Cake Batter Cinnamon Rolls {Made with a Cake Mix!}

These maybe the EASIEST cinnamon rolls I have ever made. The dough is easy to work with, easy to make and the flavor is delicious.

Cake Batter Cinnamon Rolls {Made with a Cake Mix!} on chef-in-training.com ...These could be the easiest and most delicious cinnamon rolls ever! #recipe #dessert

One secret I have learned recently, is that bread flour is fantastic. My aunt filled me in that the secret to her light and airy rolls and soft cookies is using bread flour. It is lighter than all purpose flour. These cinnamon rolls were the perfect texture. Not too dense, just warm gooey and soft.

Another thing that makes these cinnamon rolls so mouth watering delicious and perfect for the cake-batter-obsessed is the Cake Batter frosting :) If it is a little TOO cake batter overload for you, you can make just a basic buttercream… however, nothing is to cake batter for me :)

Cake Batter Cinnamon Rolls {Made with a Cake Mix!} on chef-in-training.com ...These could be the easiest and most delicious cinnamon rolls ever! #recipe #dessert

 

I adapted a recipe I found for Red Velvet Cinnamon Rolls over at No. 2 Pencil and they turned out fabulous. Seriously. These would make an amazing birthday breakfast or even a treat just because. I sent these with my husband to give to his scouts and none were left :)

Cake Batter Cinnamon Rolls {Made with a Cake Mix!} on chef-in-training.com ...These could be the easiest and most delicious cinnamon rolls ever! #recipe #dessert

4.4 from 5 reviews
Cake Batter Cinnamon Rolls {Made from a Cake Mix!}
 
These could be the easiest and most delicious cinnamon rolls ever!
Recipe type: Dessert
Serves: 24-29
Ingredients
  • 1 box Rainbow Chip Cake Mix, powder mix only, I use Betty Crocker brand
  • 2 pkg. active dry yeast
  • 2½ cups warm water
  • 1 tsp. salt
  • 1 tsp. vanilla
  • 5 cups bread flour
FILLING
  • ½ cup butter, softened
  • 1 cup brown sugar, packed
  • 1 cup yellow cake mix
  • cinnamon
  • sprinkles
FROSTING
  • ¼ cup butter, softened
  • 3 cups powdered sugar
  • ½ cup yellow cake mix
  • 1 tsp. vanilla
  • 3-6 Tbsp. milk
  • sprinkles
Instructions
  1. In a large liquid measuring cup, measure out 2½ cups warm water. Almost to hot to touch but not scorching. Pour in the 2 packets of active dry yeast and let it activate and foam up. (you could just pour the measured water into a bowl as well, I just find this easiest)
  2. Once yeast is active pour into bowl of a stand mixer. Add rainbow chip cake mix, salt, vanilla and bread flour. Use dough hook attachment to knead dough together, just for a minute or two.
  3. Spray a large bowl with cooking spray and place dough inside. Cover with saran wrap. Let sit for an hour until doubled in size. Punch dough down with fists and cover again and let rise for an additional hour until double in size.
  4. Once dough has gone through its second rise, remove and placed on a clean floured surface. Roll out into a large rectangle shape.
  5. Smear softened butter over top. Next evenly sprinkle, distribute and rub brown sugar over top. Then sprinkle yellow cake mix evenly over top of that. Rub gently to evenly cover if needed. Next sprinkle with desired about of cinnamon and sprinkles.
  6. On one of the long sides, roll up to make a long and skinny log. Slice into even rolls. It should yield 24-29 rolls depending on how thick you slice them.
  7. Place in a greased 9x13 baking pan, 12 rolls per pan.
  8. Cover with plastic wrap and let cinnamon rolls rise a final time in the pan, about 30 minutes, or until they have doubled in size.
  9. Bake at 350 for 15-20 minutes.
  10. While cinnamon rolls are baking, make the cake batter frosting. In a large bowl, beat butter, powdered sugar, cake mix, vanilla and milk. Add more powdered sugar/milk until desired consistency is reached. Add in as many sprinkles as desired.
  11. Spread frosting over warm rolls. Sprinkle with additional sprinkles if desired.

Enjoy!
(recipe adapted from: No. 2 Pencil)

Cake Batter Cinnamon Rolls {Made with a Cake Mix!} on chef-in-training.com ...These could be the easiest and most delicious cinnamon rolls ever! #recipe #dessert

If you make this recipe, snap a photo and hashtag it #chefintraining and/or #chefintrainingblog. I would love to see how these recipes take shape in your kitchens.

Filed under: bread, dessert

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Comments

  1. danielle

    This is like when I learned how easy it was to make shortcut donuts. Now I have to make these!!

  2. Gayle

    Do you have to let the rolls rise again after you place them on the pan before baking?

    1. Chef in Training

      Updated: Sorry I am updating the recipe to say that now :) Thanks so much! Forgot to add that. Yes, they are supposed to double in size one last time once in the pan.

    2. Linda

      Isn't that step #8 to let them rise again after they are all ready and on the pan?

  3. Jocelyn @BruCrew Life

    Holy Yum!! And how awesome to know you can make cinnamon rolls from a cake mix!! I am all over these rolls!!!

  4. Christi @ Love From The Oven

    They look delish! I made some for my daughter's birthday last year and I have a feeling that she will be expecting them again this year. But who am I to complain about cinnamon rolls + cake + sprinkles all rolled into... breakfast. Good stuff!

  5. Cindy

    I've used the same basic dough recipe for years. Never fails! I use a yellow mix but may try another next time.

  6. Carol Storm

    Love your description of how to know when the water is hot enough for the yeast! Taught my girls to put their finger in it and we used a thermometer until it was the right temp so they would always know how to test it by feel when they were older and "baking through the years".

    This looks so good. Doing it for our 1 year old's birthday tomorrow! Thank you for sharing!

  7. Karly

    Whaaaaaa? Cake batter? In your cinnamon rolls? I die.

  8. Averie @ Averie Cooks

    Love these! A year or so back I remember seeing so many cinn rolls made with cake mix on blogs but never tried it then. But now, I almost HAVE to try it b/c I am so into bread-making, and these look too good not to! Pinning!

  9. sally @ sallys baking addiction

    i'm dying. omg. I can't stop saying OMG at my desk!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! These are beautiful!!!! I'm freaking out! I want some right now Nikki. I am in LOOOOVE.

  10. Cassey

    Wow, these look georgous! Just when I didn't think it was posible, your pictures just keep getting better and better! I can almost smell them and wish I had one right in front of me. right now!

  11. Brittany

    I would love to make these for my sons birthday next week. Is there a point in the recipe where they could go in the fridge overnight and then get baked in the morning? I just don't want to have to get up at the crack of dawn to make these for breakfast. Thanks!

    1. Chef in Training

      Sorry so late to reply but Yes, there most definitely is. Follow the directions through placing dough rolls in the pan. Then cover with plastic wrap and put directly into the fridge. Don't let them rise in the pan before the fridge. They will not turn out correctly if you do. In the morning when you are ready to bake them, let them sit out for probably a good 30-40 minutes, then follow the rest of the instructions as directed.

  12. Stacy

    Oh.My.Gosh! Those look pretty darn delicious! I pinned it and will definitely be making these for my daughter's birthday in May. Not sure I can wait that long, so may have to make them for Valentine's Day! ;)

  13. Melissa @ No. 2 Pencil

    Thanks so much for the shout out!

    These look so amazing! I can't believe you put cake mix in the filling, you are a genius! Love it!

  14. Jenn

    I can't believe you can make cinnamon rolls using a cake mix. Love it!

  15. teresa

    yuuuuuum! this is such a fun idea, these look amazing!

  16. Kira @ my sesame seed buns

    These are so unique! I was actually on Pinterest last night looking at "cake batter" recipes. I saw a cinnamon roll recipe, but it didn't impress me enough to pin it. Yours certainly did, and I pinned it to my breakfast board. Thanks!

  17. Megan

    These look amazing! Your photography is so beautiful too.

  18. Emily @ Hungry Delights

    These are the most amazingly beautiful photos! We have limited cake mix available in Australia but I would love to try these!!!
    xo Emily

  19. Lauren

    Is there a point where you could stop (and then not have quite so much to do) to have them ready to bake in the morning?

    1. Chef in Training

      Yes, there definitely is.. Follow the directions through placing dough rolls in the pan. Then cover with plastic wrap and put directly into the fridge. Don't let them rise in the pan before the fridge. They will not turn out correctly if you do. In the morning when you are ready to bake them, let them sit out for probably a good 30-40 minutes, then follow the rest of the instructions as directed.

  20. katie

    These are kind of amazing... not gonna lie! I love all things cake batter!

  21. Rosie J

    Can I make the dough,let it rise and shape into the rolls the night before. Refrigerate overnight in the pans then do the final rise before baking?

    1. Chef in Training

      Yes, you most definitely can. Follow the directions through placing dough rolls in the pan. Then cover with plastic wrap and put directly into the fridge. Don't let them rise in the pan before the fridge. They will not turn out correctly if you do. In the morning when you are ready to bake them, let them sit out for probably a good 30-40 minutes, then follow the rest of the instructions as directed.

  22. Erica

    These are awesome!!!!! I put them in the refrigerator after putting them in pans and let them do the final rise in the refrigerator. They may have taken a little longer longer to bake but not much if at all. I didn't pay attention to how long they baked :)

  23. Stacey

    Do you think it would be possible to make these GLUTEN FREE? Just wondering...........these would be wonderful for Easter with all the spring like colors.

  24. Tammie Wilins

    love them!

  25. Christine Bailey

    I am so glad I stumbled upon this! So excited to make these for Easter tomorrow. Thanks!!

  26. Jessica

    I have "highly active yeart" in my pantry and it says to mix right in with the dry ingredients and to add the hot water right in, no activating the yeast. it also says "replaces the first rise in 2 rise recipes". why is yeast so confusing:( should i just follow the yeast packet directions?

  27. Katy

    Made these for my boyfriend for a suprise birthday breakfast in bed! He absolutely loved them with a cup of coffee! Thanks for helping me start of his birthday right!

  28. Becky

    My question is whether you can use the new sized cake mixes for this recipe or would I need to add 3 oz from another mix?

  29. Mandi Welbaum

    These look perfect for a birthday party event/sleepover for little girls. I love how adorable and delicious these look. Thank you for sharing.

  30. Amna

    These look amazing! Would love to try them soon, just want to know if the bread flour can be substituted with all purpose flour?

  31. Eileen

    These sound amazing.....but, I am unable to use cake mixes due to my children's allergies. Any suggestions as to how to make them, and get that great flavor, completely from scratch?

  32. Lacey

    Just found your amazing and beautiful looking rolls and would love to try making them. Is it possible to make them ahead, bake, freeze and once thawed put the frosting on before serving? I have a large crowd for Christmas morning and if I could bake these ahead that would be perfect! Thanks for your response in advance....

  33. Lori

    I just have to know why people insist on ruining their cinnamon rolls with slathering all that frosting on them??? My grandma always said if they are slathering frosting on their cinnamon rolls they are hiding something. I've made cake batter cinnamon rolls thousands of times and believe me they are very tasty in their own right and don't need frosting to mask the flavor.

  34. Susan Woody

    If I don't have a stand mixer, can I just knead for 4-5 minutes?

  35. Susan Woody

    If I don't have a stand mixer, can I just knead for about 5 minutes?

  36. Chelsie @ MixPourBake

    Omg I am sooo making these this weekend!! Do you think I could prepare them the night before, after I roll them into a log or slice them, put them in the fridge and then bake the next morning?

  37. Lynne

    Tried to find your eclair recipe but never could find it and got real frustrated. You do have some good pictures even if you can't get to the actual recipes.

  38. Amanda

    I love this!!! Great idea! Could i wrap the rolled log before slicing in saran wrap and refrigerate it? then slice and arrange in pan to bake in the morning?

  39. Jean

    Do you need 2 boxes of cake mix???
    Do you put 1 whole box into the dough, and then another 1 cup and 1/2 cup for the center and frosting from another cake mix? Or, do you take out 1-1/2 cups out of the original box and use the rest in the dough portion... Thanks for clarifying.

    1. Nioma

      Yes you do. 1 rainbow chip cake mix and 1 golden yellow cake mix. 1 cup of golden cake mix goes into the filling and 1 cup of golden cake mix goes into the frosting :)

    2. Nioma

      Oops sorry Jean that should read 1cup golden cake mix for the filling and only 1/2 cup of golden cake mix for the frosting

  40. Ruth Vallejos

    Looks yummy, but is there any way to do this by making the cake mix at home (to skip all the nasty stuff - i.e.propane-1, propylene glycol, distilled monodiglycerides, carboxmethylcellulose, etc.)?

  41. LyRae

    I checked out the website for the red velvet cinnamon rolls did you just substitute the all purpose flour with the cake flour or were there other changes that you made? I love cake batter cinnamon rolls recipe..

    1. Chef in Training

      mine has cake mix in the filling and is made with funfetti cake mix. The frosting also has cake mix in it for additional cake batter flavor.

  42. Carol

    These look like just as much work as regular cinnamon rolls. Is there taste a lot different?

  43. Penny

    5

    Can't wait to try these, my daughter turned me onto this website.

  44. Kelly

    5

    I made these a few weeks back, and they were amazing!! The cake mix with the sugar mix wasn't for me, but I don't regret having done it! I have made many different kinds of flavored cinnamon buns, and this was definitely my favorite!

  45. Briana

    These look so amazing and I am in the process of the first rise so I can't wait for them to be done. This will be perfect for breakfast in the morning also! Thank you so much for sharing your recipe cannot wait to taste them!

  46. Kacey

    So glad I found this recipe on Pinterest! There are many recipes that I've tried that look great in pictures but don't taste so great. This recipe is definitely a keeper. Have made these several times and they are fabulous! They are so easy and super yummy!

  47. Kimberly Rush

    5

    If you enjoy cake flour...you should try Italian flour "00". It is super fine and makes the best pizza dough. Used it in the Pumpkin Strudel Bars.

  48. scoobyc

    I want to try the "Cake Batter Cinnamon Rolls, but I'm not sure of how many boxes of cake mixes are needed. Should I buy one box, take out the 1 cup for the filling and 1/2 cup for the frosting and then add the remainder to the batter??

  49. Amy

    Great recipe! My whole family loves them! If I am making a pan for a friend of mine as a gift, do I freeze before or after the last rise? And what time and length of time to heat up after frozen?

    Thank ya!

  50. Nioma

    3

    Just made these today for my little guy. He loves them. He has a dairy allergy so using certain cakes can be challenging. I used the quick rise yeast as I had only 1 pack of the regular yeast. It turned out well. I just added the quick rise yeast to the dry ingred. And still added the same amount of hot water. I let it sit for 10 minutes. Then rolled out the dough and preceeded with adding the filling and rolling up the dough into a big log. Then cut them into sliced rolls and put into pans sprayed with a pam spray. Baked them and they turned out great. I am not a fan of cake batter rolls but these were nice. I still prefer the regular cinnamon rolls. For those of you who like cake batter u willove these.

    1. Nioma

      I forgot to say that once I cut them into slices.....I let them sit in the baking pans for about 30 minutes as the recipe calls for. Then I baked them . :)