Cinnamon Cake with Cinnamon Cream Cheese Frosting

Cinnamon Cake with Cinnamon Cream Cheese Frosting 

Once again this is NOT my photo. I promise I'll remember to take a picture next time!

This cake and the frosting were a big hit in my house. I swear the frosting was so addicting i couldn't stop poking my fingers into it! If you like cinnamon you will LOVE this.

INGREDIENTS:

for the cake:

2 cups all purpose flour  
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder  
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon  
1/4 teaspoon salt  
1 cup milk (we use 2%)  
1/2 cup unsalted butter, room temperature  
4 large eggs  
1 3/4 cups sugar  
1 1/2 teaspoons grated orange peel  
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

for the frosting:

1/2 cup unsalted butter, room temperature  
8 oz cream cheese, room temperature  
2 1/2 cups powdered sugar  
1 teaspoon vanilla extract  
2 teaspoons cinnamon

DIRECTIONS:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Butter and flour two 9-inch cake pans. Sift flour, baking powder, cinnamon and salt into small bowl. Stir milk and butter in small saucepan over low heat just until butter melts and set aside.
2.  Using electric mixer, beat eggs and sugar in large bowl until thick enough for batter to fall in heavy ribbon when beaters are lifted. (I unfortunately did not have an electric beater when I made this so I had to do that part by hand. It was a work out to say the least!) 
3.  Beat in orange peel and vanilla. 
4.  Add flour mixture; beat just until blended. 
5. Add warm milk mixture; beat just until blended. 
6.  Divide batter between prepared pans.
7.   Bake cakes until tester inserted into center comes out clean and cakes begin to pull away from sides of pans, about 24 minutes. 
8.  Cool cakes in pans on racks for 20 minutes. Cut around pan sides and turn cakes out onto racks. Turn cakes right side up.

 For frosting:

1.  mix the butter and cream cheese together with an electric mixer until very smooth. (An even bigger workout without the mixer!) Scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl to ensure even mixing. 
2.  Add the vanilla extract and cinnamon and mix. 
3.  Slowly add the powdered sugar. Keep adding until you get to desired sweetness (you can use between 2 and 3 cups). 
4. Spread one cup of frosting onto first layer. Top with second layer. Smooth the rest of the frosting onto the top and sides using your preferred technique.

AND ENJOY!