: Dec 18, 2024 by Dan Mikesell AKA DrDan ยท 41 Comments

Jump to Recipe
Total Time: 45 minutes mins

With the great taste of Cinnabon cinnamon rolls, this quick and easy Cinnamon Coffee Cake recipe has it all, from buttery and tender cinnamon-swirled cake with carmalized streusel topping and a sweet glaze. An 8X8 small batch recipe that is simple to make smaller or bigger, it is the perfect breakfast, brunch, or dessert recipe for a holiday or everyday.

๐ŸฅฎIngredients

Flour
Sugarโ€”white, brown, and powdered
Cinnamon
Vanilla extract
Milk, butter, and egg
Pantry ingredientsโ€”salt, baking powder
Optional nutsโ€”walnuts or pecans

Piece of cinnamon coffee cake on a spatula.
Jump To (scroll for more)
  • ๐ŸฅฎIngredients
  • ๐Ÿ‘จโ€๐ŸณHow to Make Cinnamon Coffee Cakeโ€”Step-by-Step Photo Instructions
  • ๐Ÿค”When is the cinnamon coffee cake done?
  • ๐Ÿ‘Tips to make it perfect every time
  • ๐Ÿฝ๏ธHow to serve
  • โ†•๏ธHow to make this recipe smaller or bigger
  • ๐Ÿ“‹Other breakfast and dessert recipes
  • โ„๏ธStorage of leftovers
  • โ“FAQs
  • Small Cinnamon Coffee Cake
Blue ribbon divider used for visual effect

quote mark
Featured Comment by Beth:
โญโญโญโญโญ
"Best Cinnamon Roll Cake EVER!!! It is so moist! It's hard to stop at one piece."

This wonderful Cinnamon Coffee Cake recipe is made from scratch with pantry ingredients. Loaded with butter, sugar, and gooey cinnamon swirls, it's topped with a glaze for that great cinnamon roll taste; it will be your new favorite dessert recipe.

Serve with baked sausage patties or crispy baked bacon.

๐Ÿ‘จโ€๐ŸณHow to Make Cinnamon Coffee Cakeโ€”Step-by-Step Photo Instructions

Cinnamon with butter and baking ingredientsโ€”labeled.
Sifting flour into a clear bowl

1. Add the flour to a large bowl with cinnamon, sugar, salt, and baking powder. Optionalโ€”sift the flour for more tender results.

Mixing milk and egg into dry ingredients.

2. Add the wet ingredients: an egg, milk, and vanilla. Mix well.

Adding melted butter to the batter.

3. Mix the melted butter into the cake batter.

Pouring batter into the baking dish.

4. Pour into a prepared 6X9, 8X8, or 9-inch round baking dish.

Mixing topping in a glass bowl.

5. Mix topping by cutting cold butter into brown sugar, cinnamon, and flour. Add nut is you wish.

Using a knife to swirl topping into the batter.

6. Add the topping to the batter. Cut it into the batter with a knife to make swirls. Bake at 350ยฐ until a toothpick comes out cleanโ€”about 30 minutes.

Mixing the glaze of powdered sugar, vanilla and milk.

7. Mix a glaze of powdered sugar, vanilla, and milk.

Pouring glaze over coffee cake.

8. After the cake is partially cooled, drizzle the glaze over the warm cake and evenly spread it over the cake.

For more details, keep reading. See the Recipe Card below for complete instructions and to print.

๐Ÿค”When is the cinnamon coffee cake done?

Your cinnamon cake is done when it is browned nicely, and the cake starts pulling away from the sides. And a toothpick or narrow knife will come out clean.

If unsure, the internal temperature of the cake should be 200ยฐ to 210ยฐ when checked with an instant-read thermometer.

Time estimates for baking recipes are estimated for planning, but there are many variables, like the oven and thickness, which depend on the pan

Cinnamon coffee cake on a fork.

๐Ÿ‘Tips to make it perfect every time

Standard white all-purpose flour is fine. Cake or bread flour is unnecessary, and whole wheat will fight the taste and texture.

Sifting the flour will add lightness to the coffee cake. It is optional but suggested. If you don't have a sifter, use a large strainer instead.

Add the optional nuts to get the full cinnamon roll experience when they sink into the cake with the crumb topping when baked after cutting the knife through the batter, making the swirl effect.

๐Ÿฝ๏ธHow to serve

I suggest a smaller serving. There is so much butter and sweetness that a smaller serving will make most people happy. But, I have set the nutrition to six relatively large servings.

Serve with American Fries. Breakfast meat is a must at our house. If you have not tried it, check out how to bake bacon or baked breakfast sausage.

Bacon Baked in a Convection Oven

The easiest way to cook crispy bacon is in a convection oven on aluminum foil for easy cleanup of the bacon grease. Use standard or thick-cut bacon to make great crispy bacon strips for breakfast or other uses.

Pile of cooked bacon on a white plate.

โ†•๏ธHow to make this recipe smaller or bigger

This small recipe is already "for two with leftovers". If you decide to make a half recipe, you need to use a 6-inch round or 5-inch square pan and will cook 5-10 minutes quicker depending on the pan.

A double recipe uses a 9 by 13-inch cake pan and will take about 10 minutes longer to cook. Use the same endpoints.

  1. Use the recipe card and adjust the number of servings to half or double.
  2. Use the amount of ingredients in the ingredient list, not the instructionsโ€”those do not adjust.

๐Ÿ“‹Other breakfast and dessert recipes

Check out other breakfast baked goods recipes, like Small French Toast Casserole, Glazed Cinnamon Biscuits, Cinnamon Streusel Coffee Cake, Blueberry Cake, and Baked Blueberry Pancakes. Or some delicious dessert recipes like my Flourless Chocolate Cake Recipe and Old Fashioned Apple Crisp.

This recipe is featured in Mother's Day Recipes, Valentine's Day Recipes, and Christmas Recipes roundups.

โ„๏ธStorage of leftovers

The cake is best served warm out of the oven. Store tightly covered at room temperature for up to 3 days but best if only one day. If you add the optional cream cheese to the frosting, you should store in the refrigerator and not at room temperature.

Freezing is acceptable for up to 3 months, but I suggest freezing without the glaze and adding it later.

Reheat in the microwave. If you want to reheat in the oven, it should be covered.

โ“FAQs

Can I use cream cheese frosting?

You may add 2 tablespoons of cream cheese to the frosting glaze for great cream cheese flavor. If you add cream cheese, the cinnamon cake must be refrigerated and not left at room temperature for more than 2 hours.

Should I use a convection oven?

No. The top may overcook before the batter is cooked. This is true of most baking, only use convection if instructed.

Blue ribbon divider used for visual effect
Piece of cinnamon coffee cake on a spatula.

Small Cinnamon Coffee Cake

From Dan Mikesell AKA DrDan
With the great taste of Cinnabon cinnamon rolls, this quick and easy Cinnamon Coffee Cake recipe has it all, from buttery and tender cinnamon-swirled cake with carmalized streusel topping and a sweet glaze. An 8X8 small batch recipe that is simple to make smaller or bigger, it is the perfect breakfast, brunch, or dessert recipe for a holiday or everyday.
5 from 5 votes
Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes minutes
Total Time: 45 minutes minutes
Servings #/Adjust if desired 6

Video Slideshow

Save this recipe to your inbox for later!

Get the recipe link via email to comeback later.

You may recieve the email without subscribing if you wish, but the subscription is convienent and has an easy one-ckick unsubscribe.

SHARE THE RECIPE OR SAVE FOR LATER
Print It
Pin It
Email this recipe link to a friend
Like and save for later Saved!

Ingredients

US Customary - Convert to Metric
  • 1 ยฝ cups flour - sifting suggested
  • ยฝ cup sugar
  • ยฝ teaspoon cinnamon
  • โ…“ teaspoon salt
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1 egg
  • ยพ cup milk
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • ยผ cup butter

Topping

  • ยฝ cup butter - cold
  • ยฝ cup brown sugar
  • 1 tablespoon cinnamon
  • 1 tablespoon flour
  • โ…” cup chopped nuts - optional. Walnuts or Pecans.

Glaze

  • 1 cup powder sugar
  • ยฝ teaspoon vanilla
  • 2 tablespoons milk

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 350ยฐ conventional.
    Cinnamon with butter and baking ingredientsโ€”labeled.
  • Sift 1 ยฝ cups flour into a large mixing bowl. You could skip the sifting, but it will improve the texture. You can also strain or whisk the flour for a few seconds.
    Sifting flour into a clear bowl
  • Add ยฝ cup sugar, ยฝ teaspoon cinnamon, ยผ teaspoon salt, and 2 teaspoons baking powder to the flour in the large bowl. Mix dry ingredients.ย Add the wet ingredients: 1 egg, ยพ cup milk, and 1 teaspoon vanilla. Mix well.
    Mixing milk and egg into dry ingredients.
  • Melt ยผ cup butter in a microwave. Mix the melted butter into the cake batter.
    Adding melted butter to the batter.
  • Prep an 8X8, 9X6, or 9-inch round baking dish with PAM cooking spray. Pour the batter into the prepared pan.
    Pouring batter into the baking dish.
  • Mix the topping in a medium bowl: cut ยฝ cup cold butter into a mixture of ยฝ cup brown sugar, 1 tablespoon cinnamon, and 1 tablespoon flour. Mix until crumbly. If you wish, add โ…“ cup chopped pecans or walnuts.
    Using a knife to swirl topping into the batter.
  • Add the cinnamon topping to the cake batter. Cut it into the batter with a knife. Move a butter knife in 1-inch segments in both directions several times. Bake until a toothpick comes out clean, about 30 minutes.
    Cutting topping into the cake.
  • Mix the glaze of 1 cup of powdered sugar, ยฝ teaspoon vanilla, and 2 tablespoons of milk.
    Mixing the glaze of powdered sugar, vanilla and milk.
  • After the cake is partially cooled, drizzle the glaze over the warm cake and evenly spread it over the cake.
    Pouring glaze over coffee cake.
  • Serve warm.
    cinnamon roll cake on a fork new

Recipe Notes

Pro Tips

  1. An easy recipe to double using a 9 X 13 standard cake pan. Cooking time will increase a bit to 35-40 minutes. A half recipe will fit in a 6-inch round pan and will cook 5-10 minutes faster.
  2. Butter is a key component of this cake. Please use real butter.
  3. Sifting flour will make your flour "lighter" and your final results lighter and less dense. I think this is quite noticeable in this recipe. If you don't have a sifter, running the flour through a strainer will work. If you don't have that, a whisk or fork can help. Or you can skip it.
  4. You can add 2 tablespoons of cream cheese to the frosting glaze for more taste, but because of the cream cheese, you MUST refrigerate leftovers.
  5. Best warm out of the oven but otherwise store at room temperature covered tightly for up to 3 days, but only one day is better.
  6. It can be frozen for up to three months, but I suggest freezing it without the glaze and adding it before serving.

Your Own Private Notes

Click here to save your own private notes only you will see. These will print and be saved for your next visit.
Blue ribbon divider used for visual effect.

To adjust the recipe size:

You may adjust the number of servings in this recipe card under servings. This does the math for the ingredients for you. BUT it does NOT adjust the text of the instructions. So you need to do that yourself.

Nutrition Estimate

Calories : 553 kcal (28%)Carbohydrates : 83 g (28%)Protein : 5 g (10%)Fat : 23 g (35%)Saturated Fat : 15 g (75%)Cholesterol : 62 mg (21%)Sodium : 322 mg (13%)Potassium : 248 mg (7%)Fiber : 2 g (8%)Sugar : 56 g (62%)Vitamin A : 782 IU (16%)Calcium : 141 mg (14%)Iron : 2 mg (11%)
Serving size is my estimate of a normal sizeโ€”this is home cooking, and there are many variables. All nutritional information are estimates and may vary from your actual results. To taste ingredients such as salt will be my estimate of the average used.

ยฉ 101 Cooking for Two, LLC. All content and photographs are copyright protected by us or our vendors. While we appreciate your sharing our recipes, please realize copying, pasting, or duplicating full recipes to any social media, website, or electronic/printed media is strictly prohibited and a violation of our copyrights.

Based on Cinnabon Cake on Food.com.

Editor's Note: Originally Published December 12, 2015. Updated with expanded options, refreshed photos, and a table of contents to help navigation.

Molly and Lilly dogs with a toy raccoon.

More Breakfast Recipes

  • loaf of banana nut bread on a cutting board
    Betty Crocker Banana Bread Recipe
  • French Toast Casserole on orange plate with syrup.
    Small French Toast Casserole
  • Blueberry Cream Cheese Coffee Cake on a blue plate.
    Blueberry Cream Cheese Coffee Cake
  • baked sausage on a white plate.
    How To Cook Sausage in the Oven

Comments

    This post has been updated and republished. All comments are held for moderation due to spam issues. Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Please leave a comment or question. All comments are moderated.




    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

  1. S J DI CHRISTINA says

    December 26, 2024 at 7:00 am

    THIS IS CANDY, NOT CAKE. APPALLING AMOUNT OF
    SUGAR AND FAT. ALL THAT IS MISSING IS A DOLLOP
    OF WHIPPED CREAM, SWEETENED OF COURSE.

    Reply
  2. carol says

    March 28, 2024 at 10:45 pm

    This coffee cake is great!! Just the perfect size, recipe is easy to follow and thereโ€™s never leftovers! lol
    Iโ€™ve been making it on a weekly basis.
    Thank you Dr Dan

    Reply
  3. Felicia Henshaw says

    September 27, 2023 at 2:38 pm

    This is by far one of the best cakes I have ever made and perfect size for 3 people!!!

    Reply
    • Dan Mikesell AKA DrDan says

      September 27, 2023 at 5:34 pm

      Hi Felicia,

      Welcome to the blog.

      Thanks so much, it is one of my favorites.

      Dan

  4. Beth Matteri says

    December 19, 2021 at 8:29 pm

    5 stars
    Beth
    Best Cinnamon Roll Cake EVER!!! It is so moist! It's hard to stop at one piece.
    Happy Holidays to you & yours!

    Beth
    I love this recipe for Cinnamon Roll Cake. It is so moist.
    It's hard to stop at 1 piece.
    Happy Holidays to you & yours.

    Reply
  5. Linda says

    February 10, 2021 at 12:38 pm

    When you mentioned using a pie-cutter, are you referring to also what's known as a dough cutter? I'm a senior citizen, but relatively new to baking and all the tools available. :-)
    It's just me and my husband and I love your "Cooking for two". Great recipes!
    Thank you for all the work it takes to make these recipes for everyone!

    Reply
    • Dan Mikesell AKA DrDan says

      February 10, 2021 at 12:47 pm

      Hi Linda,

      I, of course, use the terminology I learned 60 yrs ago and never checked what people called it now. And the one I use is probably 60 yrs old, also. I changed it to "dough cutter" which has probably been the correct term forever.

      Glad you are enjoying the blog. Please continue to let me know if something isn't clear.

      Dan

  6. Jayne says

    January 13, 2021 at 9:28 am

    This looks absolutely delicious!! A quick question please. Do I measure the 1 1/2 cups flour before or after sifting?
    Thank you for sharing this recipe!

    Reply
    • Dan Mikesell AKA DrDan says

      January 13, 2021 at 9:30 am

      Hi Jayne,
      Welcome to the blog.
      That is 1 1/2 cup before sifting.
      Dan

  7. Claudi0 says

    December 21, 2020 at 12:49 pm

    5 stars
    Just made your cinnamon roll cake yesterday. I must had made some error somewhere as all the yummy topping ended up all as a layer on the bottom of the cake - which made it very hard to get out of the pan. But I will say, although that happened, it still was delicious all the same.

    Reply
    • Dan Mikesell AKA DrDan says

      December 21, 2020 at 1:06 pm

      Hi Claudi,

      Welcome to the blog.

      A couple of possibilities with the "sinking" of the topping. First, use cold butter when making the topping which will help that topping be more dry/crumbly. Warmer butter will tend to make more of a "goop" that will just go to the bottom. Second, don't over mix when running the knife though. You just want some of the topping to go into the dough. In my 6X9, I usually do 2-3 the long way and 3-4 across the shorter way.

      But, at least it tasted good.

      Thanks for the note, rating, and have a great holiday.

      Dan

« Older Comments

DrDan imageHi, I'm DrDan.
Welcome to 101 Cooking for Two, the home of great everyday recipes with easy step-by-step photo instructions.
About DrDan

Pan Seared 30-min. Dinners

  • NY strip steak cut on an orange plate
    Pan Seared Oven Roasted Strip Steak

  • pork tenderloin on blue platter
    Pan Seared Oven Roasted Pork Tenderloin

  • cooked seared chicken breast on a white plate
    Pan Seared Oven Baked Chicken Breasts

  • filtet mignon with potatoes on a white plate
    Pan Seared Oven Roasted Filet Mignon

  • Pan Seared Oven Roasted Pork Chops from 101 Cooking for Two
    Pan Seared Oven Roasted Pork Chops

  • 30 Minute Boneless Pork Ribs

SITES THAT I WORK WITH OR HAVE HAD RECIPES FEATURED OR REFERENCED.
SITES THAT I WORK WITH OR HAVE HAD RECIPES FEATURED OR REFERENCED.

Footer

BACK TO TOP
OF PAGE
Join the club
SUBSCRIBE TODAY

About

  • About DrDan and the Blog
  • Contact Me
  • Comment Policy
  • Guest Posts, Partnering, and Business Questions

Content

  • Food FAQ
  • Kitchen Reference Sheets
  • Recipes Featured in the Videos
  • Guide To Cooking for Two
  • Old Saved Recipes Collections
dogs by the pond

โ†‘ back to top โ†‘a

Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Contact

COPYRIGHT ยฉ 2010-2025 101 COOKING FOR TWO. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED | BASED ON FOODIE PRO THEME