Cinnamon Swirl Bread
This Cinnamon Swirl Bread is incredibly tender and moist complete with a sweet brown sugar and cinnamon swirl throughout the entire loaf! Only 30 minutes of hands-on time is needed to bake up a loaf of this homemade bread!
Fluffy Cinnamon Swirl Bread
Cinnamon Swirl Bread uses easy ingredients and minimal hands-on time to create a warm loaf of bread that you can enjoy any time of day! Toast it up and lather on some Butter to give to the kids for a delicious breakfast, or turn it into French toast for a big weekend brunch!
It’s also totally a snack that can stand alone and be enjoyed as is! Slicing off a hunk of homemade cinnamon bread and eating it alongside a cup of Breve Latte is my guilty pleasure when I can steal a few minutes of quiet time for myself!
Ingredients For Cinnamon Swirl Bread
This cinnamon swirl bread recipe simply combines ingredients you likely have in your pantry with dry active yeast. For the loaf you’ll need to gather up:
- All-Purpose Flour – Since flour has a higher gluten level it helps the yeast maintain the form of the loaf.
- Salt – Balances out the final flavor!
- Granulated Sugar – When mixed with the yeast it produces carbon dioxide, which is exactly what we need to get the dough to rise!
- Dry Active Yeast – The leavening agent used to cause the bread dough to rise.
- Warm Water – Activates the yeast.
- Warm Whole Milk – Supports the yeast.
- Salted Butter – Used in the recipe as well as melted down to brush onto the loaf before baking!
While the bread is rising, you’ll prepare an egg wash using one egg and water, as well as the cinnamon sugar swirl that’s made of brown sugar, ground cinnamon, and flour.
How To Make A Cinnamon Swirl Loaf
- Dissolve the yeast in warm water. Let it sit for 5 minutes.
2. Combine the dissolved yeast with warm milk, sugar, salted butter, 3 cups of flour, and salt in a large mixing bowl. Stir with a heavy wooden spoon or dough hook fitted to a stand mixer, add in the remaining cup of flour.
3. Knead the dough until it’s smooth and elastic.
4. Place the dough ball in a large, greased bowl, turning it over so all of the dough is coated with oil.
5. Cover and place in a warm spot to allow it to rise.
6. Whisk together the eggs and water to make an egg wash and set it aside.
7. Stir together the brown sugar, cinnamon, and flour in a small bowl.
8. Press or roll the dough out, brush with a thin layer of egg wash.
9. Sprinkle the cinnamon-sugar mixture over the top of the egg wash.
10. Roll up the dough fairly tightly and place it into the prepared loaf pans. Slash the top of the loaf with a sharp knife and brush on melted butter.
11. Bake on the lowest rack of the oven. Knock on the loaf, when it sounds hollow it’s done!
12. Cool in the pan for 10 minutes before transferring it to a wire rack. Allow it to cool to room temperature before slicing and serving!
Helpful Proofing Tips!
Don’t run away from this delicious recipe just because it calls for yeast, though it can feel intimidating to work with it’s actually relatively easy! Here are some proofing tips I’ve collected that you may find helpful in getting any yeast dough recipe to rise!
- This recipe uses the most common method! Placing the dough in a lightly oiled bowl, covering it with plastic wrap, or a damp cloth, and then place the covered bowl in a warm spot in your home.
- You could also preheat the oven to the lowest temperature for 5 minutes. Then shut the oven off and place the dough bowl in the oven until it doubles in size.
- Place a towel over a heating pad set to low. Then put the bowl of dough on top of it.
- Put the covered dough bowl in the oven and place a baking dish filled with boiling water on the rack below it.
- Some ovens even have a “proof” setting! If yours does feel free to use that!
See! Plenty of easy methods to choose from to be sure your dough rises perfectly! Of course, rise time will depend on which method you go with.
More popular bread recipes that you’ll also love:
- Homemade Bread – An easy homemade bread recipe that has step-by-step instructions and photos!
- Pumpkin Cream Cheese Bread – This delicious fall bread has a sweet caramel cream cheese filling!
- Easy Cranberry Banana Bread – A moist, tender quick bread recipe that’s loaded with tart cranberries!
- Best Spiced Pumpkin Bread – Loaded with the best fall spices and walnuts for a tasty Fall bread!
- Zucchini Bread – Packed full of tender zucchini, walnuts, and cinnamon with the option of adding lemon or chocolate chips!
Steps
Grease a 9-inch loaf pan and set aside.
Dissolve the yeast in warm water (105-110°F) and let sit for 5 minutes.
Combine dissolved yeast, warm milk, sugar, 1 tablespoon softened salted butter, 3 cups of flour, and salt. If you have a dough hook with a stand mixer, you may use this to stir the dough. If not, I recommend using a large bowl and a heavy wooden spoon. Gradually add in the remaining cup of flour.
When the dough starts to form a ball, remove it to a lightly floured surface. Knead the dough for 5 to 10 minutes, until it is smooth and elastic.
Then form the dough into a large ball and place it into a greased bowl. Turn it over so that all of the dough is coated with oil. Cover the loaf with plastic wrap, or a damp towel. Place the bowl in a warm spot, not too hot, no drafts. Allow it to rise for about an hour, or until doubled in size.
Preheat the oven to 350°F.
Whisk together the egg and water in a small bowl to create the egg wash. Set aside.
In a small bowl, stir together the brown sugar, cinnamon, and flour. Set aside.
Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and roll the dough into a 16x8-inch rectangle.
Brush a thin layer of egg wash over the dough and sprinkle on the cinnamon-sugar mixture.
Start rolling up from one of the short sides (one of the 8-inch sides). Roll fairly tightly. Place the loaf into the prepared loaf pan. Slash the top of the loaf three times, about ¼ inch deep. Brush the loaf with 1 tablespoon melted butter.
Bake for 40 minutes on the lowest rack of the oven, check for doneness. It should sound hollow when you knock on it. If needed, then bake for another 5 minutes.
Remove the loaf from the oven. Allow it to cool in the pan for 10 minutes. Then remove the loaf from the pan and allow it to cool completely before slicing.
Notes
- How To Store: Store in a dry air-tight container for up to 3 days.
- How To Freeze: Allow bread to cool completely before wrapping in plastic wrap and placing it in a freezer bag. Freeze for up to 6 months but best used within 2 months of freezing.
- I like raisins in my cinnamon bread – will that work in this recipe? Yes! If you decide to add raisins, it is best to pulse them in your food processor with the sugar, flour, and cinnamon mixture. This will make them small enough so that they don’t create extra air pockets in the bread. (try to get them down to at least ¼ inch size)
- Can I use white sugar instead of brown? Yes, it will change the texture and flavor slightly but still be absolutely delicious!
- Why use egg wash when adding the filling? This helps to bind the bread together to avoid the swirl creating gaps in the bread. That is also the reason for including the flour in the cinnamon/sugar mixture.
- How warm is the best temperature for allowing bread to rise? The best temperature is between 80 and 90 degrees Fahrenheit. If your kitchen is colder than this, you could fill a large bowl with hot water and cover it with a plate. Place the covered bowl with the bread dough on top of this bowl of hot water.
- Does this bread toast nicely? Absolutely!! And it even makes WONDERFUL French toast!
Nutrition
- Calories2526
- Carbs471g
- Protein73g
- Fat38g
- Saturated fat19g
- Fiber23g
- Sugar73g
- Sodium2690mg
Estimates per serving, when a serving size is listed.
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