Cinnamon Bread (Cinnamon Swirl Donut Bread)

4.37 from 119 votes

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This Swirly Cinnamon Bread recipe is a cakey bread, baked until perfection and then dipped into butter and coated with cinnamon sugar! And if you’re looking for a mini version, look no further than my Cinnamon Muffins!

Cinnamon swirl donut Bread

How To Make Sweet Donut Cinnamon Bread (YUM)

This is a pretty simple loaf to make, you just need to be prepared to get a little messy whilst dipping the whole loaf into melted butter…and then cinnamon and sugar. For full recipe details see the printable recipe card and video down below.

Prep

Preheat oven. Grease light colored loaf pan with non-stick cooking spray and set aside.

Make the Batter

In large bowl, mix oil, butter and sugar until well combined. Stir in eggs and vanilla until smooth. Gently stir in dry ingredients and buttermilk until uniform batter has formed. Scrape sides to ensure no lumps are present.

Reserve 1/2 Cup of Cinnamon Bread Batter

Reserve 1/2 cup prepared batter from bowl and place into a separate smaller bowl. To that small amount of batter, stir in cinnamon and molasses.

Pour into Pan, Swirl + Bake

Pour half of the prepared batter into the bottom of the loaf pan. Spoon half of the cinnamon batter in small dollops overtop the batter. Pour remaining plain batter over the top. Dot the top with remaining cinnamon batter. Using a butter knife, swirl two batters together.

Bake until toothpick comes out with a few moist crumbs…about 40-45 minutes.

Prep Coating

While loaf is baking, get coating ready. Pour melted butter into a large shallow dish. Stir sugar, brown sugar and cinnamon together in a separate large shallow dish.

Cool

Cool 10 minutes before loosening edges and removing loaf from pan. The loaf should be very warm, but cool enough to handle with your hands.

Coat Loaf in Butter + Cinnamon Sugar

Dip each side of loaf into melted butter until fully coated. Spoon remaining melted butter over the edges that tend to be more crispy. Transfer buttery loaf to the cinnamon-sugar mixture and press into the sides and top until fully coated. Slice into pieces and serve warm or at room temperature.

Storing Cinnamon Bread

Cinnamon Swirl bread can be stored in an airtight container or ziplock beg at room temperature. This bread will stay fresh for 4-5 days.

To Freeze: Let Cinnamon Bread cool completely before wrapping in plastic wrap and placing in a freezer safe bag. Bread will stay fresh in the freezer for 3 months.

Can I Make These into Muffins Instead?

Yes! You can totally make this buttery cinnamon bread into muffins. Be sure to grease the muffin tin and fill 2/3 full and bake until a toothpick inserted comes out clean, around 13-15 minutes. Paper liners wouldn’t work here because you would have to coat the whole muffin in butter, then cinnamon sugar. Unless you just dip the top, which could be a great option if you’d rather not bother washing a muffin tin.

cinnamon swirl donut bread sliced on a plate

More Sweet Cinnamon Recipes To Try:

So, there you have it! A buttery, sweet, delicious cinnamon bread that you are sure to love. Be sure to save this recipe for your next breakfast or brunch gathering! Have a wonderful weekend!

Cinnamon Bread
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4.37 from 119 votes

Cinnamon Bread (swirled donut bread)

This Swirly Cinnamon Bread recipe is a cakey bread, baked until perfection and then dipped into butter and coated with cinnamon sugar!
servings 8 slices
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 15 minutes

Ingredients

coating:

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease light colored loaf pan with non-stick cooking spray and set aside.
  • In large bowl, mix oil, butter and sugar until well combined. Stir in eggs and vanilla until smooth. Gently stir in dry ingredients and buttermilk until uniform batter has formed. Scrape sides to ensure no lumps are present. Remove 1/2 cup prepared batter from bowl and place into a separate smaller bowl. To that small amount of batter, stir in cinnamon and molasses.
  • Pour half of the prepared batter into the bottom of the loaf pan. Spoon half of the cinnamon batter in small dollops overtop the batter. Pour remaining plain batter over the top. Dot the top with remaining cinnamon batter. Using a butter knife, swirl two batters together. Bake 45-50 minutes or until toothpick comes out with a few moist crumbs.
  • While loaf is baking, get coating ready. Pour melted butter into a large shallow dish. Stir sugar, brown sugar and cinnamon together in a separate large shallow dish.
  • Cool 10 minutes before loosening edges and removing loaf from pan. The loaf should be very warm, but cool enough to handle with your hands.
  • Dip each side of loaf into melted butter until fully coated. Spoon remaining melted butter over the edges that tend to be more crispy. Transfer buttery loaf to the cinnamon-sugar mixture and press into the sides and top until fully coated.
  • Slice into pieces and serve warm or at room temperature.

Video

Nutrition

Calories: 475kcal | Carbohydrates: 57g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 26g | Saturated Fat: 12g | Cholesterol: 88mg | Sodium: 332mg | Potassium: 126mg | Sugar: 39g | Vitamin A: 615IU | Calcium: 59mg | Iron: 1.4mg
Course: Breakfast
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Cinnamon Swirl Donut Bread

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298 Responses
  1. Apple Cheddar Chicken Salad | Lauren's Latest

    […] are obviously not my current priority. Eddie-man is. And trying to catch up on my sleep. And eating this donut bread. (It’s addicting. Don’t make […]

  2. Stefanie

    5 stars
    I made this in a heart shaped tin for Valentines Day. I would have attached a pic but there was no where to attach it. This is amazing bread!

  3. Heather Bellman

    Made this bread for my Sunday School kids and we all loved it! I put the batter in mini loaf pans, which made it easier to bathe the loaves in the butter:) Thanks for sharing!

  4. Kara

    5 stars
    So…I made it…let me just say WOW!!! This bread is DELICIOUSLY AMAZING!!! My entire family loved it! Thanks so much for a fantastic recipe!

  5. Kara

    This looks SO GOOD! I am getting ready to make a loaf now….I can’t wait! In anticipation of making it AGAIN in the future, I was wondering if you’ve ever made mini loaves with it? Any suggestions would be appreciated. 🙂

    1. Kackie Kornfeld

      I have made this multiple times in the mini loaves and they turn out great. In my oven the are done in 25 to 30 minutes. Great little gifts!!!!!

      1. Cheryl Ruehling

        Thank you Kackie, I am going to make this as gifts in mini loaves so glad to know someone has tried it and for giving cook time for the mini loaves.

        This sounds delicious!!

  6. Kelly

    5 stars
    Thanks for the great recipe! I just made this, followed the recipe exactly, came out beautifully. I was worried about it falling apart when rolling it in the butter but all went well. I couldn’t help but think that a bit of mace added to the main batch would really contribute to the donut flavor….gotta try that next time….and there WILL be a next time. Thanks again for a great recipe….it was moist, sweet, and very tasty.

  7. Jess

    Hi! My daughter and I just made this! She did the recipe straight by the book and I jazzed mine up with some cream cheese. Can’t wait for it to come out the oven!!

  8. Lydia

    This looks great. I can almost smell it cooking. The picture looks like a 9 x 5 loaf size not an 8 x 4. But want to be sure. 9 x 5? Thanks.

  9. Denise

    5 stars
    I made this last night and it was so good! I used maple syrup instead of molasses & vegetable oil instead of canola(didn’t have either of those) I wanna make everything on here! 🙂

  10. Amy

    5 stars
    This is amazing!!! Made it and just scarfed down 2 pieces???? I just brushed the melted butter on the bread and sprinkled it with tons of the sugar mixture rather than dipping each side…. definitely need that on all sides of the bread for the sheer deliciousness of it! Thanks for a great and easy recipe????

  11. Brooke

    5 stars
    OMG I just made this because we needed something sweet to munch on and this is like a fluffy warm slice of perfect!!! I will be making this many many many more times! Thank you.

      1. Robin

        You can make your own starter. Here it is:
        2 1/2 t active dry yeast
        1/4 c warm water
        1 c all purpose flour
        1 c sugar
        1 c warm milk

        1. janis

          is that the recipe from a long time ago when people shared some kind of friendship batter? i can’t remember what it made… muffins or bread or?? what do you do in this recipe you gave?

  12. Kyli

    I don’t have molasses but I want it so bad!!! I seriously cannot wait to try this out!! It looks like the bread they sell in Costco (which I love!)

      1. Kylikyli

        Thank you! I will be baking this today! Do you have an Instagram? I love tagging the people who’s recipes I use so others know where to find them 🙂

  13. Michele {Delish Dishes from Michele}

    5 stars
    I think I could devour the whole loaf myself! THANK YOU for sharing! (my thunder thighs thank you too, hahaha).

    1. Vane

      5 stars
      This is delicious! Simple recipe. The only bump I had was where it says to add all of the dry ingredients and cinnamon is a dry ingredient so I added it to the batter from the beginning rather than to half of the batter….overall this is a great recipe, thank you for sharing!

    1. Audra

      Olive oil, safflower oil, coconut oil, sunflower oil, almond oil, cottonseed oil, corn oil, soybean oil,avocado and peanut oil are all possible substitutes for canola oil. Of these alternatives sunflower oil is likely to be the best given its likeness to canola oil in colour, flavour and smoking point

  14. Sheila

    Lauren,

    Omg! How decadent. Could you use plain yogurt instead of buttermilk? I can almost taste this on Christmas morning.

    Thanks!
    Sheila Best

    1. Suzanne McCall

      The entire recipe didn’t come up so I made it completely different , we will see if it even comes out at all .

  15. Karen

    Damn….I have all the ingredients on hand! Will be making this, but think I will just melt a little butter and brtush the top only and sprinkle the cinnamon sugar on…that looks totally satisfying for the adults in the house. Or maybe I will make a butter glaze with cinnamon sugar in it and pour over the cake after I poke some holes in it.

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