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cinnamon swirl loaf cake

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★★★★★ from 8 reviews

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Fall baking means adding cinnamon to just about every dessert, and this cinnamon swirl loaf cake celebrates the cozy warming spice in the best way possible!

Cinnamon Swirl Loaf Cake

Plush and buttery vanilla cake is paired with a cinnamon-sugar ribbon and topping for an effortless loaf cake that tastes just like freshly baked snickerdoodle cookies.

Drizzled with vanilla glaze, you’ll love this easy loaf cake for breakfast or as an afternoon treat!

Some tips for for making this recipe:

  1. Mix up the cake batter in a stand mixer
  2. Layer batter in a loaf pan with cinnamon sugar
  3. Bake cake until golden, 42 to 45 minutes
  4. Make vanilla glaze and drizzle over cake
Cinnamon Swirl Loaf Cake

Perfect Cinnamon Swirl Loaf Cake

To make the cinnamon swirl, spoon half the batter into the loaf pan, smoothing with an offset spatula. Tap the pan sharply to reduce air bubbles. Sprinkle a generous layer of cinnamon-sugar over the batter. Spoon remaining cake batter into the pan and smooth the top with an offset spatula.

Sprinkle the remaining cinnamon-sugar over the top of the cake batter and bake until the cake is golden and the top springs back to the touch. As the cake bakes, the cinnamon-sugar topping forms the same signature ripples as snickerdoodle cookies.

To make the vanilla glaze, whisk together melted butter, salt, vanilla, powdered sugar, and milk in a small bowl until smooth and creamy. Drizzle the cake with vanilla butter glaze and let set before slicing and serving.

Cinnamon Swirl Loaf Cake
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Cinnamon Swirl Loaf Cake

Cinnamon Swirl Loaf Cake

★★★★★ 5 from 8 reviews
  • Author: Laura Kasavan
  • Prep Time: 20 minutes
  • Cook Time: 42 minutes
  • Total Time: 1 hour 2 minutes
  • Yield: 1 loaf, 12 slices
  • Category: Dessert
  • Method: Bake
  • Cuisine: American
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Description

This simple and delicious cinnamon swirl loaf cake tastes like snickerdoodles! With a cinnamon-sugar swirl and vanilla glaze, you’ll love this easy cake.

Ingredients

Cake

  • 1 1/2 cups flour
  • 1/2 tsp baking powder
  • 1/4 tsp baking soda
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
  • 3/4 cup sugar
  • 1 large egg, at room temperature
  • 2 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1/2 cup plain fat-free Greek yogurt, at room temperature
  • 1/3 cup low-fat buttermilk, at room temperature

Cinnamon Sugar

  • 1/4 cup sugar
  • 3/4 tsp cinnamon

Glaze

  • 1 Tbsp unsalted butter, melted
  • pinch of salt
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 3/4 cup powdered sugar, sifted
  • 1 1/2 Tbsp milk

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F and line a 9 x 5-inch loaf pan with parchment paper, letting excess extend over sides of pan. Spray parchment paper lightly with nonstick spray.
  2. Whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a medium bowl. Beat butter and sugar in a large mixer bowl at medium speed until light and fluffy; beat in egg and vanilla. Combine yogurt and buttermilk in a small bowl. Reduce speed to low and add half of flour mixture, beating just to combine. Add yogurt mixture, then finish with remaining flour mixture.
  3. Combine sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl. Spoon half the batter into prepared pan and smooth top with an offset spatula. Tap pan sharply to reduce air bubbles. Sprinkle 2 1/2 tablespoons of cinnamon sugar over the batter. Spoon the remaining batter evenly over the cinnamon sugar and smooth with an offset spatula; tap pan sharply again. Sprinkle remaining cinnamon sugar over the top of the batter.
  4. Bake for 42 to 45 minutes, until cake springs back to the touch and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean or with a few crumbs attached. Cool in pan on a wire rack for 10 minutes; carefully lift cake from pan and cool completely.
  5. For the glaze, whisk together melted butter, salt, vanilla, powdered sugar, and milk in a small bowl. Drizzle glaze over cake and and let set before serving.

Equipment

Notes

The equipment section above contains affiliate links to products I use and love!

Keywords: Cinnamon, Sugar, Snickerdoodle, Loaf Cake, Pound Cake

Cinnamon Swirl Loaf Cake

Craving more cinnamon sugar?

Snickerdoodle Bundt Cake
Snickerdoodle Crumb Muffins
Brown Butter Cinnamon Streusel Coffee Cake
Almond Snickerdoodles

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27 Comments

    1. Hi Sandra, this loaf stays fresh for up to 2 days at room temperature, or several days in the refrigerator. You can also freeze it (I recommend freezing without the glaze). Happy baking!

      Reply

  2. Hello! Thank you for sharing your wonderful recipe. I made this loaf cake several times during the pandemic for my family and we think it is absolutely delicious. Do you have any suggestions for converting it into a 2 layer cake? Thanks in advance!

    ★★★★★

    Reply

      1. Wow looks delicious, I can’t wait to make this. Would mixing milk and lemon juice work as a substitute for buttermilk in this recipe because it’s hard to find it where I live.

        Reply

        1. Hi Gemma, yes you can make your own buttermilk substitute with 1/3 cup room temperature milk and 1/4 teaspoon lemon juice or white vinegar. Mix and let stand for 10 minutes before using.

  6. I love this cake. It’s simple to make, and it comes out fluffy like a cinnamon roll. My husband’s taste buds thought it was so mouthwatering he ate half of it!

    Reply

  7. DELICIOUS! Mine came out so moist and dense. I will definitely be keeping this recipe for future use!

    ★★★★★

    Reply

  8. This is absolutely so delicate and delicious. It’s light and fluffy in texture. It’s buttery taste melts in the mouth! I recommend to everyone to try this recipe.

    ★★★★★

    Reply

  9. Amazing! I love this cake. So easy to make and so delicious. I like to add a little extra cinnamon because I love spice. 🙂

    ★★★★★

    Reply

    2. This is definitely a favourite at our home and I always bake a double batch or I’ll have some broken hearts! The last time I made it, I went a little creative and topped it with a Cinnamon Streusel Topping (1/4 cup all purpose flour, 1/4 cup granulated sugar, 1 tbsp cinnamon powder, 1/4 cup melted butter and a pinch of salt all mixed together.) Drizzled with the icing sugar, it was divine!

      ★★★★★

      Reply