This homemade Cinnamon Swirl Bread is a time-honored favorite among many. The cinnamon flavor springs to life in this tender and fluffy bread. You will be returning for another slice, so you might as well make two to start! It is great toasted, my favorite.
Do you love homemade bread? Bread making is such a fun hobby. Try our Homemade Brioche Bread, Homemade Whole Wheat Bread, or Walnut Wheat Bread.

Cinnamon Swirl Bread is a bread that incorporates a buttery, sugary, and cinnamon swirl into the bread itself. This is accomplished by rolling the dough out flat and then rolling it into a log with the cinnamon mixture on the inside.
Why I Love This Recipe
- Huge cinnamon fan
- Reminds me of my childhood
- Love it toasted with butter
- The family loves it
- Kid-friendly
Helpful Items For This Recipe
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Loaf Pan Bread Pan, Ceramic, Nonstick Bread Pans for Baking
10-Inch Wide Wavy Edge, Bread Knife
Bread Slicer for Homemade Bread – Bamboo Bread Cutter with Knife, Foldable

Ingredients for Cinnamon Swirl Bread

Recipe Ingredients
Bread
All-purpose flour – I have not tested this recipe with bread flour; all-purpose is what I have always used.
Sugar – Just regular granulated sugar is needed.
Cinnamon – I always use a good quality cinnamon from a spice merchant, not a bulk cinnamon that you would get in large grocery stores, etc.
Instant yeast – This makes the bread rise, and the instant works great for this recipe.
Salt – Always needed to bring out the flavor of other ingredients.
Milk – I use a heavy milk, like 2 or 3%, for this recipe. I don’t recommend a light, lower-fat milk.
Water – You need water to bind all the ingredients for bread making. You don’t want to use all milk for a bread recipe.
Large egg – An egg will add richness to your bread and also help to make the perfect texture.
Unsalted butter – The butter will add richness to the loaf, and no extra salt is needed.
Filling
Cinnamon and Sugar – This is the combination that is needed for the cinnamon swirl.
Butter – You paint the inside of the bread dough with butter so the cinnamon mixture will adhere.
How to Make Cinnamon Swirl Bread



In the bowl of a stand-up mixer, whisk together the flour, sugar, cinnamon, yeast, and salt. Then, attach the bread hook and add to the mixture the milk, water, egg, and butter. Mix on medium speed, scraping down the bowl as necessary, until the dough comes together, about 1 min. Turn the speed up to medium-high and continue to beat for about 5 minutes until the dough sticks to the hook.
Take the dough out of the bowl and place it on the counter covered with a linen towel or plastic wrap, and let it proof for about 30 min. until it is slightly puffy.



Fold the dough over twice and return it to the bowl. Cover with a clean dish towel and set in a warm place to rise for about 30 minutes.




Mix together the cinnamon and sugar for the filling and set aside.
Flour the counter, punch the dough down, and lay the dough out. Roll out a rectangle 8″ by 20″ that is 1/4″ thick. Paint the dough with the melted butter and sprinkle the cinnamon/sugar mixture. Start with the short side and roll up. Then place in the 9×5″ loaf pan. Let dough rise for 1 to 1 1/2 hours in the pan, covering loosely with plastic wrap.

Bake the loaf in a 350°F oven for 20 minutes or until browned. You may want to loosely cover with foil at this point if it is getting too brown, then bake for another 25 minutes.

Toasted or not, buttered or honeyed, jammed or jellied. Anything goes with this delicious bread that you can have at any time of the day!!
Recipe Pro Tips!

How to Eat Cinnamon Swirl Bread
This bread in our house is enjoyed in a few ways. First off, when it is still slightly warm, you can slice and butter it. Heavenly!
We also love to toast it, and again with just butter or use honey, jam, or apple butter.
Cinnamon Swirl Bread makes the best French toast.
Can I Make the Dough Ahead of Time?
Yes, you can make the dough up to the second 30-minute rise, and instead of letting it rise in a warm place, cover well and refrigerate overnight; it will rise slowly in the refrigerator.
Then, in the morning, remove from the refrigerator and let it come to room temperature. Punch the dough down and continue with the recipe, rolling out and adding the cinnamon mixture, etc.
Can I Freeze Cinnamon Swirl Bread?
Yes, bread freezes very well. Make sure the bread is completely cooled, wrap well in plastic wrap, and then in foil or a freezer bag. Freeze up to 3 months. To thaw, place in the refrigerator or counter overnight. The next day, warm or slice and serve.

DO YOU LOVE THE FLAVOR OF CINNAMON?
We adore the flavor of cinnamon and love it in so many recipes. Here are some of our favorites.
Pin it HERE!!

Pin it HERE!!


Cinnamon Swirl Bread Recipe
Ingredients
- 4 cups all purpose flour more for dusting
- 2 Tbsp. sugar
- 1 Tbsp. cinnamon
- 2 1/4 tsp. instant yeast 1 package
- 2 tsp. salt
- 1/2 cup milk
- 3/4 cup water room temperature
- 1 large egg
- 3 Tbsp. unsalted butter
Filling
- 2 Tbsp. cinnamon
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 4 Tbsp. butter melted
Instructions
- In the bowl of a stand-up mixer, whisk together the flour, sugar, cinnamon, yeast, and salt. Then, attach the bread hook and add to the mixture the milk, water, egg, and butter. Mix on medium speed, scraping down the bowl as necessary, until the dough comes together, about 1 min. Turn the speed up to medium-high and continue to beat for about 5 minutes until the dough sticks to the hook.
- Take the dough out of the bowl and place it on the counter covered with a linen towel or plastic wrap, and let it proof for about 30 min. until it is slightly puffy. Fold the dough over twice and return it to the bowl. Cover with a clean dish towel and set in a warm place to rise for about 30 minutes.
- Mix together the cinnamon and sugar for the filling and set aside.
- Flour the counter, punch the dough down, and lay the dough out. Roll out a rectangle 8" by 20" that is 1/4" thick. Paint the dough with the melted butter and sprinkle the cinnamon/sugar mixture. Start with the short side and roll up. Then, place in the 9×5" loaf pan. Let dough rise for 1 to 1 1/2 hours in the pan, covering loosely with plastic wrap.
- Bake the loaf in a 350°F oven for 20 minutes or until browned. You may want to loosely cover with foil at this point if it is getting too brown, then bake for another 25 minutes.
- Recipe adapted from Chef Mona Pinder
Equipment
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Comments & Reviews
Beth says
Thanks for the correction! Another question: does the dough raise in the pans before baking?
Beth says
The directions say to add to the mixture the milk. water, egg and butter. But the only butter I see in the ingredients is for the filling. Am I missing something?
Noshing with the Nolands says
So sorry Beth, I omitted the first butter, correction has been made.
Noshing with the Nolands says
Arg, sorry for the omissions I must have been pulled away when typing this recipe out. Yes, they need to rise for 1 to 1 1/2 hours in the pans before baking.
Noshing with the Nolands says
I am always here if you have a question of concern!!
Kathia Rodriguez says
Love it! What a delicious good looking bread
Patty Haxton Anderson says
He did an AMAZING job on the bread. It looks fantastic and so delicious.
Robin @ A Shaggy Dough Story says
Mmmm, cinnamon bread. Love that swirl! And how cool that baking is a family affair.
Patty Haxton Anderson says
He did an AMAZING job on the bread. It looks fantastic and so delicious.
Karen @ Karen's Kitchen Stories says
That is a lot of cinnamon bread =) It looks so awesome. Call me when you have too much, lol.
Kayle (The Cooking Actress) says
that swirl IS gorgeous!!! Love how perfectly cinnamon-y this bread is!
Maureen | Orgasmic Chef says
I love cinnamon bread and now I want some. How cool that the whole family gets busy in the kitchen. Nobody in my kitchen but me.
Holly says
I am very impressed that your husband enjoys baking and that your daughter shares the love of food and bread-baking too. Cinnamon bread is one of my favorites and it brings back happy childhood memories of toasted cinnamon raisin bread with loads of butter. Yum.
Noshing with the Nolands says
Thanks so much Holly, they are in the kitchen with me all the time!!
Sophie @ Sweet Cinnamon & Honey says
This is just lovely! Everything is always better with cinnamon! 🙂
Noshing with the Nolands says
Thanks so much Sophie you are right!!
Kayle (The Cooking Actress) says
that swirl IS gorgeous!!! Love how perfectly cinnamon-y this bread is!
Maureen | Orgasmic Chef says
I love cinnamon bread and now I want some. How cool that the whole family gets busy in the kitchen. Nobody in my kitchen but me.
Ansh says
Now that’s the kind of bread I would want to eat with my coffee. Every single day! Looks beautiful! High Five to Ken for a beautiful bread and to you, Tara, for sharing it with us.
Noshing with the Nolands says
Thank you so much Ansh!!
Jenni says
Wow, you’re so lucky that your husband is the Bread Dude! Mine will clean the kitchen if I ask Very Nicely, but he’s not much of a baker. Love these loaves, and the swirl is perfect!
Noshing with the Nolands says
Ya, he is the Bread Dude and the Pie Guy never mind the Master of the Grill/Smoker. Couldn’t do it without him!! Thanks Jenni!!
Renee says
Wow – Ken sure did bake some wonderful bread! Lucky you!!
Thanks so much for all your kind words and joining in the Bread Bakers fun.
Noshing with the Nolands says
Thank you for hosting Renee and for your kind words!!
Stacy says
Kudos to Ken! That really is the most wonderful cinnamon swirl! I can never get mine to turn out that evenly. Well done and a perfect post for our inaugural event, Tara! Thank you so much for joining us!
Noshing with the Nolands says
Thank you for all your hard work in getting this one together. It will be fun sharing what hubby bakes for me!! Hehe!!
Cindys Recipes and Writings says
I love cinnamon bread, Tara! I’d even throw a few raisins or craisins in there too.
Noshing with the Nolands says
You can for sure put raisins in Cindy. It is great alone too though for a change. Thanks for coming over!!
Suzanne says
I have been craving cinnamon bread for a while now and this is really making me want to get into the kitchen and bake it!
Noshing with the Nolands says
Thanks so much Suzanne, it is so good!!
Stacy says
Kudos to Ken! That really is the most wonderful cinnamon swirl! I can never get mine to turn out that evenly. Well done and a perfect post for our inaugural event, Tara! Thank you so much for joining us!