Cinnamon Donut Bread Recipe

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If you’ve been craving something sweet and buttery, this Cinnamon Donut Bread is exactly what you need. It’s soft with a warm cinnamon-molasses swirl, then coated in buttery cinnamon sugar that makes it taste just like a donut loaf. The swirl looks impressive, but it’s simple to make. And when it bakes, your kitchen fills with the kind of cozy aroma you’ll want to bottle up and keep forever.

 

Ingredient Notes + Variations

This recipe comes together with simple pantry staples, but each one plays a role in flavor and texture. Here’s a note about a few of the ingredients.

• Cinnamon-sugar coating – The final step that makes this bread taste like a true donut.
• Buttermilk (or milk + vinegar) – Keeps the loaf soft and adds a subtle tang.
• Ground cinnamon + molasses – Combined, they create the signature swirl of spice and warmth.

How to Make Cinnamon Donut Bread

This cinnamon bread looks like something you’d buy in a bakery case, but it’s simple to whip up at home. For full recipe details, including ingredients and measurements needed, see the printable recipe card down below.

1. Preheat Oven + Prep Loaf Pan

Preheat oven to 350° F. Grease light colored loaf pan with nonstick cooking spray and set aside.

Step 2: Make the Batter

Step 3: Create the Cinnamon Swirl

Step 4: Bake

Step 5: Make the Coating

6. Cool

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

7. Coat the Bread

Tips for Success

• Use a light-colored loaf pan to avoid over-browning.
• Don’t over-swirl the batters, just a few gentle turns with a knife is enough.
• Let the loaf cool about 10 minutes before handling so it holds its shape when coating.
• Press the cinnamon-sugar mixture firmly into the loaf so it sticks to the buttery coating.

What to Serve with Cinnamon Bread

• Strawberry Jam Recipe – Spread on a warm slice.
• Crockpot Hot Chocolate – Perfect cozy pairing.
• Italian Sweet Cream Creamer – Your morning coffee deserves it.
• Homemade Apple Cider – For crisp fall mornings.
• Icing for Cinnamon Rolls – To take the sweetness to a whole new level.

This Cinnamon Donut Bread is the kind of recipe that makes you sneak back into the kitchen for “just one more slice.” Soft, buttery, and sugar-crusted… it’s the best of both worlds. It also makes great French toast the next day! The printable recipe is below. Have a great day friends!

Variations

• Swap the molasses with maple syrup for a lighter flavor.
• Use almond extract instead of vanilla extract for a nutty twist.
• Add chopped nuts (pecans or walnuts) to the swirl for crunch.
• Try pumpkin pie spice instead of plain cinnamon for extra warmth.
• Make this recipe 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.

More Recipes to Try

• Best Crepes Recipe – Light and delicate.
• Easy Belgian Waffle Recipe – Crispy on the outside, fluffy inside.
• Easy Pumpkin Bars – Seasonal favorite.
• Actually Perfect Chocolate Chip Cookies – Because cookies are always a good idea.

If you make this recipe, I would really appreciate it if you would give it a star rating and leave your review in the comments! If you have a picture of your finished dish, post it on Instagram using the hashtag #laurenslatest and tagging me @laurens_latest.