Description
This Birthday Cinnamon Roll Cake is a fun and festive twist on traditional cinnamon rolls, featuring a giant, snail-shaped cinnamon roll baked in a springform pan. With a soft, buttery dough layered with cinnamon sugar filling, and topped with a rich cream cheese frosting and colorful confetti sprinkles, it’s perfect for celebrations and special occasions.
Ingredients
Scale
Dough Ingredients
- ½ cup warm water (about 110°F)
- 2 ¼ teaspoons active dry yeast
- ¼ cup + 1 teaspoon granulated sugar
- ½ cup whole milk, room temperature
- 1 large egg
- 1 large egg yolk
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 4 cups all-purpose flour
- 5 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
Cinnamon Sugar Filling
- ⅓ cup unsalted butter, softened to the consistency of mayo
- ⅓ cup granulated sugar
- ⅓ cup light brown sugar, packed
- 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
- Pinch kosher salt
Cream Cheese Frosting
- 4 oz cream cheese, cold
- ¼ cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 ½ cups confectioners’ sugar
- Pinch fine sea salt
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- Confetti sprinkles, as needed to garnish
Instructions
- Activate Yeast: In the bowl of a stand mixer, sprinkle the yeast over the warm water. Add 1 teaspoon of sugar and stir to combine. Let it sit for 5-7 minutes until the mixture bubbles and the yeast activates.
- Make Dough Mixture: Add the remaining ¼ cup sugar, room temperature milk, egg, egg yolk, and kosher salt to the yeast mixture. Whisk until the eggs are fully combined. Add 2 cups of flour, then mix on low speed with the dough hook until the flour is incorporated. Add another cup of flour and continue mixing.
- Knead Dough: While kneading on low speed, add softened butter one tablespoon at a time. Then add the remaining cup of flour and continue kneading until the dough is smooth and no longer sticks to the sides of the bowl. If too sticky, add flour one tablespoon at a time.
- First Rise: Transfer dough to a large greased bowl, cover with a kitchen towel or plastic wrap, and let it rest at room temperature for about an hour until doubled in volume.
- Prepare Dough for Filling: Punch down the risen dough and transfer to a lightly floured surface. Roll it out into a 20×14 inch rectangle.
- Add Cinnamon Sugar Filling: Spread ⅓ cup softened butter evenly over the dough. In a small bowl, combine granulated sugar, brown sugar, cinnamon, and a pinch of salt. Sprinkle this cinnamon sugar mixture evenly over the buttered dough.
- Roll Dough: Using a ruler and sharp knife or pizza wheel cutter, cut the dough into 2 ¼-inch by 20-inch horizontal strips. Starting from the right end, roll the first strip into a snail shape. Then align the tail of that roll with the beginning of the next strip and continue rolling into a larger snail. Repeat until all strips are rolled into one giant cinnamon roll.
- Second Rise: Place the giant cinnamon roll into a 9-inch springform pan. Cover with plastic wrap or a kitchen towel and let it rest for 45 minutes at room temperature until it expands and rises.
- Bake: Preheat the oven to 350°F. Remove the cover from the pan. Bake the cinnamon roll for 20 minutes, then rotate the pan and bake an additional 20 minutes until the top is golden brown. Cover the top with foil to prevent burning and continue baking for another 15-20 minutes until the internal temperature reaches 185°F. Remove from oven and let rest in the pan for 10 minutes before removing the springform ring.
- Make Frosting and Serve: Beat cream cheese and softened butter until smooth. Add confectioners’ sugar, salt, and vanilla extract and continue beating until smooth and thickened. Spread the frosting over the warm or room temperature cinnamon roll. Garnish with confetti sprinkles to celebrate the occasion.
Notes
- Make sure water is warm but not hot to properly activate the yeast.
- If the dough is too sticky, add flour gradually to avoid drying it out.
- Use a sharp knife or pizza cutter for clean, even strips.
- Cover the cinnamon roll while rising to prevent drying out the dough surface.
- Monitor the internal temperature during baking to ensure doneness without burning.
- Frost the cake while slightly warm for easier spreading and better flavor absorption.
- Confetti sprinkles add a festive look but can be omitted or substituted as desired.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 55 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: birthday cake, cinnamon roll, cinnamon sugar, cream cheese frosting, celebration dessert, giant cinnamon roll, holiday dessert
