Introduction

Cinnamon Swirl Bread is a delightful treat that fills your kitchen with the warm aroma of cinnamon and sugar. This soft, tender bread with its sweet swirled filling is perfect for breakfast or an afternoon snack. Easy to make at home, it’s a comforting classic everyone will love.

The image shows a close-up of a cinnamon swirl bread slice with a thick, soft texture and light golden-brown edges. The bread has multiple layers, with the outermost layer being light tan and fluffy, and the inner layers showing a spiral of dark brown cinnamon sugar tightly rolled inside, creating a contrast with the creamy beige dough. In the background, the loaf of bread is placed on a white marbled surface with a gray and white striped cloth underneath. The focus is on the front slice, highlighting the swirl detail, while the rest of the loaf is blurred. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Ingredients

3 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 cup granulated sugar
2 1/4 teaspoons active dry yeast
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup warm water
2 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
2 tablespoons ground cinnamon
1/2 cup granulated sugar

Instructions

Step 1: Activate the yeast by dissolving it in warm water with a pinch of sugar. Let it sit for 5 minutes until frothy.
Step 2: In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, 1/4 cup sugar, salt, and softened butter.
Step 3: Pour the activated yeast mixture into the bowl with the dry ingredients. Mix until a soft dough forms.
Step 4: Transfer the dough to a floured surface and knead for 5-7 minutes until smooth and elastic.
Step 5: Place the dough in a greased bowl, cover with a clean kitchen towel, and let it rise for 1 hour or until doubled in size.
Step 6: Roll out the risen dough into a rectangle on a lightly floured surface.
Step 7: In a small bowl, mix the ground cinnamon and 1/2 cup sugar together.
Step 8: Sprinkle the cinnamon-sugar mixture evenly over the dough.
Step 9: Starting from one short end, roll the dough tightly into a log.
Step 10: Place the rolled dough into a greased loaf pan, cover it, and let it rise for another 30-45 minutes.
Step 11: Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C).
Step 12: Bake the bread for 35-40 minutes or until golden brown and cooked through.
Step 13: Remove the bread from the pan and let it cool on a wire rack.
Step 14: Slice and enjoy the warm, fragrant Cinnamon Swirl Bread.

Tips & Variations

For a richer flavor, brush the dough with melted butter before sprinkling the cinnamon sugar.
Add chopped nuts like pecans or walnuts inside the swirl for extra crunch.
Use brown sugar instead of white sugar in the cinnamon mixture for a deeper caramel flavor.
Make mini cinnamon swirl rolls by cutting the rolled dough into pieces and baking in a muffin tin.

Storage

Store the bread tightly wrapped at room temperature for up to 3 days or in the refrigerator for up to a week. To keep it fresh longer, freeze the sliced bread in an airtight bag for up to 3 months. Reheat slices in a toaster or microwave for a warm, soft treat.

How to Serve

The image shows three thick slices of cinnamon swirl bread placed slightly overlapping on a dark wooden board. Each slice has visible layers with a golden brown crust surrounding soft, light beige bread swirled with dark brown cinnamon sugar layers inside. The inside texture looks soft and fluffy with an even spread of the cinnamon mixture forming a spiral pattern. The background is a white marbled surface with cinnamon sticks and scattered spices nearby. photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.

FAQs

Can I use instant yeast instead of active dry yeast?

Yes, you can substitute instant yeast for active dry yeast. Use the same amount, but you can mix it directly with the dry ingredients without dissolving in water first.

How do I know when the bread is fully baked?

The bread is done when it is golden brown and sounds hollow when tapped on the bottom. You can also check with a food thermometer; it should read about 190°F (88°C) inside.

Cinnamon Swirl Bread Recipe

Print Recipe

★★★★★

4.9 from 69 reviews

This Cinnamon Swirl Bread recipe creates a soft, fluffy homemade bread swirled with a sweet cinnamon and sugar filling. Perfect for breakfast or an afternoon treat, this bread combines the comforting flavors of cinnamon with a light, tender crumb. Made with simple pantry ingredients and baked to golden perfection, it is an inviting way to enjoy a classic cinnamon swirl bread at home.

Author: Marco
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 40 minutes
Total Time: 2 hours 40 minutes
Yield: 1 loaf (about 10–12 slices) 1x
Category: Bread
Method: Baking
Cuisine: American

Ingredients

Scale

Dough Ingredients

3 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 cup granulated sugar
2 1/4 teaspoons active dry yeast
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup warm water
2 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened

Filling Ingredients

2 tablespoons ground cinnamon
1/2 cup granulated sugar

Instructions

Activate the yeast: Dissolve the active dry yeast in warm water with a pinch of granulated sugar. Let it sit for 5 minutes until the mixture becomes frothy, indicating the yeast is active and ready to use.
Mix dry ingredients and butter: In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, 1/4 cup granulated sugar, and salt. Add the softened butter and mix evenly to distribute.
Combine dough ingredients: Pour the activated yeast mixture into the dry ingredients and stir until a soft dough forms.
Knead the dough: Transfer the dough to a floured surface and knead for 5-7 minutes until the texture becomes smooth and elastic, which helps develop the gluten structure for good bread texture.
First rise: Place the dough in a greased bowl, cover it with a clean kitchen towel, and let it rise in a warm place for 1 hour or until it has doubled in size.
Roll out dough: Once risen, punch down the dough and roll it out on a lightly floured surface into a rectangle shape.
Prepare cinnamon-sugar filling: Mix together the ground cinnamon and 1/2 cup granulated sugar in a small bowl until well combined.
Apply filling: Evenly sprinkle the cinnamon-sugar mixture over the surface of the rolled-out dough.
Form the loaf: Starting from one short end of the rectangle, roll the dough tightly into a log shape to create the cinnamon swirls inside.
Second rise: Place the rolled dough into a greased loaf pan, cover it, and let it rise again for 30-45 minutes until puffed up.
Preheat oven: Set the oven temperature to 350°F (175°C) to prepare for baking.
Bake the bread: Bake the loaf in the preheated oven for 35-40 minutes, or until the crust is golden brown and the bread is cooked through.
Cool and serve: Remove the bread from the pan and allow it to cool on a wire rack. Slice and enjoy the warm, fragrant cinnamon swirl bread fresh.

Notes

Make sure the water used for activating yeast is warm, about 100-110°F (37-43°C), to properly activate the yeast without killing it.
Kneading time is important for gluten development; do not skip or shorten it for best texture.
For a richer flavor, you can brush the inside of the rolled dough with melted butter before sprinkling the cinnamon sugar.
Store any leftovers wrapped tightly at room temperature for up to 2 days or freeze slices for longer storage.
This bread tastes great toasted with butter or cream cheese.

Keywords: cinnamon swirl bread, homemade bread recipe, sweet bread, cinnamon sugar bread, breakfast bread, yeast bread