Easy Cinnamon Swirl Bread

Calling all cinnamon lovers! This recipe is for a classic Cinnamon Swirl Bread that’s easy to make and delivers bakery-worthy results. It’s perfect for a special breakfast treat, afternoon snack, or even a sweet ending to a cozy dinner.

Gather Your Ingredients:

Here’s what you’ll need to create this delightful swirled masterpiece:

• For the Dough:
  • Bread flour (3 ¼ cups or 390 grams) – all-purpose flour works too!
  • Granulated sugar (¼ cup or 50 grams)
  • Salt (½ teaspoon)
  • Instant yeast (2 ¼ teaspoons)
  • Butter (6 tablespoons)
  • Milk (¼ cup or 60 ml) – whole milk, nut milk, or even water works!
  • Water (60 ml)
  • Eggs (2)
• For the Cinnamon Swirl:
  • Granulated sugar
  • Ground cinnamon

Baking Up a Batch of Swirly Goodness:

1. Dry Ingredients Unite: In the bowl of your stand mixer, whisk together the bread flour (or all-purpose flour), sugar, and salt. This ensures even distribution throughout the dough.
2. Heating Up the Wet Ingredients: In a separate small pan, melt your butter over medium-low heat with the milk and water. Heat this mixture gently until it reaches 130 degrees Fahrenheit (use a thermometer for accuracy).
3. Activating the Yeast: Once the wet ingredients reach the right temperature, pour the mixture into a measuring cup. Add the yeast to your flour mixture and then slowly pour in the warm milk mixture. Start by mixing on low speed for a second, then increase the speed to medium and mix for 10 to 12 minutes. The goal is to achieve a soft and elastic dough.
4. First Rise: Now that you have a beautiful ball of dough, place it back in your mixing bowl. Cover the bowl and find a warm, draft-free place for your dough to rise for about an hour, or until it doubles in size. Patience is key here!
5. Prepare for the Swirl: While the dough is rising, preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and grease your loaf pan. Once the dough has doubled in size, punch it down gently and place it on a lightly floured surface (like a pastry mat).
6. Rolling Out the Dough: Use a rolling pin to roll out the dough into a large rectangle, ideally 9 inches by 15 inches.
7. Creating the Cinnamon Sugar: In a small bowl, combine your sugar and cinnamon. This will be the magical swirl filling.
8. Assembling the Swirl: Sprinkle the cinnamon sugar mixture over your rolled-out dough, leaving a small border bare along one of the shorter edges. Think of it like a picture frame for your cinnamon goodness!.
9. Swirling Up the Magic: Starting from the long edge (opposite the bare border), carefully and gently roll up the dough into a spiral. Pinch the seam and ends of the dough to seal everything in. Place the dough, seam side down, into your greased loaf pan [0]. Cover the pan with plastic wrap and let the dough rise again for another 45 minutes, or until it doubles in size once more.
10. Baking Time! Pop your loaf pan with the risen dough into the preheated oven and bake for about an hour. You’ll know it’s done when the top is golden brown and domed. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center of the bread should register 195 degrees Fahrenheit for a perfect bake.
11. Cooling Down: Let the bread cool in the pan for a bit before slicing and serving. This allows it to set properly and ensures clean, beautiful slices.

Tips for a Perfect Swirl:

• Don’t overwork the dough when rolling it out. A gentle touch is key.
• When shaping the swirl, avoid rolling it too tightly. This can prevent the dough from rising properly during the second rise.
• A little water can act as a handy “glue” to help seal the seam of your dough roll.
• Feel free to experiment with different flavors! You can add a teaspoon of vanilla extract to the dough or include chopped nuts in the cinnamon sugar mixture.

With this recipe, you can create a delicious and impressive Cinnamon Swirl Bread that everyone will love. So preheat your oven, gather your ingredients, and get ready to swirl up some magic in your own kitchen!

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