Cinnamon Twirl Roly-Poly

Total Time Prep: 40 min. + chilling Bake: 10 min. + cooling
Yield 12 servings
Test Kitchen Approved
My whole house smells incredible when this cake is in the oven. Change it up with other extracts—maple is heavenly. —Holly Balzer-Harz, Malone, New York

Ingredients

  • 3 large eggs, room temperature
  • 3/4 cup sugar
  • 1/3 cup water
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1-1/2 teaspoons baking powder
  • Dash salt
  • 6 tablespoons butter, softened
  • 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
  • 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
  • FILLING:
  • 4 ounces cream cheese, softened
  • 1/4 cup butter, softened
  • 1 cup confectioners' sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1 to 2 teaspoons half-and-half cream or 2% milk
  • 1/4 cup finely chopped walnuts, optional
  • GLAZE:
  • 1/4 cup butter
  • 1-1/2 cups confectioners' sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2 to 3 tablespoons half-and-half cream or 2% milk
  • 1/4 cup chopped walnuts, optional

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 375°. Line bottom and sides of a greased 15x10x1-in. baking pan with parchment; grease parchment.
  2. Beat eggs on high speed until thick and pale, about 5 minutes. Gradually beat in sugar until well mixed. Reduce speed to low; beat in water and vanilla. In another bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder and salt; add to egg mixture, mixing just until combined.
  3. Transfer batter to prepared pan. Bake until cake springs back when lightly touched, 10-12 minutes. Cool 5 minutes. Invert onto a kitchen towel dusted with confectioners' sugar. Gently peel off parchment. Roll up cake in the towel jelly-roll style, starting with a short side. Cool completely on a wire rack.
  4. Meanwhile, beat butter, brown sugar and cinnamon until creamy. Unroll cake; spread brown sugar mixture over cake to within 1/2 in. of edges.
  5. For filling, beat cream cheese and butter until creamy. Beat in confectioners' sugar and cinnamon; gradually add cream until mixture reaches a spreadable consistency. Spread filling over brown sugar mixture. If desired, sprinkle with walnuts. Roll up again, without towel; trim ends if needed. Place on a platter, seam side down.
  6. For glaze, heat butter in a small saucepan over medium-low heat until foamy and golden, 6-8 minutes. Remove from heat. Stir in confectioners' sugar and vanilla, then add cream 1 tablespoon at a time, stirring well, until mixture reaches a pourable consistency. Slowly pour glaze over top of cake, allowing some to flow over sides. If desired, top with walnuts. Refrigerate, covered, at least 2 hours before serving.

Nutrition Facts

1 slice: 396 calories, 18g fat (11g saturated fat), 93mg cholesterol, 341mg sodium, 56g carbohydrate (47g sugars, 1g fiber), 4g protein.

My whole house smells incredible when this cake is in the oven. Change it up with other extracts—maple is heavenly. —Holly Balzer-Harz, Malone, New York
Recipe Creator

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