This Cinnamon Swirl Loaf Cake is soft, moist, and swirled with a sweet cinnamon ribbon, topped with streusel and vanilla glaze. Like coffee cake in loaf form. Perfect for brunch, dessert, or snacking!
Cinnamon Swirl Loaf Cake
There’s nothing quite like the smell of cinnamon wafting through the kitchen, and this rich, spiced cinnamon swirl loaf cake delivers just that.
This soft and tender cinnamon swirl loaf cake is a cozy homemade treat layered with sweet cinnamon sugar, topped with buttery streusel, and finished with a drizzle of creamy vanilla glaze. It’s like a cross between coffee cake and quick bread. Perfect for breakfast, brunch, or an afternoon pick-me-up with a hot cup of coffee.
If you love the comforting flavors of cinnamon rolls but don’t want the hassle of yeast dough, this loaf cake gives you all the same warm, spiced goodness in an easy bake-and-slice recipe.
Why You’ll Love This Cinnamon Swirl Loaf Cake
- Easy and approachable - no mixer needed, just simple pantry ingredients.
- Beautiful layers - the cinnamon sugar swirl looks as good as it tastes.
- Vanilla glaze - Adds just the right touch of sweet vanilla, upping the cozy comfort level.
- Versatile treat - enjoy it for brunch, dessert, or pack it up for a snack.
- Make-ahead friendly - stays moist and delicious for several days, and freezes well.
Recipe Tips for Success
- Don’t over-swirl – one or two swipes with a knife is enough for a pretty cinnamon ribbon.
- Greek yogurt keeps it moist – you can also use sour cream if that’s what you have.
- Nutty crunch – stir ½ cup chopped pecans or walnuts into the streusel.
- Cool completely before glazing or the drizzle will melt into the loaf.
More Easy Cake Recipes You'll Love
- Cinnamon Babka - Soft, rich braided bread swirled with layers of sweet cinnamon sugar and topped with a buttery crumb for a bakery-style treat at home.
- Kentucky Butter Cake - Moist, tender pound cake soaked with a rich buttery glaze that melts into every bite.
- Preacher Cake - Classic Southern sheet cake packed with pineapple, coconut, and pecans, topped with tangy cream cheese frosting.
- Turtle Poke Cake - Decadent chocolate poke cake drizzled with caramel and chocolate, then topped with pecans for the ultimate turtle-inspired dessert.
- Banana Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting - Soft, moist banana bars topped with a luscious layer of tangy cream cheese frosting. Great for using up ripe bananas.
Cinnamon Swirl Loaf Cake Video
Cinnamon Swirl Coffee Loaf Cake
This cinnamon swirl loaf cake is soft, moist, and swirled with a sweet cinnamon ribbon, topped with streusel and vanilla glaze. Like coffee cake in loaf form. Perfect for brunch, dessert, or snacking!
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Servings: 12 slices
Calories: 382kcal
Ingredients
Cinnamon Swirl
- ½ cup brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon cinnamon
Cake
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 large egg
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- ⅓ cup vegetable oil
- ⅓ cup plain Greek yogurt
- ⅔ cup milk
- 1½ teaspoons vanilla extract
Cinnamon Streusel Topping
- ⅓ cup brown sugar
- ¾ cup all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 6 tablespoons unsalted butter melted
Vanilla Glaze
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 1 to 2 tablespoons milk
- 1 tablespoon butter melted
- ½ teaspoon vanilla
Instructions
- For the cinnamon swirl, mix brown sugar and cinnamon together in a small bowl. Set aside.
For the Cake
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a 9"x5" loaf pan, and line the bottom with parchment paper.
- In a large mixing bowl, whisk the flour, baking soda, and salt together.
- In a separate medium mixing bowl, whisk the egg and granulated sugar together until combined.
- Whisk in the oil, yogurt, milk, and vanilla extract.
- Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients, then whisk until just combined. Avoid over-mixing.
- Pour and spread half of the batter into prepared loaf pan. Sprinkle the cinnamon swirl mixture evenly on top.
- Carefully pour and spread remaining batter evenly on top. The top layer of batter will stick to the cinnamon sugar filling, so spread very carefully.
- Using a knife, make a large swirl down the loaf pan, as shown in the video tutorial below. Avoid over-swirling, which will mix the layers together too much.
- Make the streusel topping: Combine the flour, brown sugar, and cinnamon, and stir to combine. Add the melted butter and mix until the mixture resembles wet sand and clumps together.
- Sprinkle the streusel evenly over the top of your bread.
- Bake at 350°F for 50-65 minutes, until cooked through, covering loosely with foil about halfway through to prevent the top from over-browning.
- Remove from the oven and allow the bread to cool in the pan set on a wire rack for 1 hour. After that, remove the bread from the pan and let it cool directly on a wire rack.
Vanilla Glaze
- In a medium mixing bowl, whisk all the glaze ingredients together until smooth. Drizzle on top of cake.
Notes
- Storage: Store covered at room temperature for up to 3 days. It will keep slightly longer in the refrigerator, covered for up to 5 days.
- Freezer Directions: Wrap the cooled loaf (without glaze) in plastic wrap and foil, then freeze up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge and glaze before serving.
Nutrition
Serving: 1slice | Calories: 382kcal | Carbohydrates: 61g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 14g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 0.3g | Cholesterol: 33mg | Sodium: 216mg | Potassium: 92mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 38g | Vitamin A: 242IU | Vitamin C: 0.1mg | Calcium: 55mg | Iron: 2mg
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UPDATE INFO: This recipe was originally published in August 2017. It has been updated with new pictures, tips, and video and republished in September 2025.
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