Introducing my easy Cinnamon Tea Cake. It comes together in minutes and boasts a buttery crumb and a sweet cinnamon sugar crust. The perfect cake for morning tea!
The humble tea cake ❤️
I’m so excited to share my Cinnamon Tea Cake recipe with you today. It’s incredibly easy to make but it tastes like you’ve slaved away in the kitchen for hours.
It has a super soft and tender crumb that’s buttery and sweet, and a crisp cinnamon sugar topping.
You only need a handful of ingredients and you’ve got the perfect cake to share with family and friends.
Why you will love this recipe
- The cake is soft and tender
- It’s quick and easy to make
- You only need a handful of ingredients
- It tastes like a hot cinnamon donut
Lately I’m becoming more and more obsessed with easy bakes, including one layer cakes like this one. And I have you to thank for it. My most popular recipes are almost ALWAYS ones that are quick and easy to make and can be replicated again and again with success.
I think that’s why my Apple Cake is one of the most popular recipes on my entire site.
And I’m right there with you. Yes, sometimes I love a challenge or to create something more extravagant, but let’s be real. Most of the time, I need foolproof bakes that can whipped up quick when friends are popping over for morning tea or an easy dessert I can take to a dinner party after I finish a day at work.
So what makes this cake so special? Well apart from being easy to throw together, it’s actually one of my all-time favourite cakes. I have a whole stack of it in my freezer because sometimes you just need a quick cake fix.
And even though this cake has no frosting, that buttery cinnamon crust makes me weak at the knees. After this cake is baked, you actually brush the top with melted butter and sprinkle over cinnamon sugar. If you serve this cake warm, you could close your eyes and think you are eating a warm cinnamon donut. #hello
TIPS FOR MAKING CINNAMON TEA CAKE
- You will need an electric mixer for this recipe. Start with room temperature butter, you don’t want it fridge cold but it shouldn’t be melty by any means.
- We start by beating together the butter and sugar, this process is known as creaming. After a few minutes, the two will combine and turn pale and creamy. This process helps create a nice light and fluffy cake. It can be tempting to beat for 30 seconds or so just to combine the butter and sugar but if you keep going for another minute or so, you’ll see it change texture and almost look a little ‘whipped’. Perfect!
- Next comes the eggs. Sometimes when you add the eggs, the cake batter can turn lumpy and look a little curdled. That’s fine.
- Add half of the dry ingredients (flour, baking powder and cinnamon) and ALL the milk. Start to slowly mix together and then add the remaining dry ingredients. Transfer mixture to a cake tin and bake for 30-35 minutes. You’ll know it’s ready when a skewer inserted in the middle comes out clean.
- When you remove the cake from the oven, generously brush melted butter all over the top. Then sprinkle with cinnamon sugar. This Cinnamon Tea Cake is delicious served warm.
MORE ONE LAYER CAKE RECIPES TO TRY
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Let’s Bake
Cinnamon Tea Cake
A delicious light and tender Cinnamon Tea Cake.
Ingredients
Tea cake
- 115 grams (1/2 cup or 1 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature
- 150 grams (3/4 cup) caster sugar or granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 large eggs
- 210 grams (1 and 1/2 cups) plain flour or all purpose flour
- 2 and 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 180 ml (3/4 cup) full fat or whole milk
Cinnamon sugar topping
- 20 grams (1 tablespoon) butter, melted
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 tablespoon caster sugar or granulated sugar
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 180 C (350 F) standard / 160 C (320 F) fan-forced. Grease and line an 8-inch round cake pan with baking or parchment paper.
- In a large mixing bowl, beat butter, sugar and vanilla with an electric mixer until pale and creamy, approximately 1-2 minutes. Add eggs, one at a time, and beat briefly – don’t worry if the mixture goes lumpy – then scrape down the sides of the bowl.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the plain flour, baking powder, cinnamon and salt. Add half of the flour mixture, along with all the milk and slowly mix together on a low speed. Add the remaining flour mix and continue to mix until cake batter is smooth and creamy.
- Pour cake batter into your prepared tin and bake in the oven for approximately 30-35 minutes or until a skewer inserted into the middle of the cake comes out clean.
- While the cake is still warm, generously brush with melted butter and then sprinkle over cinnamon and sugar. Enjoy a slice while the cake is warm.
Rachael says
Can you make this in a pan like the individual brownie pans instead?
Jessica Holmes says
Yes! You’ll just have to adjust the cooking time as they’ll cook faster.
Sarah says
Hi,
Just wondering would it be possible to use semi-skimmed milk instead of whole milk for this recipe?
Thanks
Jessica Holmes says
Hi Sarah, yes that should be fine.
Jane says
Love this, made it 4 times already. It’s like a warm cinnamon donut hug as a cake. Family request it all the time. So simple soooo good
Jessica Holmes says
Yes! Love that Jane!
Barbara Derose says
The best cake ever made
Jessica Holmes says
Yes! Love that!
Priya says
Turned out really good in the first attempt in my new stand mixer using it for first time. Was impressed how well it tasted and the texture. Felt like eating a warm cinnamon donut for sure
Jessica Holmes says
Yes! Love that!
Kathy says
I recently stumbled upon your ig account and found this recipe, I just made it and it is really super easy and delicious.
Jessica Holmes says
Oh love that Kathy! So glad you found me ❤️
Sarina says
Hello! Love your recipes!
Can I substitute the white sugar with brown sugar?
Jessica Holmes says
Hi, yes you can if you like! It’ll make the sponge darker in colour and slightly more caramel-y in flavour.
Kris says
I added Apple to the mix and it made a lovely moist tea cake which my 89 y/o mum loves
Jessica Holmes says
Oh love that idea Kris!
Caroline says
Hi Jessica!! I loved this cake, super soft and I added some ground walnuts together with the sugar cinnamon topping…. It was great… Never got a chance for a second piece, coz it just disappeared… Thank you for sharing….
Jessica Holmes says
Ohh that sounds amazing! So pleased you enjoyed it!
leanne says
Hi Jessica. I am making this today for my son’s birthday, his request! I wanted to make it a little bigger as its for a birthday cake, I was thinking of doing the receip x 1.5, would that work do you think? Thanks so much, Lea
Jessica Holmes says
Yes I think so!!
Sarah says
I’ve made this cake a few times and it’s always a crowd pleaser! So easy and so yummy
Jessica Holmes says
So glad you enjoyed it Sarah!
Unknown says
Yum!😋
Sam says
Disappointed. Cake was very dry. 🙁
Jessica Holmes says
I’m sorry to hear that Sam. Sometimes cakes can be dry because of under (or over) creaming the butter and sugar, over-mixing the cake batter and/or over-baking.
Sam says
Was wondering if adding applesauce or using margarine or oil would make the more moist?
Jessica Holmes says
It may do but I haven’t tested it myself. Perhaps you’d enjoy my Apple Cake recipe?
Christine says
I made it!!, ate it!!! and it was so delicious.. by far the easiest recipe with spectacular results, a delicious super moist soft texture with that amazing toffee like crust.. next on my list to make is the apple one…
Jessica Holmes says
Hooray! Love that Christine!
Astrid says
Hi Jess. Does it cool completely in the tin?
Jessica Holmes says
Hi Astrid, I like to remove the cake from the pan while it’s still warm. Then I brush it with butter, add cinnamon sugar and leave it on a wire rack to cool completely.
Cathryn says
Wow, such a lovely cake. Will definitely make again.
Jessica Holmes says
So glad you enjoyed it!
Audrey Whyte says
This cake is so good and one of the best I’ve ever made. It’s so light and moist and I love the cinnamon flavour. Thanks so much for the recipe.
Jessica Holmes says
Love hearing that Audrey!
Kimberly says
Fantastic as is. Great with Applesauce on top. Yummy
Jessica Holmes says
Love that!
Sanjana says
This looks absolutely delicious! Can I make a couple of it in advance? Will it last well for 2days without refrigeration? Thankyou!
Jessica Holmes says
Hi, yes it keeps well for a few days – although it is best when fresh and warm in my opinion. Keep it in an airtight container at room temperature.