Crockpot Cinnamon Roll Cake
Crockpot Cinnamon Roll Cake
This Crockpot Cinnamon Roll Cake is everything you love about a warm cinnamon roll transformed into an easy slow cooker dessert. The cake is soft and tender with a buttery brown sugar cinnamon swirl running throughout, then it’s finished with a sweet vanilla glaze that melts into the warm cake.
And the best part? You don’t have to turn on the oven.
This is the kind of cozy recipe that’s perfect for a lazy weekend breakfast, holiday brunch, Christmas morning, or an easy dessert when you want your kitchen to smell like cinnamon and sugar.
Serve it warm straight from the Crockpot while the cinnamon filling is gooey and the icing is melting over the top.
Why You’ll Love This Crockpot Cinnamon Roll Cake
If you love cinnamon rolls but don’t always want to make yeast dough, this cake gives you many of those same flavors with much less work.
You’ll love it because it’s:
- Soft and moist
- Filled with cinnamon and brown sugar
- Made right in the slow cooker
- No yeast required
- No rolling or rising dough
- Finished with a simple vanilla glaze
- Delicious served warm
- Perfect for breakfast, brunch, or dessert
It’s essentially a cross between a cinnamon roll, coffee cake, and warm Crockpot cake.
Ingredients
Cinnamon Roll Cake
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup milk
- 2 large eggs
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup butter, melted
Cinnamon Swirl
- 1/2 cup butter, softened
- 1 cup packed brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
Vanilla Glaze
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 2 tablespoons milk
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
How to Make Crockpot Cinnamon Roll Cake
Prepare the Crockpot
Lightly spray the inside of a 5- to 6-quart slow cooker with nonstick cooking spray.
You can also line the bottom with parchment paper if you’d like to make removing portions of the cake easier.
Make the Cake Batter
In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, granulated sugar, baking powder, and salt.
In a separate bowl, whisk together the milk, eggs, vanilla, and melted butter.
Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and stir just until everything is combined.
Don’t overmix the batter. Mix only until you no longer see large streaks of dry flour.
Spread the cake batter evenly in the prepared Crockpot.
Make the Cinnamon Swirl
In a small bowl, combine the softened butter, brown sugar, cinnamon, and flour.
Mix until you have a thick, spreadable cinnamon-sugar mixture.
Drop spoonfuls of the cinnamon mixture over the top of the cake batter.
Use a butter knife to gently swirl the cinnamon mixture through the batter.
Don’t completely mix it in. You want distinct ribbons and pockets of buttery cinnamon sugar throughout the finished cake.
Slow Cook the Cake
Place a clean kitchen towel or a few layers of paper towels over the top of the slow cooker before adding the lid. This helps catch condensation that would otherwise drip onto the cake. Keep the towel safely outside the cooker and away from the heating element.
Cook on HIGH for approximately 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 hours.
Slow cookers vary significantly, so begin checking the cake toward the earlier end of the cooking time.
The cake is ready when the center appears set and a toothpick inserted into an area of cake comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs.
Try not to insert the toothpick directly into a cinnamon-sugar pocket, since that area will naturally remain gooier.
Make the Vanilla Glaze
While the cake is cooling slightly, whisk together the powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla.
If the glaze is too thick, add another small splash of milk.
If it’s too thin, add a little more powdered sugar.
You want it thin enough to drizzle but thick enough to remain visible on top of the cake.
Glaze the Warm Cake
Drizzle the vanilla glaze generously over the warm cinnamon roll cake.
The glaze will begin to melt slightly into the warm cake, which is exactly what you want.
Serve while warm.
What Does Crockpot Cinnamon Roll Cake Taste Like?
Imagine cutting into a soft vanilla cake and finding ribbons of buttery cinnamon and brown sugar throughout the middle.
Then add sweet vanilla icing on top.
That’s this cake.
The brown sugar mixture melts as the cake cooks, creating gooey cinnamon pockets that give the dessert much more of a cinnamon roll flavor than simply adding cinnamon to cake batter.
The Secret Is the Cinnamon Swirl
Don’t stir the cinnamon mixture completely into the batter.
You want to swirl it.
Dropping spoonfuls across the surface and dragging a knife gently through the batter gives you pockets of brown sugar, butter, and cinnamon.
Those gooey sections are arguably the best part.
Why Make Cake in a Crockpot?
Slow cooker desserts are incredibly convenient, especially when your oven is already being used for dinner or holiday cooking.
The enclosed environment also helps cakes retain moisture.
A Crockpot cake won’t necessarily have exactly the same exterior texture as an oven-baked cake. Instead, expect a particularly soft and moist cake.
That’s perfect for a cinnamon roll-inspired dessert.
How Do You Keep Condensation Off Crockpot Cake?
One challenge with baking in a slow cooker is condensation.
As the cake cooks, steam rises and collects on the underside of the lid. Eventually, that moisture can drip onto the cake.
Placing a clean kitchen towel or layers of paper towels beneath the lid helps absorb some of that condensation.
Make sure the material doesn’t hang near the heat source.
Don’t Overcook Your Cinnamon Roll Cake
Slow cookers don’t all heat at exactly the same temperature.
That’s why a range is much more useful than pretending every Crockpot will finish the cake at exactly the same minute.
Start checking around 1 1/2 hours.
Once the cake is set in the center, turn off the slow cooker. Continuing to cook it unnecessarily can dry out the edges.
Crockpot Cinnamon Roll Cake for Breakfast
Is it cake?
Yes.
Would I serve it for breakfast?
Also yes.
It has all those cozy cinnamon-roll and coffee-cake flavors that make it perfect with a cup of hot coffee.
Serve it for:
- Weekend breakfast
- Sunday brunch
- Christmas morning
- Thanksgiving morning
- Easter brunch
- Mother’s Day
- Bridal or baby showers
- Overnight guests
Put the Crockpot on the breakfast table and let everyone scoop out a warm serving.
Or Serve It for Dessert
Warm cinnamon cake and vanilla ice cream are an excellent combination.
Scoop the cake into a dessert bowl while it’s still warm and add a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
You could also drizzle a little caramel sauce over everything for an even more decadent dessert.
Cream Cheese Glaze Variation
If you want even more traditional cinnamon-roll flavor, replace the vanilla glaze with cream cheese icing.
Beat together:
- 4 ounces softened cream cheese
- 2 tablespoons softened butter
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
- Milk as needed
Spread or drizzle it over the warm cake.
The slight tang of cream cheese pairs beautifully with the brown sugar and cinnamon.
Add Pecans
For a cinnamon-pecan version, sprinkle chopped pecans over the cinnamon swirl before cooking.
The nutty flavor works especially well with brown sugar and cinnamon.
You could also add toasted pecans over the glaze just before serving.
Add Apples
Turn it into an Apple Cinnamon Roll Crockpot Cake by adding small pieces of peeled apple to the batter.
Cinnamon, brown sugar, vanilla, and apples are a natural combination and make this version especially good for fall.
Add Caramel
Drizzle caramel sauce over the finished cake for a Caramel Cinnamon Roll Cake.
Serve warm with vanilla ice cream and you’ve got an easy Crockpot dessert that tastes much more elaborate than it was to make.
Can I Make Crockpot Cinnamon Roll Cake Ahead?
You can prepare the individual components ahead of time, but I think this cake is at its best when it’s served warm.
If you bake it earlier, allow it to cool and store it covered.
Warm individual portions briefly before serving and add a little extra glaze if desired.
How to Store Leftovers
Allow leftover cake to cool completely.
Store it covered in the refrigerator for approximately 3–4 days.
Warm individual servings briefly before eating. The cinnamon and brown sugar filling becomes wonderfully soft and gooey again when reheated.
Can You Freeze Cinnamon Roll Cake?
Yes.
Allow the cake to cool completely before freezing.
For easiest serving later, freeze individual portions in an airtight freezer-safe container.
For best results, consider freezing the cake without the glaze and adding fresh glaze after thawing and reheating.
What to Serve With Cinnamon Roll Cake
This cake is wonderful on its own, but you can make it even more decadent with:
- Vanilla ice cream
- Whipped cream
- Fresh berries
- Caramel sauce
- Cream cheese frosting
- Hot coffee
- Cold milk
For breakfast or brunch, I particularly like serving it warm alongside coffee.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you bake a cake in a Crockpot?
Yes. Slow cookers can be used to make many cakes and other desserts. The finished texture tends to be particularly soft and moist.
How do I know when Crockpot cake is done?
The center should look set, and a toothpick inserted into the cake portion should come out clean or with a few moist crumbs.
Why is the top of my slow cooker cake wet?
It’s usually condensation from the lid. Using a clean kitchen towel or layers of paper towels beneath the lid can help catch excess moisture.
Can I cook Cinnamon Roll Cake on LOW?
You can experiment with LOW, but HIGH provides more predictable cake-like results for this recipe. Because slow cookers vary, monitor doneness carefully.
Can I use cream cheese frosting instead of glaze?
Absolutely. Cream cheese frosting makes the cake taste even more like a classic cinnamon roll.
Is Crockpot Cinnamon Roll Cake a breakfast or dessert?
It can be either. Serve it for breakfast or brunch like coffee cake, or serve it warm with vanilla ice cream for dessert.
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 1 1/2–2 1/2 hours
Total Time: About 2–3 hours
Yield: Approximately 8–10 servings
Slow Cooker: 5–6 quart
