Cinnamon Swirl Bread Recipe (2024)

Published: Last Updated: by Marye 1752 words. | About 9 minutes to read this article.

Sweet, tender cinnamon bread with a gooey swirl and buttery vanilla glaze is just right for breakfast or as a snack anytime. Raisins optional. Some baking experience needed

Prep Time 30 minutes mins

Cook Time 30 minutes mins

Rising 2 hours hrs 15 minutes mins

Total Time 3 hours hrs 15 minutes mins

Jump to Recipe

Nothing makes the whole house smell better than homemade bread baking in the oven!

Cinnamon Swirl Bread Recipe (1)
Table of Contents
  • ❤️ Why you'll love it
  • 🧾 Ingredients
  • 🥫 Storage
  • 📖Variations
  • 💭 Tips
  • 👩‍🍳 FAQs
  • 📚 Related recipes
  • 🍽️ Serve with...
  • 📞 The last word
  • 📖 Recipe
  • 💬 Comments

❤️ Why you'll love it

Homemade cinnamon bread is an easy white bread with a gooey cinnamon and sugar swirl in the center.

My recipe is topped with more cinnamon and a thick blanket of buttery vanilla glaze to make it extra special. You can add raisins or dried cranberries if you like them.

Be sure to read to the end where I share how to get your bread to rise into the big, soft billowy loaves you love.

🧾 Ingredients

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🥫 Storage

Homemade bread is best the first day but you can wrap it tightly in plastic wrap and store at room temperature for up to 3 days.

You can freeze this delicious cinnamon bread for up to 4 months.

📖Variations

  • substitute instant yeast - just skip the proofing step and add the yeast in with the dry ingredients
  • you can use non-dairy milk, low fat milk, or whole milk in place of the buttermilk - just omit the baking soda
  • add ½ to 1 cup of raisins to the dough
  • or ½ to 1 cup dried cranberries
  • add a little vanilla extract to enhance the sweet flavor
  • after the dough is rolled up cut into slices for cinnamon rolls. Let rise and bake 15 minutes.
  • use brown sugar in the cinnamon filling instead of white sugar
  • it makes the BEST French toast ever

💭 Tips

Expert Tip: Knead in ½ cup or so of raisins for old fashioned cinnamon raisin bread. You can also just sprinkle them on the cinnamon sugar mixture before rolling.

  • This is a very similar dough to my "never fail Buttermilk bread recipe". If you follow the instructions it will work - period.
  • Make sure to let the dough rise in a warm place to rise. If it's too cool it will take a longer time.
  • It's important to roll the bread tightly when you are shaping the loaf. If you roll it too loosely it will separate as you slice it - it'll still be good, though.
  • Sometimes the bread and the swirl separate just because life happens. Don't worry about it - it's still delicious and, look at you, you've created bread!
  • You can mix an egg yolk and a teaspoon of water and brush it lightly on the dough before adding the cinnamon and sugar mixture. Sometimes that helps the layers stick together better.
  • If the crust seems to be browning too fast cover it lightly with aluminum foil.

👩‍🍳 FAQs

Do you have to use buttermilk?

It's not hard to find a cinnamon yeast bread recipe on the Internet. There are plenty of them and they are good but when you add buttermilk the texture of the crumb becomes pillowy soft and it just takes the cinnamon swirl bread right over the top. Really, you have to try this!

What if I don't have buttermilk?

If you really need to use regular milk just omit the baking soda and substitute the milk in equal measure for the buttermilk.

What is the best cinnamon for cinnamon bread?

I really like Vietnamese cinnamon but if you can find Korintje it is really deliciously flavorful.

Can I freeze cinnamon bread?

Yes, you can. Don't glaze it, though. Let it cool to room temperature then wrap it tightly and freeze for up to 3 months. I like to slice it before freezing and add parchment paper between the slices to keep them from sticking together. That way when I want a slice of toast I don't have to thaw the entire loaf.

Once you start making this homemade cinnamon bread recipe you'll be hooked!

I love, love, love making bread. Here are some of my family's favorite recipes.

  • Basic white bread is perfect for beginning bakers. It's simple, with step by step images, and comes out light and fluffy!
  • Sometimes you just need big, fluffy, homemade cinnamon rolls!
  • Yeast donuts are easier to make that you might think and they're good with powdered sugar, sugar, glazed, or cinnamon topping!
  • Try this easy Crockpot cinnamon raisin bread - no kneading!
  • This honey bun twist is a vintage recipe that's perfect for brunch.
  • Best Food Processor for Bread Dough
  • Quick Breads vs Yeast Bread
  • Homemade Dough Enhancer

🍽️ Serve with...

How about these easy egg bites with a buttery slice of cinnamon bread toast on the side?

Finish up with a hot caramel latte.

Cinnamon Swirl Bread Recipe (6)

📞 The last word

Next time try this Mexican Day of the Dead Bread. It's traditionally served the first week of November but the slightly sweet flavor is delicious any time!

The one thing that gives people the most trouble with bread dough is getting bread to rise properly. Usually it's something simple. Here are my favorite ways to get those big, puffly loaves -

  • Make sure the dough is in a warm spot (at lest 75F) with no drafts.
  • You can put it in a cold oven with a bowl of boiling water on the rack beneath it and leave the light on.
  • Check out one of these ingredients that will help your bread rise, too.

Get ready to wow your family! This cinnamon swirl loaf is so good! It makes any day a special one.

And the cinnamon toast is out of this world!

If you click on the number of servings in the recipe card you can adjust the measurements up or down for the exact number of servings you need. Don't forget that you can click on "add to collection" to save it to your own, private recipe box!

If you love this recipe please give it 5 stars!⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

📖 Recipe

Cinnamon Swirl Bread Recipe (7)

4.73 from 36 votes

Old Fashioned Cinnamon Bread

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Sweet, tender cinnamon bread with a gooey swirl and buttery vanilla glaze is just right for breakfast or as a snack anytime. Raisins optional. Some baking experience needed

Course Bread

Cuisine Amercian Heritage

Prep Time: 30 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 30 minutes minutes

Rising: 2 hours hours 15 minutes minutes

Total Time: 3 hours hours 15 minutes minutes

Servings:24 slices

Calories:234

Author:Marye Audet-White

Ingredients

  • 2 packages active dry yeast, I usually use 2 tablespoons because I buy in bulk
  • Pinch of powdered ginger
  • 1 teaspoon sugar
  • ¼ cup warm water, (110F)
  • 2 cups warm buttermilk, (110F)
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • ½ cup sugar
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • ¾ teaspoon baking soda
  • 6 cups white bread flour, divided use
  • ¼ cup butter, melted and cooled so that it is warm to the touch but not hot.
  • ½ cup raisins, optional - more or less - see notes below

Filling

  • ¼ cup butter, melted
  • ½ cup sugar
  • 3 tablespoons cinnamon, more or less, to taste. I like A LOT of cinnamon!

Glaze

  • 1 cup confectioners sugar
  • ¼ cup butter, melted
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • Cream , as needed for consistency

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Instructions

  • In a medium sized bowl mix the yeast, ginger, sugar, and warm water.

  • Set aside for 5 minutes or until foamy.

  • Whisk the buttermilk, vanilla, ½ cup sugar, salt, and baking soda together and add it to the yeast mixture.

  • Add three cups of flour and mix until smooth, about 3 to 5 minutes on low of a stand mixer.

  • Pour in the lukewarm butter until it is totally mixed into the batter.

  • Add the rest of the flour, one cup at a time, keeping mixer on low speed.

  • When dough pulls from the sides of the bowl remove it from the mixer to a lightly floured surface. Knead until elastic and smooth.

  • You can also knead in your mixer according to manufacturer's directions.

  • Place in greased bowl, turn to grease the top, and cover with a clean tea towel.

  • Allow the dough to rise for 1 ½ hours, or until double.

  • Punch down.

  • Divide into two equal sized balls.

  • Roll each out into a 8-inch wide rectangle about 10 inches long.

  • Brush each with the ¼ cup melted butter.

  • Mix the ½ cup sugar and the cinnamon together until evenly colored.

  • Spread over the dough rectangles, reserving about 2 tablespoons of the mixture.

  • Roll each loaf tightly and place into greased loaf pans.

  • Use a pastry brush to coat the tops with melted butter and sprinkle with the reserved cinnamon mixture.

  • Cover loosely with a clean tea towel and allow to rise for 45 minutes, or until it is just about the tops of the bread pans.

  • Preheat oven to 400F.

  • Bake for 30 minutes. You can cover the tops with foil if they brown too fast.

  • Remove loaves from oven.

  • Allow to cool in pans for 10 minutes.

  • Gently run a knife around the edge between the bread and the pan to loosen it.

  • Turn out and top with the glaze.

  • Cool completely on a rack.

  • Cover the loaves as they cool if you want soft crusts.

Glaze

  • Mix the confectioners sugar, melted butter and vanilla until smooth.

  • Add a little cream or milk to thin it if needed.

Notes

  • If you'd like to add raisins to this recipe you can knead ½ cup or so of raisins right into the dough. If you prefer them to be in the cinnamon swirl just sprinkle them on top of the sugar mixture before rolling up the loaf.
  • Dried cranberries are delicious in place of the raisins above.
  • This is the same basic dough as my "never fail Buttermilk bread recipe". If you follow the instructions it will work - period.
  • It's important to roll the bread tightly when you are shaping the loaf. If you roll it too loosely it will separate as you slice it - it'll still be good, though.
  • Substitute brown sugar for the white sugar in the filling for a sweeter flavor.
  • Sometimes the bread and the swirl separate just because life happens. Don't worry about it - it's still delicious and, look at you, you've created bread!
  • You can mix an egg yolk and a teaspoon of water and brush it lightly on the dough before adding the cinnamon and sugar mixture. Sometimes that helps the layers stick together better.
  • If the crust seems to be browning too fast cover it lightly with aluminum foil.
  • You can also make cinnamon rolls out of this recipe, just follow the instructions until you've rolled the dough and cinnamon up. Then cut the loaf into about 8 slices horizontally, let rise, and bake them for about 15 minutes.

You'll find more helpful tips and variations in the body of the post.

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 1slice | Calories: 234kcal | Carbohydrates: 38g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 17mg | Sodium: 204mg | Potassium: 68mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 15g | Vitamin A: 213IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 39mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutrition information is estimated as a courtesy. If using for medical purposes, please verify information using your own nutritional calculator. Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

First published March 2016. Last updated January 17, 2022 for readability and structure.

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About Marye

Meet Marye Audet, a wizard in the kitchen and a storyteller at heart. Marye is like your eccentric but fun aunt who knows all the secret recipes and isn't afraid to spill them. She's been around the culinary block more than once, turning simple ingredients into mouthwatering masterpieces. With a sprinkle of humor and a dash of wit, she makes cooking feel like a piece of cake (which she can also teach you to bake perfectly). When she's not conjuring up delicious dishes, you might find her sharing laughs with her family, reading by the fire, or scribbling down her next big recipe idea. Marye believes that a good meal and a hearty laugh are the best parts of life. Marye's a NY Times Bestselling author with 10 cookbooks under her belt and her recipes have been featured in Good Housekeeping, Country Living, Today, House Beautiful, Texas Living, Food & Wine, and many more.

Reader Interactions

Comments

    Leave a Reply

  1. Kim

    The cinnamon rolls were very good.
    I think I will add nuts and raisins next time to the cinnamon mixture

    Reply

  2. Maureen Kleditz

    Cinnamon Swirl Bread Recipe (12)
    First let me say this was delicious! I wasn’t sure about using 2Tablespoons of yeast so I only used 1, other than that I followed the recipe as written. I’m wondering if I should have used 2?, it seemed like it may be a typo? Please let me know!

    Reply

    • Marye

      Hi Maureen. The recipe is correct as written.

      Reply

  3. Pam

    Cinnamon Swirl Bread Recipe (13)
    This was alot easier than I expected and turned out delicous. Could this be made and sit for about 12 hours on the first rise, or would it be better to do the rise and then once its in the pans just refridgerate and bake the next day. If goes in refridgerator, should you then put in a warm place to rise for 45 min to bake. I am very new to yeast bread making. Thanks for all the wonderful recipes

    Reply

  4. Kathleen M.

    Hi Marye - can you shape the loves, place in bread pans and refrigerate overnight before baking? Thanks very much!

    Reply

    • Marye

      yes you can

      Reply

  5. Donna

    Cinnamon Swirl Bread Recipe (14)
    This is awesome cinnamon raisin bread. But I do have a question. Since you recommend using glass pans and I only have my heavy aluminum pans. Do I raise the temperature by 25°? This is what I was always taught in 4-H that when you use a glass pan it is 25° cooler than a metal pan. So I’m going to assume I just reverse that.

    Reply

    • Marye

      Yes that's a good practice to be safe. Saying that, I never-ever change the temperatures. I just watch more carefully.

      Reply

  6. Corey Glenn

    Would I be able to divide this up into mini loaves for gifts and how many do you think it would make? Thanks...Love everything you print!!!

    Reply

  7. Rose

    Do you think this be mixed in a bread machine?

    Reply

    • Marye

      Possibly? I don't have a bread machine so I am not familiar with the technique.

      Reply

  8. Susan Sims

    Cinnamon Swirl Bread Recipe (15)
    First, thank you for your service to our country! Great recipe! I halved it and tried my hand with one loaf. I used hydrated golden raisins and used the raisin water to proof the yeast. I kneaded some raisins in the dough and sprinkled some on the filling. I also used your egg yolk tip. Put it on dough, then butter, etc. My loaf stayed perfectly intact. I baked at 350 for 40 mins to internal temp of 195. It turned out fantastic and my hubby loves it. Thanks for this easy recipe!

    Reply

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Cinnamon Swirl Bread Recipe (2024)

FAQs

How to know when cinnamon bread is done? ›

To test for doneness, if you gently tap on the loaf, it should sound hollow. For a more accurate test, the bread is done when an instant-read thermometer inserted into the center of the loaf registers 195–200°F (90–93°C).

What are the ingredients in Pepperidge Farm cinnamon swirl bread? ›

MADE FROM: ENRICHED WHEAT FLOUR (FLOUR, NIACIN, REDUCED IRON, THIAMINE MONONITRATE, RIBOFLAVIN, FOLIC ACID), SUGAR, WATER, YEAST, VEGETABLE OILS (SOYBEAN AND/OR CANOLA), CINNAMON, WHEAT GLUTEN, CONTAINS 2% OR LESS OF: SALT, DEXTROSE, MONOGLYCERIDES, DATEM, CALCIUM PROPIONATE AND SORBIC ACID TO EXTEND FRESHNESS, ...

Why did my cinnamon swirl bread separate? ›

Sugar is hygroscopic, meaning it attracts water. As the dough proofs, the cinnamon-sugar filling encased inside starts to melt and liquefy. If there's not another ingredient mixed into the filling, the liquid begins to seep out of the swirl, leaving behind a gap and pooling in the bottom of your pan.

How long to bake krusteaz cinnamon swirl in a loaf pan? ›

Q: Can this be baked in a loaf pan? Yes, but you have to bake longer. One site shows to bake at 350 F for 38 to 42 minutes.

How do you know when homemade bread is done? ›

Look for edges that are pulling away from the sides of your pan, a golden color, and internal temperature of 190°. A crack running vertically in the middle of the bread is absolutely okay, but be sure it doesn't look too wet or runny inside.

How do you know if cinnamon roll dough has risen enough? ›

Physically test your dough with the poke test

Lightly flour your finger and poke the dough down about 1". If the indent stays, it's ready to bake. If it pops back out, give it a bit more time. The poke test is especially helpful for free-form breads like cinnamon rolls.

Is pepperidge farm cinnamon swirl bread healthy? ›

One or more ingredients in this product derived from animals likely treated with antibiotics. Many animals are fed low doses of antibiotics throughout their lifespan to speed growth and prevent diseases. These non-essential uses promote antibiotic resistance, posing a serious risk to human health.

Who makes cinnamon swirl bread? ›

Thomas'® Cinnamon Swirl Bread | Thomas' Breads.

Can you use regular flour instead of bread flour? ›

You can always substitute all-purpose flour for bread flour one for one in any recipe that calls for it. Your bread might not raise quite as high or have quite as much chew, if you are using all-purpose flour, but it will still be delicious and homemade and all the good things.

What is the best yeast for bread making? ›

Active Dry Yeast is an ideal yeast to use for artisan breads or no knead breads that require a slower rise time. It's also the preferred type of yeast for those doughs that proof in the refrigerator for extended periods of time.

What's the difference between a cinnamon swirl and a bun? ›

Unlike cinnamon rolls, bakers do not add icing or frosting after baking. Structurally, cinnamon buns share the same spiral shape. They are sometimes thinner and more delicate. The most significant difference between cinnamon rolls and cinnamon buns is the inclusion of nuts.

Can you double a Krusteaz cinnamon swirl? ›

Quickly and Easily Double a Krusteaz Recipe

Prepare two boxes of Krusteaz mix (works for cornbread, crumb cake, and muffin mixes). Bake as directed for a single batch, adding an additional 3-5 minutes.

Can you make krusteaz cinnamon swirl without eggs? ›

In place of 1 large egg, use 3 tablespoons of aquafaba, ¼ cup of mashed banana, 1 tablespoon of either chia or flax seeds mixed with 3 tablespoons of water, ¼ cup of puréed tofu, 2 tablespoons of arrowroot mixed with 3 tablespoons of water, ¼ cup of yogurt, ¼ cup of sparkling water, ¼ cup of applesauce, or 3 ...

Will a cake mix fit in a loaf pan? ›

You can bake cake mix in loaf pans. Grease and flour the bottom only and bake at 325 to 350 for 35 to 55 minutes depending on the pan size. One 9x5 loaf pan will be very full and will bake for 50 minutes +. You can use two 8x4-inch pans and start checking for doneness at around 35 minutes.

Should cinnamon rolls be a little doughy? ›

Don't over bake them: I think we can all agree that the best part of a cinnamon roll is the gooey, slightly under baked center. It's a fine line between over baked and too doughy, so keep an eye on them in the last 10 minutes of baking and remember that they will continue to bake as they cool!

Should cinnamon rolls touch when baking? ›

Place the cinnamon rolls into your prepared pan, with little room between each roll and ½ inch from the edge of the pan. Lightly press down on each roll so that the edges of each roll barely touch each other, and improve their round form if needed.

How to tell when cinnamon rolls are done on Reddit? ›

Cinnamon rolls should be golden brown on top (as a matter of fact, I usually have to cover them with foil so they can cook thoroughly.) To check if dough is done you should have a thermometer and bred is done between 190°f-195°f.

Can you re-bake undercooked bread? ›

In most situations, an undercooked loaf of bread can be fixed by returning it to the oven for a few more minutes. This is true for loaves where the outside of your bread may look fully set, but the inside of the bread is still gummy. Place the loaf back in a preheated oven at 350° F for 10-20 minutes.

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