Description
This homemade Cinnamon Swirl Bread recipe produces a soft, fluffy loaf with a sweet cinnamon-sugar swirl throughout. Perfect for breakfast or a snack, this bread combines warm spices and a tender crumb, achieved through careful kneading, two rises, and baking in the oven to golden perfection.
Ingredients
Scale
Dough Ingredients
- ½ cup water (warmed)
- ½ cup whole milk (warmed)
- 2 ¼ teaspoons instant or active dry yeast (1 standard packet)
- ¼ cup sugar (divided)
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter (softened to room temperature and cut into 4 pieces)
- 3 cups bread flour (plus more as needed)
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 egg white (beaten)
Cinnamon Swirl
- ¼ cup sugar
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter (melted)
Instructions
- Activate Yeast: In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook, whisk together the warm water, warm milk, yeast, and 2 tablespoons of sugar. Loosely cover and let sit for 5-10 minutes until foamy and frothy, indicating the yeast is active and ready.
- Mix Dough: Add the remaining 2 tablespoons sugar, softened butter, 1 cup of bread flour, and salt to the yeast mixture. Beat on low speed for 30 seconds, scrape down the sides, then add another cup of flour. Beat on medium speed until combined, then add the remaining flour and continue beating on medium speed until the dough comes together and pulls away from the bowl, about 2 minutes.
- Knead Dough: Continue kneading the dough in the mixer for an additional 8-10 minutes to develop gluten, which will give the bread structure and chewiness.
- First Rise: Lightly grease a large bowl. Place the dough in the bowl, turning to coat all sides with oil. Cover and let it rise in a warm place for 1-2 hours, until it doubles in size.
- Prepare Loaf Pan: Grease a 9×5-inch loaf pan or line it with parchment paper to prevent sticking.
- Make Cinnamon Sugar: In a small bowl, whisk together the ¼ cup sugar and ground cinnamon to make the cinnamon sugar swirl mixture.
- Shape Dough and Add Swirl: Punch down the risen dough to release air. Lightly flour your work surface, rolling pin, and hands. Roll the dough into an 8×20-inch rectangle. Brush the surface evenly with the beaten egg white, then sprinkle the cinnamon sugar mixture evenly over the dough. Roll the dough tightly into an 8-inch log and place it seam-side down in the prepared loaf pan.
- Second Rise: Cover the loaf pan and let the dough rise for about 1 hour, until it rises approximately 1 inch above the pan’s rim.
- Preheat Oven and Bake: Preheat your oven to 350°F (180°C) with the rack lowered to a lower position. Brush the top of the loaf with the melted butter. Bake for 35-45 minutes until golden brown. Check halfway through baking; if the loaf browns too quickly, tent with aluminum foil to prevent burning.
- Cool Bread: Remove the bread from the oven and let it cool in the pan on a cooling rack for a few minutes. Then remove the loaf from the pan and let it cool for at least 10 more minutes before slicing to complete the setting of the crumb.
- Serve: Slice the bread and serve warm. Enjoy the sweet, cinnamon-spiced swirl and soft texture.
Notes
- For best results, use bread flour as it has higher protein content which improves the bread’s texture and chew.
- If you don’t have a stand mixer, you can knead the dough by hand on a floured surface for about 10-15 minutes.
- Make sure liquids are warm but not hot to avoid killing the yeast (about 100°F or 38°C is ideal).
- The cinnamon sugar swirl can be customized with the addition of nuts or raisins if desired.
- Store leftover bread in an airtight container or wrap tightly to maintain freshness; it can also be frozen for up to 2 months.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Bread
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: cinnamon swirl bread, homemade bread, breakfast bread, sweet bread, cinnamon sugar bread
