I think everyone needs therapy. We all are a product of our upbringing, whether bad or good. Every single thing that happens in our life shapes us as a person. I’m not saying you have to see a professional, but thank goodness for good friends to go through life with. By understanding where we come from and what we’ve experienced, we understand more why we are who we are today. I realize this more and more as I get older. Like why I have a phone phobia or why every single time I go grocery shopping I have to start on the right side of the store and work my way around to the left.
Okay, so maybe I’m still trying to figure those out…
When I first met my husband I was burnt out on the whole dating scene. As we started hanging out I told myself I was just going to let go…be the quirky, goofy person I was right off the bat and if he didn’t like it…see ya buddy…no more time wasted. So then I did exactly that. I said things you probably shouldn’t say when you first getting to know someone (if you actually want them to like you) and told stories that included me doing impersonations and a couple of funny dances to go with them. Then I looked over to see what probably should’ve been a horrified look in his eyes and instead I saw the opposite…adoration. It was so refreshing. He liked me. He liked the goofy me. He liked that I could do the Moonwalk. I could be, say, or do whatever I wanted without constantly worrying he was going to judge me. I told my friends it was like free therapy.
Baking is also therapeutic for me. That’s how this cake came about. I was having a stressful day. I swear sometimes I feel like there’s a camera on me and I’m being Punk’d. My husband knowingly said, “Why don’t you go bake something so you can relax.” You’re right.
This cake is yummy and actually lighter than I was expecting. I loved the smell of it baking in my oven.
Ingredients
- 3 cups flour
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup sugar
- 4 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 ½ cups milk
- 2 eggs
- 2 teaspoons vanilla
- 1/2 cup (1 stick) real butter, melted
- 1 cup (2 sticks) real butter, softened
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons flour
- 1 tablespoon cinnamon
- 3/4 cup chopped pecans, (optional) (always measure the nuts first then chop them)
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 5 tablespoons milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- In an electric or stand mixer mix the flour, salt, sugar, baking powder, milk, eggs and vanilla. Once combined well, slowly stir in the 1/2 cup melted butter. Pour batter into a greased 9 x 13 inch baking pan.
- In a large bowl, mix the 2 sticks of softened butter, brown sugar, flour, cinnamon and pecans until well combined. Drop evenly over cake batter by the tablespoonfuls and use a knife to marble/swirl through the cake.
- Bake at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes or until toothpick comes out nearly clean from center. You want to make sure it's done. I like most things underdone but cake is not one of them.
- Place powdered sugar, milk and vanilla in a large bowl. Whisk until smooth. Drizzle over warm cake. Serve warm or at room temperature.
Notes
Source: adapted slightly from Picky Palate
Just delightful – really looks light and we will be making it this afternoon!
I agree on the therapy thing. I think the smartest people are those who recognize that
I ALSO think that everyone needs some of this cake. it looks to die for.
Oh wow! Does this look good. Have to try it – soon.
Oh I love this post and this cake doesn’t hurt things either. I’ve seen a similar cake that was make with a cake mix, but this eppeals to me so much more.
I have someone coming to look at my “For Sale” home today, and this is going to be in the oven! Thanks for a fun new recipe, and have a happy holiday.
I think we all have some sort of therapeutic creative outlet! I love that you post about yours…this cake looks amazing! Thanks for sharing.
Here’s to a stress free, relaxing Labor Day!
This looks so light and airy, almost. Just delicious.
I’m so glad I checked your blog this morning. I was wondering what I was going to make for our Labor Day picnic with friends. You’ve made my day less stressful! Thank you!
That cake looks delicious!
If I had butter in the house today I would so make it.
@Kirsten,
No butter! I have a couple of pounds you could borrow if you lived by me…
It looks delicious and I bet it smells devine!
I just had to say again how much I adore your blog! Alot of hubbys favorite recipes are ones I found here! So, he and I thank you!
M
Looks so YUMMY! I wish my husband would eat sweets!
SO yum!! I will have to make this for breakfast…you can eat cake for breakfast, right?!
yum this looks so good!!
I am making this tonight for my brother’s birthday tomorrow. In my family we always have cake in the morning, so this is a Great cake recipe for Birthday morning cake! Thanks for the recipe you are the BEST!
I made this the night you posted and it is DIVINE! I love your blog, and you are quickly turning me into a girl-who-eats-everything
@Amy,
I’m sorry. I’m a bad influence.
What temp do you bake this at?
@Holly,
Yeah, kind of important information. Sorry. Bake at 350 degrees.
voted another keeper! It was a great FHE treat and leftovers were perfect for breakfast this morning!
Made this last Saturday for a girls movie night and they are asking me to make it again! Just one question, with the cinnamon topping, I followed the directions and swirled it but the weight of it went through the cake layer and so all the cinnamon/butter/sugar layer was on the bottom. How did you keep yours from doing that? Thanks!
Melissa
@Melissa,
I have no idea why it did that? Make sure you don’t swirl it too much but I’m not sure what happened there. Sorry.
Christy
This was so super good. I even feed it to my hometeachers. Thanks for posting this recipe.
I just made this tonight and it was AH-MAZING! So good…and it would be great for a brunchy type thing too! Delicious warmed up!
I just made this cake and everybody in my family loved it!! Thanks for posting all of your recipes!!
Yum! I think I need to make this too! I just love cake these days.
Baking is definitely therapy. I have decided that it is because when you are having a stressful day or everything else is going crazy and uncontrollable, you know that you can go into the kitchen, mix up some butter, sugar, flour, a bit of baking powder and a bit of chocolate ( and whatever else) bake for 20 minutes and always end up with something delish.
Well, look at that! Someone else came up with a cinnamon roll cake recipe too
I made one up about 5 years ago and we love it. Mine is a bit different from yours but I’m sure yours is great too!
all i can say is…WOW!
Esther
This looks amazing. I am making this as soon as my butter softens. Question, do you think you can make this in a cupcake pan? I don’t see why not but just wanted to ask in case you have tried before and it didn’t work out. I like the idea of individual servings and not having to cut it out of the pan. I am going to give it a go tonight.
I made this today, and it words cannot describe how good it was.
Cristy, do you use unsalted or salted butter in this?
@NRS,
I would use unsalted since we are adding salt to the recipe already. I like to always use unsalted butter when baking.
This cake is amazing! Do you think it would work in a bundt pan?
@Star, Great question. I have no idea
I don’t see why not right?
Made this today. So so so so yum! Hope it stays just as yum tomorrow. What has your experience been storing this? Thanks so much for the recipe!
@NRS,
Never had a chance to store this because it always gets eaten!
I’ve made this twice. I’m not impressed. I think the cake is dry and the cinnamon “filling” sinks to the bottom. If you pan isn’t greased well, it will be a little hard to get out of the pan. The second time I made this I put the filling in a bag and pipped it on top so it wasn’t to thick, it still sank to the bottom. I also added King Arthurs cake enhancer and it really helped with it being dry but not enough for me to ever make this cake again. Just my two cents
Made this tonight to test it before we get company from out of town for Thanksgiving. Had to give it to our neighbor. My husband and I are on diets and this is just too lethal to keep around. It is delicious!!! My filling did not to sink to the bottom. It was marveled throughout the cake and some on the top. Don’t know what would cause it to sink. Maybe you didn’t swirl it enough with a knife.
Your photos are to die for! Everything looks amazing!
i see a lot of recipes where butter is used. These recipes call for salt also. do i use salted or unsalted butter?
I usually always use unsalted butter when baking. If the recipe calls for salt then for sure use unsalted butter.
The cake looks beautiful but when I made it (exactly as the recipe calls), my husband and found the cake to be very dry. The smell of the house was great but the cake was a bit crumbly.
@Ann Marie,
Every oven is different and it should not be dry at all. I’m thinking you might need to bake it for less time and it would be better.
Love this site!! I made this cake for my husband and I and cut it in half. this is the lightest cake I have ever eaten. I have passed the recipe on to my family. My husband thinks he doesn’t like pecans but he all but licked the plate! I did chop the nuts a little finer than I would have just for myself. Keep up the good work.
I’ve always made homemade cinnamon roll’s from scratch, but have a hard time as I have problem’s with my hand’s so this will be a perfect way to have the flavor of homemade cinnamon roll’s. Can’t wait to make them.
Cant wait to make this afternoon. Looks absolutely yummy! Everything on your site looks delicious!
Thanks for all the recipes.
I have just found your Cinnamon Roll Cake it just sounds so yummy. I wan’t to try A.S.P.
I recently discovered you and your site and I am so impressed! You and so talented, so creative, so beatiful, and I am so happy I found you!
Looking forward to more of “you!”
Thanks Cheri!
DON’T WASTE YOUR TIME AND MONEY MAKING THIS!!!! The cake was tasteless, there was too much filling so you had to bake the cake about 15 minutes longer and the glaze was gross. SORRY
Everyone is entitled to their opinion. We love it.
G’day! Theses look YUM and are going “on the list” too!LOVE your photo!
Cheers! Joanne
What’s On The List?
http://www.whatsonthelist.net