Cinnamon Sugar Bread — This brown sugar cinnamon bread is light and fluffy in the middle, with a crusty cinnamon-sugar exterior that’s reminiscent of a streusel topping! The ribbon of cinnamon sugar that runs through the middle is a perfect touch! Easy, one-bowl, no-mixer recipe!!
Table of Contents
Cinnamon Swirl Quick Bread Recipe
This brown sugar cinnamon bread is so fast and easy to make and comes together in 5 minutes with a whisk, in one bowl. I love it when I don’t have to drag out my mixer because it would seem to defeat the purpose of calling a bread a ‘quick bread’ if the ingredients need to be creamed, creating more dishes. Nothing quick about that!
The same cinnamon-sugar mixture that’s sprinkled on top before baking is also sprinkled into the batter, creating a cinnamon-sugar swirl in the middle of the loaf. The only way to create that thick, delectable, wall of sweet crust on top is to sprinkle cinnamon-sugar generously over the surface before baking.
Not all of it adheres to the bread and you’ll have to remind your kids and husband to ‘Please, eat over your plate.’ And remind yourself, too, so that you’re not recreating a sandy beach on your kitchen floor with the stray cinnamon-sugar granules.
The ribbon of cinnamon-sugar that floats through the interior provides another pop of flavor. The cinnamon flavor is present and notable, but it’s not overwhelming. Feel free to add more if you’re a true fiend.
The bread is flavorful enough that it doesn’t need butter, but if you’re so inclined toasting it and smearing liberally with butter takes it from really good to gobble-the-whole-loaf supremely good. Our toaster got a workout and has the cinnamon-sugar bits stuck in the crumb tray to show for it.
Such an easy bread to make with great results, no kneading and no fuss. From start to finish, this should go from cupboard and into your mouth in under an hour.
Cinnamon Sugar Bread Ingredients
For this cinnamon sugar quick bread recipe, you’ll need:
- Granulated sugar
- Cinnamon
- Unsalted butter
- Egg
- Light brown sugar
- Canola oil
- Vanilla extract
- Buttermilk
- All-purpose flour
- Ground nutmeg
- Baking soda
- Salt
Can I Use a Buttermilk Substitute?
If you don’t normally keep buttermilk on hand, you can cheat and make some with regular milk by adding 1 or 2 tablespoons of vinegar or lemon juice to one cup of milk and waiting for about 10 minutes.
Note: Scroll down to the recipe card section of the post for the ingredients with amounts included and for more complete directions.
How to Make Cinnamon Sugar Swirl Bread
This cinnamon swirl quick bread is super simple to make! Here’s a look at how the bread is prepared:
- In a small bowl, stir together the granulated sugar and cinnamon. Set aside.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the melted butter, egg, brown sugar, oil, and vanilla, followed by the buttermilk.
- Add the remaining ingredients and stir until just combined.
- Turn HALF the bread batter into a greased 9×5-inch loaf pan and sprinkle three-quarters of the cinnamon-sugar mixture over top. Top with the remaining batter and sprinkle the rest of the cinnamon-sugar mixture over top.
- Bake your cinnamon swirl bread until the top is set and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
Tips for Making Cinnamon Sugar Quick Bread
When making the quick bread batter, it’s important that you give the melted butter a couple minutes to cool down before mixing it in with the other wet ingredients. If you mix everything together all at once, you might wind up accidentally scrambling the egg with the hot butter.
The cinnamon bread batter will be a little lumpy, and that’s totally normal. Don’t try to stir out all the lumps, otherwise you’ll over work the batter and your bread won’t be as fluffy once baked.
Lastly, for easier cleanup I recommend inverting the bread over your kitchen sink or a paper towel since some of the cinnamon-sugar topping will fall off when you remove the loaf from the pan.
Recipe FAQs
No, an 8×4-inch loaf pan will be too small for this cinnamon quick bread recipe. You must use a 9×5-inch pan for this recipe.
Yes, cinnamon sugar bread freezes really well. Let it cool to room temperature, then pop it into a freezer bag or wrap it in multiple layers of plastic wrap. When you’re ready to eat the frozen loaf, set it on the counter overnight to thaw.
Most likely, yes! Raisins or chopped nuts would both be great in this cinnamon swirl bread. You’d only want to add about 3/4 cup of mix-ins total, otherwise your bread will overflow in the oven.
Yes, I’ve made this into muffins before and they turned out beautifully! You’ll want to check your muffins around the 18-minute mark and bake a minute or two more at a time until you figure out the exact amount of time they should be in the oven. You’ll know your muffins are done baking when they’re golden and springy to the touch.
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Swirled Cinnamon Sugar Bread
Ingredients
Cinnamon Sugar
- ⅓ cup granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon cinnamon
Bread
- ¼ cup unsalted butter, melted
- 1 large egg
- 1 cup light brown sugar, packed
- ¼ cup canola or vegetable oil
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ¾ teaspoon baking soda
- pinch salt, optional and to taste
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350F. Spray a 9-by-5-inch loaf pan with floured cooking spray, or grease and flour the pan; set aside (don’t use an 8-by-4-inch pan; it’s too small)
- In a small bowl, combine 1/3 cup granulated sugar with the cinnamon and stir to incorporate; set aside.
- In a large microwave-safe bowl, melt the butter, about 1 minute. After the butter has cooled momentarily (so you don’t scramble the egg), add the egg, brown sugar, oil, vanilla, and whisk to combine. Add the buttermilk and whisk to incorporate.
- Add the flour, nutmeg, baking soda, optional salt, and stir until just combined; don’t overmix. Batter will be thick and lumpy. Don’t try to stir the lumps smooth.
- Pour half the batter into prepared pan, smoothing it lightly with a spatula. Sprinkle three-fourths (75%) of the cinnamon-sugar mixture (just eyeball it), distributed evenly over the surface of the batter. This creates the cinnamon ribbon.
- Top with remaining half of the batter, smoothing it lightly with a spatula. Sprinkle remaining cinnamon-sugar mixture, distributed evenly over the top. It looks like a lot, but it’s necessary to form the crust, and not all of it aheres.
- Bake for 45 to 55 minutes (mine took 50), or until top is set and firm, and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, or with a few moist crumbs, but no batter. Allow bread to cool in pan for about 15 minutes before inverting.
- Invert bread over the sink or a paper towel to catch some of the non-adhered cinnamon-sugar and sprinkle it back on the bread. Place bread on wire rack to cool completely.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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More Cinnamon Sugar Desserts:
Cinnamon Sugar Pretzel Twists – Baked in a muffin pan and made with refrigerated dough to save time, you’re going to LOVE how FAST and EASY these finger-lickin’ sweet pretzel bites are!
Cinnamon Sugar Pumpkin Bread — Super soft, tender, moist pumpkin bread with a slightly crunchy cinnamon sugar topping!
Snickerdoodle Bread — Between the cinnamon-sugar on top, cinnamon in the batter, and the cinnamon chips, the bread is full of wonderful and prominent cinnamon flavor without being overpowering.
Cinnamon Coffee Cake — Between the cinnamon-sugar crust AND the cinnamon-sugar swirled through the center, this EASY coffee cake is IRRESISTIBLE!! Soft, fluffy, light, and of course it’s perfect with coffee!!
Honey Bun Cake — Tastes like a Honey Bun in cake form!! Sweet, rich, decadent, and reminds me of the Honey Buns I used to eat as a kid! Fast and EASY!!
Glazed Cinnamon Roll Cake — The flavor of cinnamon rolls in a soft, tender, EASY cake!! One bowl, no mixer, and you’re going to love the tangy-sweet GLAZE!!
Originally published April 24, 2013 and republished October 2, 2020 with updated text.
I made this recipe tonight. My house smelled so good. Just had a piece and it was delish. I added 1/2 cup of chopped walnuts to the sugar and cinnamon. So good. The nutmeg was just perfect. Will be making this again. Next time I will try making muffins. Was so easy. Thanks for the quick reply on baking time for muffins.
Sandra
Thanks for trying the recipe and I’m glad it came out great for you! Good luck with the muffins and LMK how it goes!
Can you make muffins with this recipe? How long should you bake them?
I haven’t tried so cannot say for sure but most muffins bake from 18-23 minutes, depending on oven and size of muffin tin. But that’s just a guesstimate. Bake until they’re springy and set in the center.
Just so you know I make several of your pancake recipes over and over. Finally made this bread today and it is incredible! Thanks again for all your recipes. Going to try one of your cookie recipes next.
Jean
Thanks for trying the bread recipe and I’m glad it came out great for you! Glad the pancakes are a hit too! LMK how the cookies go!
Oops!! That would be sucanat!! Crazy auto correct.
I came across this recipe this morning not sure how. HA!! I made it and it looks like yours. HA!! That doesn’t happen much. Then I decided to make it into muffins like I also saw. I used white whole wheat and scant. I did put some of the cinnamon and sugar in the middle of the muffins too. Oh my goodness, they are delicious. We really like whole wheat foods.
I just sliced the loaf and going to take some up to my husband and son while they are weed eating. Good snack!! Ha!! It is very good and moist too. I made it exactly by your recipe. So easy!!
Thanks for trying the recipe and glad it came out great for you! Both as the loaf and as muffins with white whole wheat!
I made this yesterday and did three mini loaves. So good. I don’t know how you do it. Thank you for sharing the deliciousness!
Thanks for trying the recipe and I’m glad it came out great for you and as mini loaves – how cute! I want one :)
I like home-made bread, but your loaf looks more like a cake than bread. Is it the photo?
This is a quickbread; not true ‘sandwich bread’. Texture of a muffin meets bread, baked as a loaf.
Made this for breakfast today & followed recipe almost as written. The only change was I reduced the nutmeg just a tad (1/2 tsp not the full tsp). I like nutmeg but not too much and I think that amount was perfect for my taste. Came out wonderful, I baked the bread 47 minutes total. My bf loved it and already ate 2 thick slices with some I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter and coffee. My whole house smells amazing too :)
Thanks for trying the recipe and I’m glad it came out great for you and good call on adjusting the spices to your taste! So glad it’s a hit with both you and the boyf!
Hi i really love your recipe although i haven’t tried it as yet the visual is lovely. Keep up the excellent baking and i wish you all the success.
I took this heavenly-smelling bread out of the oven about an hour ago and now I’m enjoying the first slice with a cup of hot cocoa. So good, especially with the autumn in full swing outside! It look so pretty with the cinnamon ribbon in the centre. The only thing I changed was reducing the amount of sugar that goes in the batter to 1/2 cup, and the result is spot-on. Thank you for this great recipe!
So glad it worked out great for you and you’re enjoying it!
I tried commenting and my daughter hit my phone, so I apologize in advance if this posts twice.
Anyway, I made your candy corn cookies today to give as a gift on a Halloween plate. They were so good that my husband and I couldn’t stop eating them and I needed something else to make. So now this bread is baking and it smells amazing. I know where to go for recipes from now on. Thank you!
Glad the candy corn cookies turned out great and that you guys couldn’t stop eating them :) And yes this bread smells ahh-mazing while it’s baking! Enjoy! Thanks for LMK that you’ll be back to try more recipes – keep me posted how they go!
Looks Delish!! Just curious…Can you add raisins to the batter, and if so, how much do you suggest? Maybe a half cup, as in your raisin muffin bread?
I’d say about 3/4 cup, give or take. Enjoy!
I’ve tried this recipe and the bread was excellent. It was so moist and the crust is really good. Thank you for the recipe
Thanks for trying the recipe and glad you’re so pleased!