Description
Soft and fluffy homemade bread featuring a sweet cinnamon-sugar swirl, perfect for breakfast, toasting, or gifting to loved ones. This classic Cinnamon Swirl Bread combines the comforting flavors of cinnamon and sugar within a tender, golden loaf.
Ingredients
For Bread:
- 3 cups bread flour
- 1 cup warm milk
- 2 1/4 tsp active dry yeast
- 3 tbsp sugar
- 3 tbsp butter, melted
- 1 large egg
- 1 tsp salt
Cinnamon Filling:
- 1/3 cup brown sugar
- 1 tbsp ground cinnamon
- 2 tbsp melted butter
Instructions
- Activate Yeast: Combine the warm milk, sugar, and yeast in a bowl. Stir gently and let it sit for about 5-10 minutes until the mixture becomes foamy, indicating the yeast is active.
- Make Dough: In a large mixing bowl, combine the bread flour and salt. Add the foamy yeast mixture, the egg, and melted butter. Mix until a rough dough forms, then knead by hand or with a stand mixer for about 8 minutes until smooth and elastic.
- First Rise: Place the kneaded dough in a lightly greased bowl, cover with a clean kitchen towel or plastic wrap, and let it rise in a warm place for about 1 hour, or until it doubles in size.
- Prepare Filling: While the dough is rising, mix the brown sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl. Melt the butter separately for spreading.
- Roll Out Dough and Add Filling: After the first rise, punch down the dough and roll it out on a floured surface into a rectangle shape approximately 12×15 inches. Brush the melted butter evenly over the dough, then sprinkle the cinnamon-sugar mixture on top.
- Shape the Loaf: Starting from one long edge, tightly roll the dough into a log shape, pinching the seam closed to seal the cinnamon filling inside.
- Second Rise: Place the rolled dough into a greased loaf pan, cover, and let it rise again for 30 minutes until puffy.
- Bake: Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Bake the loaf for 30 to 35 minutes until the crust is golden brown and the bread sounds hollow when tapped.
- Cool and Serve: Remove the bread from the oven and loosen it from the pan. Let it cool on a wire rack before slicing to allow the swirl to set and flavors to develop.
Notes
- You can add raisins or chopped nuts to the cinnamon filling for extra texture and flavor.
- This bread makes excellent French toast when sliced and soaked in egg mixture.
- Ensure milk is warm, not hot, to prevent killing the yeast.
- Store leftover bread wrapped tightly to maintain freshness.
- Prep Time: 20 mins
- Cook Time: 30 mins
- Category: Bread
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
