This Vegan Cinnamon Roll Cake tastes just like the beloved sweet pastry but is gluten-free and dairy-free! With a delicious and sweet cinnamon swirl running throughout fluffy white cake, this Vegan Cinnamon Roll Cake is topped with a simple dairy-free cream cheese frosting.
Friends, let me introduce you to your new favorite cake – the Vegan Cinnamon Roll Cake
That might be a bit forward of me to say, especially if you aren’t a fan of cinnamon rolls, but ya’ll this cake? It’s to die for. Let me tell you just how I know that.
My family is a dessert loving family and because of this we tend to have a lot of sweet treats for Thanksgiving. Mom#2 asked me to whip up a dessert for Thanksgiving Day that I would be able to eat [since the other options are non-gluten free] and that would be different from the 3 other pies we are going to be having. My first thought of course – cake!!
I went back and forth on what kind of cake I should make for Thanksgiving before finally settling on a spiced/cinnamon option. I wanted something different from apple and pumpkin since we are going to have apple and pumpkin pies already, but I also didn’t want something super rich like chocolate. A lighter spice cake seemed like the perfect fit!
And friends? It is totally a perfect fit.
Another reason why I opted to go the cinnamon route is because Bestie came up this weekend. Bestie’s birthday was in October and when I used to live near her in LA we would always take each other out for our birthday’s and eat cake/cheesecake together. It’s just kind of our thing. So with her coming up I kind of wanted to re-create that tradition while also using her as a guinea pig to test out my new vegan cinnamon roll cake recipe. It was pretty genius planning on my part if I do say so myself 😉
I can’t even with that frosting. Holy yum.
And while this vegan cinnamon roll cake was supposed to be a surprise for my family on Thanksgiving Day, they ended up swinging by to see Bestie and her nugget. It took about 20 seconds before Little Bro got wind of the cake and then it was all over – he, Little Sissy and Daddy all helped themselves to a slice. The verdict? They all loved it! Brother raved about the cake until he found out that it was gluten-free and vegan, then he decided that he hated it. 😉
Needless to say, this vegan cinnamon roll cake is a winner! It got a big thumbs up from my entire family – which I really wasn’t expecting! I mean I knew it was good, but good enough to trick my entire family into thinking it was a regular old cake? Boom! [drop the mic!]
That cinnamon layer though.
And while this cake is both vegan and gluten-free, it tastes just like a cinnamon roll! I was kind of amazed actually. Of course the cream cheese frosting helps 😉
But guys, the real surprise of this cake was Ninja. Ninja isn’t a big cake fan but he loooooved this cake. So much so that he ate the remaining slice of the cake for breakfast – then proceeded to tell me that I should bake this cake at least once a week. I’d say this cake recipe was beyond a success!
So, are you looking for something different for your Thanksgiving dessert table?
This cake is your answer! With numerous rants and raves from my family this has now become my go-to cake for get-togethers and parties. It’s just fabulous!
- 1 3/4 cup gluten-free all purpose flour
- 1 cup white sugar
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon sea salt
- 1 cup almond milk
- 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
- 1/3 cup coconut oil, softened
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1/4 cup vegan butter substitute, softened
- 1/2 cup coconut sugar
- 1 tablespoon cinnamon
- 1 tablespoon gluten-free all purpose flour
- 1/2 cup dairy-free cream cheese
- 1/2 cup vegan butter substitute
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- shake of cinnamon
- 1 cup chopped walnuts [optional]
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray an 8 inch cake pan with cooking spray.
- In a large bowl, mix together the almond milk and vinegar. Set aside for 5 minutes.
- After 5 minutes, beat together the almond milk mixture, coconut oil and vanilla extract.
- Add the flour, sugar, baking soda and sea salt. Beat until smooth. Pour batter into cake pan and set aside.
- In a small bowl, beat together the filling ingredients. Once smooth, drop by spoonfuls over the cake batter. Swirl into the batter using a knife.
- Bake cake for 25 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean.
- While cake is baking, beat together the frosting ingredients.
- Once cake is cooled, spread frosting generously over cake making sure to frost the sides. Add walnuts if using.
Looking for more vegan cake recipes like this Vegan Cinnamon Roll Cake?
Vegan Chocolate Cupcakes with Cinnamon Cream Cheese
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What are you making for Thanksgiving dessert?
I'm Kat, and welcome to my blog! I'm a certified health coach, soon to be personal trainer, and out of control recipe creator. I'm also a gluten-free newbie, so all of the recipes here are gluten-free unless otherwise noted! Here you can be sure to find daily babbles, healthy living tips, exercise demos and of course, delicious tasting recipes! 
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Uhhh, I need this. I haven’t figured out what I’m making for dessert yet…I was thinking something apple. BUT, my sister is vegan and would totally be down for this cake. And I’m pretty sure I could trick my hubby into a slice as well, since he loves cinnamon rolls. Okay, making it!
Jen recently posted…Gilmore Girls Revival Workout
Yum…. I love that you added filling to the cake. I’m on dessert duty for Thanksgiving this year too. I think I’m going to make a pumpkin cream cheese roll!
Kate recently posted…Are you emotionally hungry ?
It is like a cinnamon roll met a coffee cake and they made sweet delicious frosting love and this is what happened…
Susie @ SuzLyfe recently posted…I Have a Husband?
Ok. So. Wow. I think this needs to happen this week! Kat, you made a winner here. You know that when your non GF family members love it it is a winner! TO God be the glory!!! <3
Emily recently posted…Week In Review: Is Your Soul Weary and Heavy Laden?
omg this sounds amazing. When I was a kid, cinnamon rolls were my favorite. The combo of cake and cinnamon roll is genius!
I’m on appetizers and sides duty for Thanksgiving! So I will be indulging in whatever desserts they bring! (I hope someone brings something cinnamony and delicious like this!)
I can’t. I just can’t. I need this on a platter at the foot of my bed every morning when I wake up. WHAT IS LIFE!?
Brittany recently posted…What I Learned in California
Well damn. I’ve been drooling over this since it popped up on instagram, and I think the result is even more dreamy than what I thought it could be. This is like my favorite breakfast/sweet treat met its fairy godmother and got taken to a magical castle and turned into a queen. You amaze me.
Cora recently posted…Week In Review: Like Magic. What Makes Me Happy.
Oo girl. This cake looks sooooo good! Also, I have no idea who wouldn’t like cinnamon rolls.
I know my sister-in-law, who has celiac, is planning to make a gf pumpkin pie. I might make a second gf pie to go with that, or some pecan pie bars. Not 100% sure yet.
Joyce @ The Hungry Caterpillar recently posted…Week in Review: And Then It Was Winter
Kat you are AMAZING!!! Pinned this baby for later <3
rachel @ athletic avocado recently posted…Lemon Cranberry Peek-A-Boo Pancake Muffins
Ummm… I pretty much NEED this cake in my life (and my belly) right now.
I have no idea what I’m making for thanksgiving other than pumpkin pie but a cream cheese frostinged dessert is high up there on my list of wants 😛
Kristy from Southern In Law recently posted…Recipe: Healthy Caramel Apple Muffins (Gluten Free)
Yeah I’m with you on being a big cake fan. I’m way more a cake fan than a pie fan. All about that frosting. Yum! Please send me a slice? Thanks 😉
Anna @AnnaTheApple recently posted…A food-filled trip to London and Oxford
I want to make this, like yesterday, but have no vegan cream cheese! Any other icing you think might work?
Hi there! You could totally make a traditional buttercream for this cake. I went with a cream cheese based frosting to mimic the frosting that normally covers cinnamon rolls, but anything you want would work! Let me know if you make it and how it turns out 🙂
Hi-your filling ingredient s say “1 tblsp gluten free all purpose” but nothing else…:I am assuming this is flour?
Yes, it is. My apologies – I fixed it now! 🙂
Well, I don’t know how I missed this recipe…but it’s calling my taste buds’ name! YUM!
Casey the College Celiac recently posted…Yearly Review: 16 Times 2016 Felt like the #BestYearEver