Soft & Gooey Cinnamon Roll Cake (Easy Vegan Dessert)

This cinnamon roll cake is the perfect mix between a warm cinnamon roll and a moist vanilla cake — soft, gooey, and filled with cinnamon sugar swirls that melt right into the crumb as it bakes. Each bite feels like a cozy morning hug fresh from the oven.

Ingredients

For the Cake

2 cups All-Purpose Flour

1 cup Plant Based Milk (soy, almond, or oat)

1/2 cup Sugar

1/3 cup Neutral Oil (like canola or melted coconut oil)

1 Tablespoon Apple Cider Vinegar (or lemon juice)

1 Tablespoon Baking Powder

1 tsp Vanilla Extract

1/2 tsp Salt

For the Cinnamon Swirl

1/2 cup Brown Sugar (or coconut sugar)

2 tsp Ground Cinnamon

1/4 cup Melted Vegan Butter

For the Glaze

1 cup Powdered Sugar

1–2 Tablespoons Plant Based Milk

1/2 tsp Vanilla Extract

I made this Cinnamon Roll Cake one weekend when I was craving the comforting taste of cinnamon rolls but didn’t want to spend hours rolling dough. It turned out even better than I imagined — soft, buttery, and perfectly sweet.

The smell alone fills the kitchen with pure joy. I love serving this on slow Sunday mornings with coffee or tea, or even as a dessert after dinner. It’s quick, budget-friendly, and guaranteed to make anyone smile. If you’re a cinnamon lover like me, this cake will be on repeat in your kitchen!

Instructions

Preheat Oven to 350°F (175°C). Lightly grease or line a 8x8-inch baking pan or standard loaf pan.

In a medium bowl, whisk together the plant based milk, vinegar, oil, cane sugar, and vanilla. Let it sit 2–3 minutes to slightly curdle.

In a large bowl, whisk the flour, baking powder, and salt. Pour in the wet mixture and gently stir until just combined (don’t over-mix). Spread the batter evenly into the prepared pan.

In a separate bowl stir together the brown sugar, cinnamon, and melted vegan butter.

Drop spoonfuls of this mixture over the cake batter. Use a knife to swirl it into the batter in a loose marble pattern.

Bake for 30–35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

In a small bowl, whisk together powdered sugar, vanilla, and 1–2 tbsp non-dairy milk until smooth. Drizzle over the warm cake.

Serve warm, soft, and gooey—like a cinnamon roll in cake form!

Tip: This cake keeps well covered at room temp for 2 days or in the fridge up to 5 days. Reheat slices in the microwave for that fresh, melty cinnamon roll vibe.

You can bake this treat in a round pan or even a loaf pan.

Total Estimated Cost: $2.25 – $2.50 USD total

Cost Per Serving (8–10 slices): $0.25–$0.30 per slice