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Cinnamon Swirl Bread

This cinnamon swirl bread is a homemade yeasted bread that is soft and tender with a gooey cinnamon swirl throughout it! Try it toasted, use it for French toast or serve it with hot cocoa for a cozy treat.

This recipe is a delicious twist on my family’s favorite homemade bread. For a no-yeast version, try my cinnamon swirl quick bread.

Cinnamon swirl bread on cutting board.
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Homemade Cinnamon Swirl Bread

Homemade cinnamon swirl bread is a light and fluffy bread made with simple ingredients. It’s an easy recipe for beginner bakers even if this your first yeast bread recipe from scratch. If you need something quicker, try these dessert cinnamon crescent rolls!

Follow this easy guide to making the best cinnamon sugar bread from kneading the dough, proofing the yeast, adding homemade cinnamon sugar, and baking it until perfectly golden. It’s a versatile bread that can be toasted in the morning for breakfast, or enjoyed as a grab-and-go snack in the afternoon.

How to Make Cinnamon Swirl Bread

There is a bit of rising time to account for, but believe me, the aroma of freshly baked cinnamon bread is well worth the wait!

Cinnamon swirl bread ingredients collage.
  1. Prep. Place yeast and sugar in a small bowl with warm water (not too hot, otherwise you’ll kill the yeast). Let it sit until bubbly.
  2. Combine. In the bowl of your stand mixer (or large mixing bowl if mixing by hand), combine melted butter, sugar, evaporated milk, and salt. Add active yeast mixture and mix together.
  3. Knead. Add in 3 cups of flour and combine using the bread hook. Then continue by adding 1 cup at a time until you’ve got 5 cups added in. Continue combining. You want the dough to no longer be sticky on your hands or sticking to the sides of the bowl, so once you’ve hit 5 cups of flour, continue adding flour by half a cup until no longer sticky.
  4. Rise. Cover the ball of dough and sides of the bowl with shortening and cover the bowl with a warm towel. Place by the window (alternatively, some prefer in a warm draft-free area) to rise until doubled in bulk. About 1.5 hours depending on the temperature of your home.
Cinnamon swirl bread ingredients collage.
  1. Punch & roll. Once the dough has risen over the sides of the bowl, punch it down and transfer it to a floured surface. Knead for a few minutes and then cut the dough into 2 pieces. Roll each out into a rectangle.
  2. Sprinkle. Sprinkle cinnamon and sugar mix on top of each rectangle leaving about an inch around the edges. Roll the dough up into a log and tuck the ends under. Place into 2 greased bread pans.
  3. Rise once more. Cover and let rise again. Preheat your oven just before the rise time is over.
  4. Bake. Place loaves in the oven and bake until golden and it sounds hollow when gently tapped. Remove from the oven and allow it to cool before serving. Brush the top with melted butter if desired, and enjoy!

Tips & Variations

  • Test your yeast. If it doesn’t bubble or change texture when mixed with warm water and sugar, it means your yeast is no longer active. You will need to discard and get some fresh active dry yeast.
  • Glaze: If you’re craving my one hour cinnamon rolls, mix up this cream cheese glaze and spread it over the top of a slice of warm bread.
  • Add raisins. Sprinkle in 1/2 cup raisins with cinnamon mixture and have homemade cinnamon raisin bread!
  • Whole wheat. You can make whole wheat bread instead with a cinnamon swirl if preferred.
  • French toast. Use a few slices and make cinnamon sugar French toast. No need to wait for a fancy brunch or special occasion!

FAQs

Do I have to use bread flour?

If you can, use bread flour. It has a different texture than all-purpose and can hold the weight of the cinnamon swirl. All-purpose can definitely be used in a pinch if that’s what you have. You’ll notice a difference in the crumb, but it’s still awesome.

Also, make sure you know how to measure flour accurately before getting started.

Do I need a stand mixer?

You don’t need one, but you’ll definitely appreciate using one if you have it! If you’ve skipped arm day at the gym, then, by all means, knead the dough by hand :)

How long does this bread need to rise?

The rise time is trial and error depending on your environment. Yeast requires warmth to rise, but then again only to a point that it’s doubled.

If you’re stuck for a warm draft-free area, try the drawer at the bottom of your oven. If your place is quite moist, you may want to set it by the window. Just keep an eye out on it and you’ll know if you need to adjust anything. You may find that covering it in plastic wrap before covering it with a towel is helpful.

Why are there gaps in my cinnamon swirl bread?

This happens as the wet dough bakes and separates from the dry cinnamon-sugar mixture. To prevent this, either drizzled the dough with melted butter or use an egg wash to help the cinnamon sugar stick.

Cinnamon swirl bread in pan.

Storing & Freezing

Lucky you, you’ve got 2 loaves! If you have any leftovers, you can keep them stored in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 3 days. Otherwise, if you plan to freeze one of your loaves for later, it will keep for up to 3 months.

Cinnamon swirl bread slice on table.

Love cinnamon sugar dessert recipes? Try these cinnamon sugar pretzels, cinnamon roll monkey bread or cinnamon roll pancakes.

More Bread Recipes You’ll Love

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cinnamon swirl bread on cutting board

Cinnamon Swirl Bread

5 from 6 votes
↑ Click stars to rate now!
Author: Jamielyn Nye
This cinnamon swirl bread is a homemade yeasted bread that is soft and tender with a gooey cinnamon swirl throughout it! Try it toasted or use it for French toast for a cozy treat.
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Rising Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
Total Time: 2 hours 15 minutes
Servings: 32 (2 loaves)

Ingredients 

  • 2 cups warm water
  • 2 ½ teaspoons active dry yeast
  • ½ Tablespoon granulated sugar
  • ¼ cup melted butter , plus more for top of bread
  • 1 Tablespoon Kosher salt
  • ¼ cup granulated sugar
  • ½ cup evaporated milk
  • 5-7 cups bread flour , white or wheat will work too; can use more if needed
  • 1 Tablespoon shortening , or butter

Cinnamon mixture

  • ½ cup granulated sugar
  • 2 Tablespoons ground cinnamon

Instructions

  • Place the yeast and sugar in a small bowl. Pour the warm water (not too hot) over the yeast mixture and let it proof for about 10 minutes, or until nice and bubbly.
  • Combine melted butter, sugar, evaporated milk and salt into a large mixing bowl. When your yeast mixture is ready, add them together and mix.
  • If you are using a stand mixer, put on your bread hook and then pour in 3 cups of flour. If not, you can stir/knead it as well. Then add in 1 cup of flour at a time and mix. When you get to 5 cups of flour in the bowl, add in 1/2 cup more of flour at a time until the dough is no longer sticking to the sides. You’ll know it’s ready when your fingers no longer stick to the dough.
  • Then cover the ball of dough and sides of the bowl with shortening and cover the bowl with a warm towel. Set by the window and allow it it rise (about 1.5 hours). When it has risen over the bowl, punch it down and place on a floured surface.
  • Knead the dough for 2-3 minutes. Cut dough into two pieces and roll them out into a rectangle. You can brush melted butter on here as well if you'd like.
  • Mix the sugar and cinnamon together in a small bowl. Sprinkle the cinnamon sugar on top leaving 1-inch around the edges. You can spray the top lightly with water to prevent the cinnamon from gapping if you'd like. Roll the dough up tightly into a log and tuck the ends under (pinching the seams tight). Then place into 2 greased bread pans.
  • Let the bread rise again, about 1 hour.
  • Preheat oven to 375°F. Bake for 25-30 minutes or until when gently tapped it sounds hollow. Cover the top of the bread with foil if browning too fast.
  • Remove from oven and allow to cool. Brush the tops with melted butter. Slice and enjoy. Store in a covered container for 3 days or freeze up to 3 months.

Notes

Variation:
  • You could also sprinkle 1/2 cup raisins when you sprinkle the cinnamon mixture on top. 
  • Brush the top of the bread in melted butter and then sprinkle remaining cinnamon sugar over the top (before baking) for a cinnamon top. 

Nutrition

Calories: 115kcal | Carbohydrates: 20g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 3g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 5mg | Sodium: 237mg | Potassium: 42mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 55IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 17mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutrition provided is an estimate. It will vary based on specific ingredients used.

Course: bread
Cuisine: American

Did you make this recipe? Don’t forget to give it a star rating below!

Cinnamon swirl bread slice on plate.

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