The Best Cinnamon Swirl Bread

Bursting with gooey brown sugar and rich cinnamon flavor, this buttery soft cinnamon swirl bread is a breakfast favorite!

Cinnamon Swirl Bread Recipe

Next to campfires, my favorite smell in the entire world is bread! And this cinnamon swirl bread? Out. Of. This. World.

My family loves when I bake homemade cinnamon bread. It’s amazing fresh out of the oven, delicious toasted with butter and paired with cheese and veggie egg bake for breakfast, and makes lovely french toast.

Ingredients for Cinnamon Swirl Bread

• Warm water
• White sugar
• Active dry yeast
• Salt
• Vegetable oil
• Unbleached bread flour
• Cinnamon
• Brown Sugar

How to Make Cinnamon Swirl Bread

Baking a loaf of homemade bread is fulfilling and fun! Follow along with the simple steps shared below:

Step 1: Proof the Yeast

Dissolve the sugar in warm water. Add the yeast and allow it to proof until it resembles a creamy foam.

Related: The Best Chocolate Chip Muffins

Step 2: Add the Salt and Oil

Stir the salt and oil into the proofed yeast mixture with a spoon.

Step 3: Mix in the Flour

Add flour to the mixture, one cup at a time. I prefer to use a whisk to mix in the first 3 cups to ensure a smooth dough. I switch to a wooden spoon for the last 3 cups.

Step 4: Knead the Dough

Turn out the dough onto a lightly floured surface and knead it until smooth and elastic (about 10 minutes).

Step 5: Allow the Dough to Rise

Place the dough into a well-oiled bowl. Cover it with a damp cotton cloth or plastic wrap. Allow the dough to rise until doubled (about 1 hour).

Step 6: Divide the Dough

Punch down the dough and remove it from the bowl. Knead it for a few minutes, then divide it in half.

Roll out the dough and sprinkle it with brown sugar and cinnamon. (I don’t have measurements for you. Just do what feels right!)

After the dough is covered in brown sugar and cinnamon, roll it up and pinch the seams shut. Place the loaves onto a parchment paper lined cookie sheet and allow it to rise for 30 minutes.

Step 7: Bake the Bread

Beat 1 egg and 1 tablespoon of water together to make an egg wash. Brush the risen dough with the egg wash, then bake the bread at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.

Step 8: Cool the Bread

When the bread is finished baking, allow it to cool on a wire rack before slicing it and slathering with salted butter!

Easy Bread Machine Adaptation

To use your bread machine to make cinnamon swirl bread, simply half the recipe and place the ingredients into your bread machine according to the manufacturer’s directions. Set the bread machine to the dough cycle.

When the dough is ready, turn it out and bake as directed above.

Do you bake homemade bread for your family? Do you only prepare it for special occasions, or do you bake a daily loaf? I hope that someday when my boys are grown, the scent of homemade bread will remind them of me!