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Sweet Potato Cinnamon Roll Cake: A Cozy, Spiced Dessert You’ll Crave Recipe

4.3 from 48 reviews

Sweet Potato Cinnamon Roll Cake combines the rich, creamy texture of mashed sweet potatoes with a warm, spicy cinnamon swirl and a sweet vanilla glaze. This moist, flavorful cake is inspired by classic cinnamon rolls but is simpler to make, without yeast or rolling, making it perfect for fall brunches, holidays, or cozy evenings.

Ingredients

Scale

For the Cake:

  • 1 cup mashed sweet potatoes (cooked and cooled)
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • ½ cup brown sugar (light or dark)
  • 2 large eggs
  • ½ cup vegetable oil
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1½ cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon baking soda
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 1½ teaspoons ground cinnamon
  • ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
  • ¼ teaspoon ground ginger
  • ½ cup buttermilk

For the Cinnamon Swirl:

  • ⅓ cup unsalted butter, melted
  • ½ cup brown sugar
  • 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
  • 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon

For the Glaze:

  • 1 cup powdered sugar
  • 2 tablespoons milk
  • ½ teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions

  1. Preheat and prepare baking dish. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish or line it with parchment paper for easy removal.
  2. Mix wet ingredients. In a large bowl, whisk together the mashed sweet potatoes, granulated sugar, brown sugar, eggs, vegetable oil, and vanilla extract until the mixture is smooth and well combined.
  3. Combine dry ingredients. In a separate bowl, whisk the all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, ground cinnamon, nutmeg, and ground ginger. Gradually add this dry mixture to the wet ingredients, stirring gently until just combined.
  4. Add buttermilk. Stir in the buttermilk until the batter becomes smooth. Pour the batter evenly into the prepared baking dish and smooth the top with a spatula.
  5. Prepare cinnamon swirl and add to batter. In a small bowl, mix melted unsalted butter, brown sugar, all-purpose flour, and ground cinnamon until combined. Drop spoonfuls of the cinnamon mixture over the cake batter and gently swirl with a knife to create a marbled effect.
  6. Bake the cake. Place the baking dish in the preheated oven and bake for 35 to 40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean and the cake is set.
  7. Make the glaze. While the cake is baking, whisk powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla extract together until smooth and pourable.
  8. Cool and glaze the cake. Allow the cake to cool for 10 to 15 minutes after baking. Drizzle the vanilla glaze evenly over the warm cake before serving to add a sweet finishing touch.

Notes

  • Use fresh mashed sweet potatoes for the best flavor and texture.
  • Avoid overmixing the batter to keep the cake soft and tender.
  • Let the cake cool slightly before applying the glaze to prevent it from melting too much.
  • Store leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days or refrigerate for up to 5 days.

Keywords: sweet potato cake, cinnamon swirl cake, fall dessert, cinnamon roll cake, spiced cake, easy cake recipe, moist cake, vanilla glaze