Cinnamon Roll Cheesecake

Cinnamon roll cheesecake swirls cinnamon sugar through a creamy vanilla cheesecake then crowns it with a glossy cream cheese glaze. ♡

This viral cinnamon roll cheesecake is the dessert mashup that broke TikTok and never left. A graham cracker crust holds a creamy vanilla cheesecake swirled with cinnamon sugar ribbons that mimic the swirl of a fresh cinnamon roll, then gets topped with the same cream cheese glaze that lives on every Cinnabon. (more viral cheesy garlic bread chicken ideas).

Two breakfast pastries crashed into one decadent cheesecake. Let’s make it together.

Ingredients

Cinnamon Roll Cheesecake

• 2 cups graham cracker crumbs
• 6 tbsp unsalted butter, melted
• 32 oz cream cheese, softened 1 hour
• 1.25 cups granulated sugar
• 4 large eggs, room temperature
• 2 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup sour cream, room temp
• 1/2 cup light brown sugar, for swirl
• 2 tbsp ground cinnamon, for swirl
• 3 tbsp unsalted butter, melted, for swirl
• 4 oz cream cheese, softened, for glaze
• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 2 tbsp milk

How to Make Cinnamon Roll Cheesecake

1. Crust. Preheat oven to 325F. Mix graham crumbs and 6 tbsp melted butter. Press into a 9 inch springform pan. Bake 10 minutes.
2. Beat. Beat softened cream cheese 2 minutes until smooth. Add granulated sugar and beat 1 minute. Add eggs one at a time on low speed, then vanilla and sour cream.
3. Swirl. Mix brown sugar, cinnamon, and 3 tbsp melted butter into a paste.
4. Layer. Pour half the cheesecake batter over the crust. Spoon half the cinnamon paste in dollops. Drag a knife to swirl. Repeat with remaining batter and paste.
5. Bath. Wrap pan in foil, place in a roasting pan, and pour hot water around the springform to come 1 inch up the sides.
6. Bake. Bake 60 to 70 minutes until edges are set and center wobbles slightly. Turn off oven, crack door, leave inside 1 hour.
7. Glaze. Whisk cream cheese, powdered sugar, and milk smooth. Drizzle over the chilled cheesecake right before serving.

Why This Recipe Works

This mashup went viral because it took two beloved desserts and put them in the same pan. Cinnamon rolls and cheesecake are both top 10 google searches every December, and combining the two formats gave bakers a single dessert that hit two cravings at once. TikTok cinnamon roll cheesecake content racked up over 300 million views in 2024.

Using a swirl pattern instead of a layer of cinnamon sugar prevents the filling from cracking. Solid layers of dry cinnamon sugar absorb moisture from the cheesecake and create stress fractures as the cake cools. Swirling thin ribbons of cinnamon sugar paste through the batter distributes the spice evenly without creating a dry layer that pulls apart.

Using room temperature cream cheese is the rule that prevents lumps in the swirl batter. Cold cream cheese never beats smooth and ends up as little white chunks streaked through the cheesecake, which look bad against the cinnamon swirl. One full hour at room temp gets the cream cheese to the right consistency to whip into a silky lump free batter.

Tips

• Soften cream cheese 1 full hour at room temp for a smooth lump free filling.
• Bake in a water bath to prevent cracks. Wrap the springform in foil and place in a roasting pan with hot water.
• Cool the cheesecake in the oven with the door cracked 1 hour to prevent sudden temperature shock cracks.
• Chill 6 hours minimum before slicing for clean cuts.
• Add the cream cheese glaze right before serving so it stays glossy.
• Common mistake: do not skip the swirl knife move. A knife dragged through the cinnamon makes the iconic spiral look.

For more on the cinnamon, dig into the food science.

Variations

• Add 1/2 cup chopped pecans to the cinnamon swirl for a maple pecan twist.
• Drizzle salted caramel over the glaze for extra decadence.
• Use a cinnamon graham cracker crust for double cinnamon flavor.
• Top with crumbled cinnamon roll pieces around the edges for a styled look.
• Add 1 teaspoon vanilla bean paste to the filling for vanilla bean specks.
• Use brown butter in the cinnamon swirl for a deeper caramelized note.

Want another twist? Try our dubai chocolate strawberry cups for a different sweet treat.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Skipping the water bath. Wrap the springform in foil and bake in a water bath. The steam keeps the top from cracking.
• Using cold cream cheese. Soften 1 full hour. Cold cream cheese stays lumpy and ruins the swirl effect.
• Pulling the cheesecake out hot. Cool in the oven with the door cracked 1 hour. Sudden temperature shock cracks the top.
• Slicing too soon. Chill 6 hours minimum. Cutting warm cheesecake smears the swirl into a mess.

Cinnamon Roll Cheesecake

Viral cinnamon roll cheesecake swirls cinnamon sugar through creamy vanilla cheesecake then tops with cream cheese glaze. Get the recipe!

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 30 minutes mins

Cook Time 1 hour hr 10 minutes mins

Total Time 7 hours hrs 40 minutes mins

Servings: 12 servings

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Calories: 540

Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients

  

• 2 cups graham cracker crumbs
• 6 tbsp unsalted butter melted
• 32 oz cream cheese softened 1 hour
• 1.25 cups granulated sugar
• 4 large eggs room temperature
• 2 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup sour cream room temp
• 1/2 cup light brown sugar for swirl
• 2 tbsp ground cinnamon for swirl
• 3 tbsp unsalted butter melted, for swirl
• 4 oz cream cheese softened, for glaze
• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 2 tbsp milk

Method

 

1. **Crust.** Preheat oven to 325F. Mix graham crumbs and 6 tbsp melted butter. Press into a 9 inch springform pan. Bake 10 minutes.
2. **Beat.** Beat softened cream cheese 2 minutes until smooth. Add granulated sugar and beat 1 minute. Add eggs one at a time on low speed, then vanilla and sour cream.
3. **Swirl.** Mix brown sugar, cinnamon, and 3 tbsp melted butter into a paste.
4. **Layer.** Pour half the cheesecake batter over the crust. Spoon half the cinnamon paste in dollops. Drag a knife to swirl. Repeat with remaining batter and paste.
5. **Bath.** Wrap pan in foil, place in a roasting pan, and pour hot water around the springform to come 1 inch up the sides.
6. **Bake.** Bake 60 to 70 minutes until edges are set and center wobbles slightly. Turn off oven, crack door, leave inside 1 hour.
7. **Glaze.** Whisk cream cheese, powdered sugar, and milk smooth. Drizzle over the chilled cheesecake right before serving.

Notes

Soften cream cheese 1 full hour at room temp for a smooth lump free filling. Bake in a water bath to prevent cracks. Wrap the springform in foil and place in a roasting pan with hot water. Cool the cheesecake in the oven with the door cracked 1 hour to prevent sudden temperature shock cracks.

FAQ

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