Duncan Hines Cinnamon Streusel Cake is a mouthwatering vintage recipe that combines the ease of a boxed cake mix with a homemade cinnamon-sugar streusel. This bundt-style cake is moist, sweet, and bursting with warm cinnamon flavor, making it perfect for breakfast, dessert, or any special occasion. The rich glaze drizzled over the top adds a touch of elegance and makes every bite irresistible.
This recipe comes straight from the back of a Duncan Hines package, showcasing how box mixes were cleverly adapted in the mid-20th century to create bakery-quality results at home. With the added touch of vanilla pudding for moisture and a streusel layer for texture, this cake is a shining example of convenience meeting homemade charm.
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Duncan Hines Cinnamon Streusel Cake
Duncan Hines Cinnamon Streusel Cake FAQ
What is streusel?
Streusel is a crumbly mixture of flour, sugar, and butter, often flavored with cinnamon, that adds a crunchy texture and sweet flavor to baked goods.
Can I make this cake without a bundt pan?
Yes! If you don’t have a bundt pan, you can use a 9×13-inch pan or two 8-inch round pans. Adjust the baking time accordingly and check for doneness with a toothpick.
Can I substitute the vanilla pudding mix?
The pudding mix adds moisture and richness to the cake. If unavailable, try using an extra ⅓ cup of sour cream or Greek yogurt instead.
How do I store this cake?
Store the cake in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. For longer storage, refrigerate it for up to a week or freeze slices for up to 3 months.
Can I customize the streusel?
Absolutely! Add chopped nuts, like pecans or walnuts, or even a handful of mini chocolate chips for extra flavor and texture.
Ever feel like your cake isn’t as cakey as it used to be? It’s not you—it’s the cake mix!
Those sneaky boxes have shrunk over the years, but don’t worry—we’ve got the secrets to making your cakes great again. Learn about the cake mix size change and how to “upsize” your mix like a pro.
Food History
Boxed cake mixes revolutionized home baking in the 20th century, providing quick and consistent results. Duncan Hines, a pioneer in the cake mix industry, introduced recipes like this one to highlight the versatility of their mixes. By incorporating simple pantry ingredients such as vanilla pudding and a homemade streusel, home bakers could create desserts that tasted entirely from scratch.
Streusel itself has German roots, where it was traditionally used as a topping for coffee cakes. Combining it with the ease of boxed mixes was a natural evolution that brought classic flavors to American kitchens in a fraction of the time.
Get your bake on with our collection of Duncan Hines recipes! These tried-and-true favorites are your ticket to dessert perfection from classic cakes to creative twists!
Timeline
- 1930s: Streusel cakes gain popularity in American baking, inspired by German immigrants.
- 1950s: Boxed cake mixes, including Duncan Hines, rise in popularity.
- 1970s: Recipes incorporating cake mix hacks, like this Cinnamon Streusel Cake, become a trend in home baking.
- Today: This cake remains a nostalgic favorite for its simplicity and delicious flavor.
Recipe Discussion
The Duncan Hines Cinnamon Streusel Cake offers a perfect balance of convenience and homemade taste. The boxed yellow cake mix provides a reliable base, while the addition of pudding mix ensures a moist texture. The highlight, however, is the streusel. The mixture of brown sugar, cinnamon, butter, and flour creates a ribbon of sweetness and spice that runs through the cake, elevating it from ordinary to extraordinary.
The glaze adds the finishing touch, giving the cake a bakery-quality presentation. This recipe is incredibly versatile, allowing for personal touches like nuts, raisins, or even a touch of cardamom in the streusel. The combination of flavors and textures makes this cake a timeless classic that’s always a crowd-pleaser.
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Duncan Hines Cinnamon Streusel Cake
Ingredients
- 1 pkg. Duncan Hines Deluxe II Yellow Cake Mix
- 1 pkg. vanilla instant pudding mix (4 serving size)
- 2 tbsp. Crisco Oil
- 1⅓ cups water
- 2 eggs
STREUSEL:
- ½ cup flour
- ½ cup brown sugar
- 2 tsp. cinnamon
- 2 tbsp. butter or margarine, melted
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°.
- In large bowl blend cake mix, pudding mix, oil, water and eggs. beat 2 min at medium speed. Spread ¾ of batter evenly in greased and floured 10-in. tube pan.
- Combine streusel ingredients.
- Sprinkle 2/3 cup of mixture over batter in pan.
- Spread remaining batter over streusel; top with reserved streusel.
- Bake 40-50 min at 375° until done.
- Cool right side up in pan 25 minutes., remove from pan and glaze streusel side up.
Glaze:
- Blend ¾ cup confectioners sugar with about 1 tbsp. milk; drizzle over cake.
Notes
Altitudes over 3500 Feet: Stir ¼ cup flour into mix. Mix as directed using 1½ cups water. Bake at 400° for 35-40 min.
Laurie
Saturday 15th of March 2025
Is this made with the vintage size cake mix of 18.25 ounces or the smaller 15.25 or even newer and smaller yet, 13.25 ounce mixes? How can we adapt this recipe to the smaller size mixes? This was always my favorite, so I am excited to have found this!
Vintage Recipes
Saturday 15th of March 2025
Here is an article about how to "upsize" modern cake mixes. Thanks for stopping by!!! ---> Upsize cake mixes
John
Tuesday 7th of March 2023
There are so many different recipes out there for Cinnamon Streusel Cake, but this vintage one remains my favorite. Moist, rich in flavor, simple to prepare. With a hot cup of coffee there's nothing better.