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Freshly baked Homemade Cinnamon Swirl Bread sliced on a wooden board with visible cinnamon swirl.

Homemade Cinnamon Swirl Bread: 5 Irresistible Tricks for Perfect Texture


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  • Author: Olivia Reed
  • Total Time: 4 hours, 10 minutes
  • Yield: 1 loaf 1x

Description

This Homemade Cinnamon Swirl Bread is soft, fluffy, and packed with gooey cinnamon sugar in every bite. Perfect for breakfast, brunch, or a cozy treat, this bakery-style loaf is surprisingly easy to make at home. Includes pro tips, variations, and make-ahead options.


Ingredients

Scale

For the Dough:

  • ½ cup (120ml) warm water (about 110°F)

  • ½ cup (120ml) warm whole milk (about 110°F)

  • 2¼ teaspoons (7g) instant or active dry yeast

  • ¼ cup (50g) granulated sugar, divided

  • 4 tablespoons (56g) unsalted butter, softened

  • 3 cups (390g) bread flour, spooned and leveled

  • 1 teaspoon salt

For the Swirl:

  • 1 egg white, beaten

  • ¼ cup (50g) granulated sugar

  • 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

For the Topping:

  • 1 tablespoon (14g) unsalted butter, melted


Instructions

  1. Activate Yeast: In a stand mixer bowl, whisk warm water, warm milk, yeast, and 2 tbsp sugar. Let sit 5–10 minutes until frothy.

  2. Mix Dough: Add remaining sugar, butter, salt, and 1 cup of flour. Mix, then add remaining flour until dough pulls from the bowl. Adjust flour as needed for a soft, tacky dough.

  3. Knead: Knead dough in the mixer or by hand for 8–10 minutes until elastic and smooth.

  4. First Rise: Place dough in a greased bowl, cover, and let rise 1.5–2 hours or until doubled.

  5. Make Swirl: Mix cinnamon and sugar. Roll dough into an 8×20-inch rectangle. Brush with egg white and sprinkle cinnamon sugar, leaving a 1-inch border.

  6. Shape & Second Rise: Roll into a log, place seam-side down in a greased 9×5-inch loaf pan. Cover and let rise 1 hour.

  7. Bake: Brush loaf with melted butter. Bake at 350°F (177°C) for 35–45 minutes. Tent with foil if top browns too fast. Bread is done at 195–200°F.

  8. Cool: Cool in pan for a few minutes, then on a wire rack before slicing.

Notes

Overnight Option: Let the dough rise overnight in the fridge after kneading. Bring to room temperature before shaping.

Add-Ins: Add ¾ cup raisins, nuts, or chocolate chips to the cinnamon sugar.

Freezing: Freeze baked bread or unbaked dough for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge.

  • Prep Time: 3 hours, 30 minutes
  • Cook Time: 40 minutes
  • Category: Bread, Breakfast
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: American

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 slice
  • Calories: 210
  • Sugar: 9g
  • Sodium: 160mg
  • Fat: 7g
  • Saturated Fat: 4g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 2g
  • Trans Fat: 0g
  • Carbohydrates: 33g
  • Fiber: 1g
  • Protein: 4g
  • Cholesterol: 15mg