Homemade Cinnamon Swirl Bread is a yeast-raised bread featuring soft white bread with beautiful swirls of sweet cinnamon-sugar. Slice into soft warm bread with your morning coffee or whip up some epic French toast with it.
Cinnamon Swirl Bread
This Homemade Cinnamon Swirl Bread is a soft, white bread with cinnamon-spiced swirls. Slicing into it and slathering butter on is a little bit like heaven.
Cinnamon swirl bread is a little bit like cinnamon rolls, but not quite as rich. It has that spicy cinnamon smell mingling, of course, with the smell of freshly baked bread, with just the right amount of sweetness that we don't have to call it cake.
What makes this cinnamon swirl bread the BEST? Well, I hate when it falls apart or gaps, and this one won't! It stays together and the swirls stick to the bread, so no gaps.
Now if you're one of those people (like me!) who likes to unravel the bread and eat it in a spiral strip, this bread is still for you. You can totally do it yourself still, but the bread won't do it unless you want it to!
This cinnamon swirl bread is a family favorite, and I know it will become your new family favorite too!
Instant Yeast vs. Active Dry Yeast
Active Dry Yeast is a dry yeast that needs to be activated prior to use (with methods such as warm milk or water with sugar).
Instant Yeast is any dry yeast that is ready to use the instant you open the package. No activation required. To use instant yeast instead of active, simply add the yeast directly to the dough mixture (like after step 2 of this recipe) instead of dissolving in warm liquid.
Why Do the Ingredients Need to be Warm?
Yeast activates at about 100°F-115°F, so to activate the yeast and have the best, fluffiest, softest bread, it's important to bring the water and milk to that temperature.
This is probably easiest in a saucepan with a candy thermometer attached to the pot. It doesn't take long, so watch closely.
Why Does Cinnamon Swirl Bread Separate?
The most common reasons for separating and gapping in cinnamon swirl bread is
- Rolling too loosely.
- Not having a binder between the cinnamon-sugar mixture and the bread.
But don't worry! This recipe covers those problems!
How to Keep Cinnamon Swirl Bread from Gapping
In this recipe, we egg wash the bread dough before adding the cinnamon-sugar mixture. The egg acts as a binder that keeps the bread from gapping, separating, or falling apart!
AND we also add a little bit of flour to the cinnamon sugar mixture that the egg can bind to. With these two ingredients binding for dear life, you'll have perfectly swirled cinnamon swirl bread without gaps or separating.
Can I Add Raisins to My Cinnamon Swirl Bread?
Yes. Sprinkle about ⅓ cup on each loaf after adding the cinnamon-sugar mixture.
How to Serve Cinnamon Swirl Bread
Cinnamon swirl bread is delicious when served toasted.
Try slathering it in butter, honey (or this honey cinnamon butter), or cream cheese (or a flavored cream cheese like cinnamon, pecan, or blueberry).
It also makes excellent French toast and French toast casseroles.
More Bread Recipes You'll Love
- Cinnamon Swirl Coffee Cake Loaf - a cinnamon swirl quick bread with no yeast required.
- Southern Buttermilk Biscuits - super fluffy, mile-high biscuits with a soft buttery flavor.
- Southern Skillet Cornbread - easy classic cornbread recipe made in a cast-iron skillet.
- Cheddar Bay Biscuits - garlic cheddar quick-bread drop biscuits. So easy to make, and there are never any leftovers.
- Pumpkin Bread with Cinnamon Topping - classic pumpkin bread with a crunchy cinnamon-oat topping.
Cinnamon Swirl Bread Video
Cinnamon Swirl Bread
Ingredients
- 2 packages active dry yeast (0.25 ounces each)
- ⅓ cup warm water (110-115°F)
- 1 cup warm milk (110-115°F)
- ½ cup sugar
- 2 large eggs room temperature
- 6 tablespoons butter softened
- 1½ teaspoons salt
- 5½ to 6½ cups all purpose flour
For the Filling
- ½ cup sugar
- 3 tablespoons cinnamon
- 2 tablespoons flour
- 1 large egg
- 1 tablespoon water
Instructions
- In a large bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water.
- Add milk, sugar, eggs, butter, salt and 3 cups flour. Beat on medium speed until smooth.
- Stir in enough remaining flour to form a soft dough.
- Turn dough onto a floured surface. Knead until smooth and elastic, 6-8 minutes.
- Place in a greased bowl, turning once to grease the top. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 1 hour.
- Mix cinnamon, sugar, and flour in a separate small mixing bowl. In a separate small mixing bowl, whisk together egg and water. Set aside.
- Punch down dough. Turn onto a lightly floured surface. Divide in half. Roll each portion into an 18x8-inch rectangle.
- Brush each rectangle with the beaten egg mixture.
- Sprinkle each rectangle with half of the cinnamon sugar mixture to within ½ in. of edges.
- Roll up jelly-roll style, starting with a short side. Pinch seam to seal.
- Place in 2 greased 9x5-in. loaf pans, seam side down.
- Cover with kitchen towels, and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 1-½ hours.
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- Bake until golden brown, 30-35 minutes. Remove from pans to wire racks to cool.
Notes
- Storage: Store bread in a plastic bag at room temperature (or in refrigerator) for up to 5 days. You can also slice and freeze the bread for toast.
- Freezer Directions: You can slice the bread and freeze it in slices or freeze a whole loaf. Just make sure it's wrapped well to avoid freezer burn. You can thaw by letting sit at room temperature or toasting it in the toaster.
Nutrition
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Tayler Ross says
I made this bread this morning and OMG was it delicious! The swirl is perfect and it tastes amazing!
Kelley says
This was so easy to make and so impressive! Thank you for sharing!
dana says
My kiddo loves this bread! Has been eating it for breakfast every day since I made it. I think I'll be making it again VERY soon 😉
Mirlene says
Loved this cinnamon bread! Tastes so delicious and its a good way to have a sweet treat any time of the day.
Aimee Mars says
Pairing this with my coffee has made the back to school early mornings a little sweeter. Thank you for sharing!
Jere Cassidy says
This was interesting you used an egg wash and not butter on the dough, but it works great and I had a beautiful roll.
Claudia Lamascolo says
Perfect and easy fall breads are pure comfort food we loved it and will make it again!
Chenée says
Cinnamon swirl bread has always been one of my favorite breakfast treats, so I'm so glad I found this recipe so I can make it myself!
Claire says
These are so lovely and utterly delicious, a perfect treat with my morning coffee - I'll definitely be making this again!
Gina Abernathy says
This was so easy to make and so delicious! I love homemade bread. The cinnamon and sugar was a delightful addition.
Toni says
I love this bread!! Beautiful and tastes really amazing!!
Jen says
Such a beautiful and delicious bread! Thanks for this easy to follow recipe!
Tara says
Oh yum! I love that swirl of cinnamon through the bread. It looks so good. Such a delicious homemade bread.
Michaela says
This homemade cinnamon swirl bread looks so light, fluffy and fabulous! It is perfect for breakfast or even a snack.
dana says
Surprisingly easy to make! This turned our wonderfully. Thank you!
Kathleen says
I'm really glad this makes 2 loaves because that first loaf isn't going to last more than an hour in my house.
Whitney says
I am not sure my swirl will turn out as perfect as this but thank you for including the tips!
Suja md says
Every bite does indeed look amazing! All of the flavors are incredible.
Beth says
This bread is absolutely delicious. I made it this past Saturday and it was fantastic with just some butter. Then, I toasted it to go with breakfast on Sunday. Now I have to make more!
Carol says
Can this be made with white whole wheat flour?
Michelle says
I haven't tried it, but I know from swapping whole wheat flour in muffins and stuff that the moisture content usually needs to be adjusted. Whole wheat flour is much denser and will probably require more liquid.