Cinnamon Bread (Cinnamon Swirl Donut Bread)

4.39 from 126 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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4.39 from 126 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° F. Grease light colored loaf pan with non-stick cooking spray and set aside.
  • In large bowl, using an electric stand mixer, mix oil, butter and sugar until well combined. Stir in eggs and vanilla extract 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 ground 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 ground 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 the 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 | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 9g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 88mg | Sodium: 317mg | Potassium: 134mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 39g | Vitamin A: 617IU | Vitamin C: 0.01mg | Calcium: 63mg | Iron: 1mg
Course: Breakfast
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Cinnamon Swirl Donut Bread
4.39 from 126 votes (55 ratings without comment)

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Recipe Rating




301 Responses
  1. Jessie

    5 stars
    Great recipe! It’s so good! I pricked mine with a fork and pour some maple syrup on it after it had cooled a bit. Delicious!

  2. Andrea R.

    5 stars
    This is the perfect little snack! I “cheated” a bit and only used the half the coating recipe. I left the load in the pan and just made a cinnamon-sugar top.

    If I could a suggestion – I would specify using a 1.5 QT (or 1.5 L) loaf pan. Side measurements are all over the place from brand to brand. Volume is much easier to match up! Thanks!

  3. Jill

    I am wondering if this could have shredded apple or apple chunks added? Do you know what might have to be changed up on the recipe to accommodate the apple? Thanks!!

  4. Marybeth Schaefer

    5 stars
    Very moist and tasty bread. The changes I made were I added a 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon to the batter before you have to put the 1/2 cup of batter in a bowl but still add the 1/2 teaspoon and molasses for a total of 1 teaspoon for the loaf. I also used the parchment 9×5 loaf pan liners from Amazon. Your bread will come out of the pan looking perfect everytime. And last thing I had to bake my loaf for a total of 55minutes.This is a very quick bread to make and everyone will love it. Very yummy!

  5. Julie

    5 stars
    I have made this bread so many times. Everyone loves it. And very easy…Getting ready to make it again for Mother’s Day Lake trip… thanks for sharing..

  6. Tammy Heslop

    Hi Lauren,
    I was soo excited that the recipe I looked so long for was the best was from someone I once knew. I searched so long for a recipe like this. thank you so much for sharing this recipe!

    Hope you and your family are doing well!
    Tammy

  7. Kathy

    I just made this and when I rolled it in the butter and then the sugar mixture it crumbled and fell apart. What did I do wrong?

  8. Lynette Roth

    5 stars
    I attempted a Keto version of this. unfortunately even after the toothpick test it was underdone when I tried to take it out of the pan. So I dumped the pieces into the melted butter then the cinnamon sugar and put it back into the oven. It came out with crispy deliciousness. Also I used a bigger loaf pan so I will switch to a smaller one or try mini muffins. And since I like the crispy crust of the butter and sugar topping in the oven, I will add it when thre is about 15 minutes left to cook.

  9. Sheena

    3 stars
    I just made this and followed recipe exactly other than pan size it tastes like it’s missing something very bland only the buttery cinnamon sugar coating tastes good. Been waiting weeks to make this do disappointed. I used 2 mini pans instead it’s all I had could this cause a problem.

    1. Machelle Zehner

      I image you can leave out molasses, but it was only 1 teaspoon. I found it very subtle flavor in the finish quick bread.

  10. Shanna

    5 stars
    Found this recipe on Pinterest a few years ago. When I first found the recipe I made it at least once a week at the request of my coworkers who would devour the loaf in minutes. I am now a SAHM so I don’t make it as often, but this recipe is still a favorite!!

  11. Sonia

    5 stars
    Delicious recipe. 😋 Made it today to serve at my immediate family’s Christmas Eve brunch tomorrow; we will see how they like it.
    Hubby & I loved it.❤ It reminds me a little of an apple donut we find in the area Fall festivals which are some of my favorites…
    Thank you for sharing with us.

  12. Andrea

    Thank you for sharing – sounds delish! Can these be stored at room temp and how long will they keep? Would love to share with friends as Christmas gifts 🎁

  13. Debi

    5 stars
    This was amazing!!!!! I didn’t need 1/2 cup of butter for the topping though. I think 1/4 cup would did the job. Thanks for sharing this.

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