Description
This Homemade Cinnamon Swirl Bread is soft, buttery, and swirled with sweet cinnamon sugar. It’s the kind of comforting, golden loaf that fills your kitchen with warm aromas and your mornings with joy. Whether toasted, used for French toast, or enjoyed as-is, this sweet bread brings bakery vibes to your home kitchen—no advanced skills required.
Ingredients
For the Dough:
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1/2 cup warm water (120 ml)
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1/2 cup warm whole milk (120 ml)
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2 1/4 tsp instant or active dry yeast (7 g)
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1/4 cup granulated sugar, divided (50 g)
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4 tbsp unsalted butter, softened (56 g)
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3 cups bread flour, plus more as needed (390 g)
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1 tsp salt
For the Swirl and Topping:
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1 egg white, beaten
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1/4 cup granulated sugar (50 g)
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2 tsp ground cinnamon
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1 tbsp melted unsalted butter (14 g)
Instructions
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Activate Yeast: In a large bowl, mix warm water, milk, yeast, and 2 tbsp sugar. Let sit 5–10 minutes until foamy.
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Make Dough: Add remaining sugar, butter, 1 cup flour, and salt. Mix to combine. Gradually add the remaining flour until dough forms and pulls away from the bowl.
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Knead: Knead dough for 8–10 minutes until soft and elastic. Add extra flour if sticky. Check with windowpane test.
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First Rise: Place dough in a greased bowl. Cover and let rise for 1.5–2 hours until doubled.
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Shape the Loaf: Punch down dough. Roll into an 8×20 inch rectangle. Brush with egg white and sprinkle with cinnamon sugar.
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Roll: Tightly roll the dough into a log, seam-side down, and place in a greased 9×5 inch loaf pan.
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Second Rise: Let rise 1 hour, until loaf peaks 1 inch above pan edge.
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Bake: Preheat oven to 350°F (177°C). Brush top with melted butter. Bake 35–45 minutes, tent with foil halfway if browning too fast.
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Cool: Cool in pan for 10 minutes, then transfer to wire rack.
Notes
Whole milk makes the bread extra tender.
Bread flour gives the best chewy crumb, but all-purpose works too.
Add raisins or chopped nuts before rolling for variation.
Store slices in the freezer and reheat as needed.
Internal temp should reach 195–200°F to ensure doneness.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Bread
- Method: Baked
- Cuisine: American