Cinnamon Donut Bread Recipe

Introduction

Cinnamon Donut Bread is a delightful twist on classic quick bread, featuring swirls of cinnamon and molasses for a rich, comforting flavor. Coated in buttery cinnamon sugar, it’s perfect for breakfast or a cozy snack. This easy recipe brings bakery-style treats right to your home kitchen.

Ingredients

• ¼ cup canola oil
• ¼ cup unsalted butter, softened
• 1 cup white sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp baking powder
• ½ tsp salt
• ½ cup buttermilk
• ½ tsp ground cinnamon
• ½ tsp molasses

Topping

• ½ cup unsalted butter, melted
• ¼ cup white sugar
• ¼ cup light brown sugar
• ½ tsp ground cinnamon

Instructions

1. Step 1: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease a loaf pan with cooking spray. Set it aside.
2. Step 2: In a large mixing bowl, combine canola oil, softened butter, and white sugar. Mix until well blended. Add eggs and vanilla extract, stirring until the mixture is smooth.
3. Step 3: In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt. Gradually add dry ingredients and buttermilk to the wet ingredients, mixing gently until a smooth batter forms.
4. Step 4: Scoop about ½ cup of batter into a smaller bowl. Stir in ground cinnamon and molasses until evenly combined.
5. Step 5: Pour half of the plain batter into the bottom of the prepared loaf pan. Drop spoonfuls of the cinnamon batter over it, then pour the remaining plain batter on top. Finish with the remaining cinnamon batter in dollops.
6. Step 6: Use a butter knife to swirl the two batters together gently for a marbled effect.
7. Step 7: Bake for 45 to 50 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Remove from the oven and let cool for 10 minutes in the pan.
8. Step 8: Pour melted butter into a large shallow dish. In another dish, mix white sugar, light brown sugar, and cinnamon.
9. Step 9: While still warm, remove the loaf from the pan. Dip each side of the loaf into the melted butter, then spoon butter over the edges to coat evenly.
10. Step 10: Roll or press the loaf into the cinnamon-sugar mixture, coating each side completely. Slice and serve warm or at room temperature.

Tips & Variations

• For extra moisture, substitute the canola oil with melted coconut oil or a mild olive oil.
• Add chopped nuts, such as pecans or walnuts, to the cinnamon batter for a crunchy texture.
• Swap buttermilk with plain yogurt for a similar tang and tenderness in the bread.
• Use a bundt pan instead of a loaf pan to create a beautiful shape and give the cinnamon swirls more surface area for crispier edges.

Storage

Store the Cinnamon Donut Bread covered at room temperature for up to 2 days. For longer storage, wrap tightly in plastic wrap and refrigerate for up to a week. Reheat slices gently in a microwave or toaster oven to restore warmth and softness before serving.

How to Serve

Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.

FAQs

Can I make this recipe dairy-free?

Yes, you can substitute the buttermilk with a plant-based milk mixed with a teaspoon of vinegar or lemon juice to mimic acidity. Use dairy-free butter or margarine in place of unsalted butter to keep it completely dairy-free.

How can I tell when the bread is done baking?

The bread is done when a toothpick or thin skewer inserted into the center comes out clean or with just a few moist crumbs. The top should be golden brown, and the loaf should spring back slightly when pressed.

Cinnamon Donut Bread Recipe

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★★★★★

4.6 from 126 reviews

This Cinnamon Donut Bread is a delightful swirl of sweet cinnamon and molasses batters baked into a moist loaf, then finished with a buttery cinnamon-sugar coating. Perfect for breakfast, brunch, or a cozy snack, it offers a homemade twist on donut flavors with a soft, tender crumb and a sweet, crunchy topping.

• Author: nova
• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 45 minutes
• Total Time: 1 hour
• Yield: 1 loaf, approximately 8-10 slices 1x
• Category: Bread
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Main Batter

• ¼ Cup Canola Oil
• ¼ Cup Unsalted Butter, Softened
• 1 Cup White Sugar
• 2 Eggs
• 1 Tsp Vanilla Extract
• 1 ½ Cups All Purpose Flour
• 1 Tsp Baking Powder
• ½ Tsp Salt
• ½ Cup Buttermilk
• ½ Tsp Ground Cinnamon
• ½ Tsp Molasses

Topping

• ½ Cup Unsalted Butter, Melted
• ¼ Cup White Sugar
• ¼ Cup Light Brown Sugar
• ½ Tsp Ground Cinnamon

Instructions

1. Preheat and Prepare Pan: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a loaf pan thoroughly with cooking spray and set aside to prevent sticking.
2. Mix Wet Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, combine the canola oil, softened unsalted butter, and white sugar. Mix well until the mixture is smooth and creamy. Add the eggs one at a time, mixing thoroughly after each addition. Stir in the vanilla extract until fully incorporated.
3. Add Dry Ingredients and Buttermilk: Gently fold in the all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt along with the buttermilk into the wet mixture. Stir just until a smooth batter forms; avoid overmixing.
4. Prepare Cinnamon Batter: Scoop out half a cup of the plain batter into a smaller bowl. To this, add the ground cinnamon and molasses, stirring until evenly combined to form the cinnamon swirl batter.
5. Layer the Batter: Pour half of the plain batter into the prepared loaf pan. Spoon half of the cinnamon batter in small dollops over the plain batter. Pour the remaining plain batter on top, followed by the rest of the cinnamon batter spooned on top.
6. Swirl the Batters: Using a butter knife, gently swirl the plain and cinnamon batters together inside the pan to create a marbled effect without fully blending them.
7. Bake the Loaf: Place the loaf pan in the oven and bake for 45 to 50 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. The loaf should be golden and set.
8. Prepare Coating Bowls: While the bread is baking, pour the melted butter into a large shallow dish. In another shallow dish, combine the white sugar, light brown sugar, and ground cinnamon for the cinnamon-sugar topping.
9. Cool and Coat the Loaf: After baking, let the loaf cool in the pan for 10 minutes until warm but manageable. Remove the loaf and dip each side into the melted butter, spooning extra butter over the edges to coat thoroughly.
10. Apply Cinnamon-Sugar Coating: Immediately press each butter-coated side of the loaf into the cinnamon-sugar mixture until fully covered, giving the bread its signature sweet and crunchy crust.
11. Serve: Slice the cinnamon donut bread into pieces. Serve warm or at room temperature for a delectably sweet treat that tastes like fresh donuts made into a loaf.

Notes

• Use room temperature eggs and butter to ensure smooth mixing and a tender crumb.
• Do not overmix the batter to avoid a dense bread.
• Swirling should be gentle to create visible cinnamon ribbons without blending the flavors completely.
• The coating works best when the bread is warm; it helps the butter and sugar stick beautifully.
• Store leftovers wrapped tightly at room temperature for up to 2 days or refrigerate for up to a week.
• This bread can be lightly toasted and served with cream cheese or jam for variation.

Keywords: cinnamon donut bread, cinnamon swirl bread, sweet loaf, breakfast bread, cinnamon sugar bread, moist bread, homemade donut bread