This Vanilla Cinnamon Sugar Swirl Cupcakes recipe is often requested for social gatherings. These cupcakes are light, fluffy, and full of cinnamon deliciousness.
After all these years of making different types of cupcakes, these are the ones people remember! Surprisingly easy to make, these cupcakes don't disappoint!

The Vanilla Cinnamon Sugar Swirl Cupcakes Recipe
You will find real cinnamon throughout the cupcake. Swirled inside the cupcake itself and generously mixed into the buttercream frosting. By adding a light dusting of cinnamon on top of these cupcakes, it gives it a beautiful finishing touch.
The Right Amount of Cinnamon
Cinnamon can be tricky - sometimes you can add just too much and it's overwhelming. Certainly, this is not the case with this recipe. Although it has cinnamon spice throughout the cupcake, it is more subtle than overpowering.
Also, making and baking these cupcakes will awaken your senses with the enticing scent of vanilla throughout your home.
Cinnamon Swirl Cupcakes
To create the delicious cinnamon flavor in these cupcakes start by lining your cupcake pans. Once they are lined, scoop 1 tablespoon of batter into the liners and top it with ¼ teaspoon of the cinnamon-sugar mixture and repeat the steps until the cupcake liners are halfway full.
Bake the prepared cupcakes in the oven for 16 to 18 minutes. There should be minimum crumbs when inserting a toothpick into the center of the cupcakes. Allow these cupcakes to cool completely before attempting to frost them.
If you frost them while the cupcakes are still warm the frosting will melt and slide off the cupcake. Be patient!

Ingredients in Vanilla Cinnamon Sugar Swirl Cupcakes
- All purpose flour
- Granulated Sugar
- Ground cinnamon
- Baking soda
- Baking powder
- Salted butter, room temperature
- Egg whites
- Vanilla extract
- Sour cream
- Milk
- Shortening
- Confectioner's sugar
How To make Vanilla Cinnamon Cupcakes
Preheat the oven and prepare the muffin tins- Preheat the oven to 350°F and cupcake liners to the tins.
Mix the dry ingredients- Mix together the flour, cinnamon, granulated sugar, baking soda, and baking powder together in a bowl.
Combine the wet ingredients- Beat the room temperature butter, egg whites, sour cream, vanilla extract, and milk. Beat until the mixture is smooth.
TIP: A hand mixer is a great kitchen tool to quickly make your cupcake and cake batters.
Blend the ingredients - Combine the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients and mix until blended. Avoid overmixing.
Make the cinnamon sugar- In a small bowl, combine the cinnamon and the granulated sugar. Set aside.
Fill the cupcake liners- Drop one tablespoon of batter into the cupcake liners and triple ¼ teaspoon of the cinnamon-sugar mixture on top of the batter.
Repeat these steps until the liners are halfway full. Top off the cupcake batter with a little more cinnamon sugar.
Bake the cupcakes- Bake the cupcakes for 16-18 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Oven temperatures will vary.
Allow the cupcakes to cool completely before frosting.

Spruce Up Your Cupcake
I believe that making a cupcake shouldn't be difficult. A cupcake can easily be made by baking a vanilla cupcake and frosting it with buttercream. Well, that's how simple this recipe is! It's an extra step for the cinnamon - it's as simple as that.
These cupcakes don't take a lot of work but they succeed in elevating your everyday cupcake. No one will even know how little work it took to make them. 😉 Additionally, they're a lot of fun to make and they definitely spark creativity.

RELATED: Red Velvet Cupcakes
A Favorite to Those Near and Dear
My mother requests these Vanilla Cinnamon Sugar Swirl cupcakes for her birthday every year. In fact, she doesn't even have to ask, she just expects them. They're a real treat for friends and loved ones, they'll love them so much they'll request them time after time!
I'd had a lot of great feedback on Pinterest from those who have tried this cupcake and absolutely love it! In fact, they make it for special occasions, too!
📖 Recipe
Vanilla Cinnamon Sugar Swirl Cupcakes
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 cups all purpose flour
- 1 ¼ cups sugar
- 1 ¾ teaspoon cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ cup salted butter room temperature
- 3 egg whites
- 2 ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ cup sour cream
- ½ cup milk
Cinnamon Sugar Mixture
- 2 tablespoon cinnamon
- ⅓ cup sugar
Vanilla Cinnamon Sugar Frosting
- ½ cup butter softened
- ½ cup shortening
- 4 cups powdered sugar
- 3 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 tablespoon milk
Instructions
For cupcakes
- Preheat oven to 350°F degrees.
- Mix together flour, cinnamon, sugar, baking soda, and baking powder in mixing bowl. I use my electric mixer.
- Add butter (room temperature), egg whites, sour cream, vanilla, and milk - Mix until smooth (no lumps).
- Add cupcake liners to cupcake pan.
- Combine cinnamon and sugar in a small bowl.
- Place 1 tablespoon of batter into each cupcake liner
- Sprinkle ¼ teaspoon of cinnamon sugar mixture on top of cupcake batter.
- Repeat steps until liners are half way full.
- Sprinkle a little more cinnamon sugar mixture on top of half-filled liners
- Bake for 16-18 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out with minimal crumbs
- Allow to cool for a few minutes
- Remove cupcakes and continue cooling on wire rack.
For the Frosting
- Mix room temperature butter and shortening until smooth.
- Add 1 teaspoon of vanilla, mix until well blended
- Add powdered sugar one cup at a time and mix until well blended. (Mixture will be stiff)
- Mix in cinnamon until well blended.
- Add in milk 1 tablespoon at a time. Add until right consistency.
- Pipe cupcakes with frosting.
- Sprinkle with cinnamon sugar if desired.
Video
Notes
Nutrition

Dana is an experienced recipe creator who crafts easy and delicious recipes for all levels of home cooks.
Her recipes range from classic comfort foods to healthy and nutritious meals, and she is always on the lookout for new and exciting ways to bring flavor and variety to the table.
Sreya Gupta says
This looks so yummy. I must have to try it. Thank you for sharing it.
Kathy says
These look amazing! Can’t wait to try them!
Mahrukh says
that looks delicious…i’ll tell my mom to make me this
Mahrukh says
i’ll definitely tell my mom to make me this
daneen rogers says
ooo these look so good! Penzey’s makes a great vanilla sugar that I bet would be great in this recipe too!
R. Alexandria says
I have half of these ingredients in my kitchen already. I know what I’ll be making for dessert this weekend!
Katherine says
ooo these look and sound so good! My siblings and I are filling this week with baking and I think this is definitely something to add to our list!
Kristy says
My mouth is watering just looking at these! Not only that, but your icing skills are on point! Thanks so much for sharing this yummy recipe!
ig says
Everyone loves what you guys are usually up too.
This type of clever work and exposure! Keep up the amazing works guys I’ve added you
guys to blogroll.
Dr. Alina Marcu says
This girl wants those cupcakes. I will definitely try the recipe as soon as possible.
Anna Harris says
Ooof! These do look delicious indeed! Thanks for sharing the recipe. It looks fairly simple to make...and I love cinnamon...so what's there to lose?! 😉
The Wordy Mom says
Make a dozen cupcakes. Eat a dozen cupcakes. I enjoyed looking but best not make them!
Sara says
These look like a dreamy little treat! I love vanilla and cinnamon together!
Natalie says
I love cinnamon anything and these cupcakes look absolutely delicious! Perfect for brunch too!
Sara says
These look like a dreamy little treat! I love vanilla and cinnamon together!