🎉 Introduction
Imagine the sweet, nostalgic flavor of a warm cinnamon sugar donut — but in the form of a tender, buttery loaf. That’s exactly what this Cinnamon Donut Bread delivers: the perfect blend of donut-shop nostalgia and home-baked comfort. 🍩❤️
Every slice is moist, fluffy, and coated in that signature cinnamon-sugar sparkle. It’s soft like a cake donut, with a golden crust and a buttery interior that melts in your mouth. Enjoy it warm for breakfast, as an afternoon pick-me-up, or even as dessert with a cup of coffee or hot cocoa.
No frying, no yeast — just pure, baked perfection with a texture so dreamy, you’ll swear it came straight from a bakery.
🧰 Equipment Needed
- 9×5-inch loaf pan
- Mixing bowls
- Whisk
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Rubber spatula or wooden spoon
- Cooling rack
- Pastry brush (for butter glaze)
🛒 Ingredients
For the Bread:
- 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 cup buttermilk (or 1 cup milk + 1 tablespoon vinegar)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
For the Cinnamon Sugar Coating:
- 3 tablespoons melted butter
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
👩🍳 Directions
Step 1: Preheat and Prep
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9×5-inch loaf pan and line it with parchment paper for easy removal.
Step 2: Mix the Dry Ingredients
In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon. Set aside.
Step 3: Cream the Butter and Sugar
In a large bowl, beat butter and sugar together until light and fluffy, about 2–3 minutes. Add the egg and vanilla, mixing until smooth.
Step 4: Combine Wet and Dry
Alternate adding the flour mixture and buttermilk to the butter mixture, beginning and ending with flour. Mix until just combined — don’t overmix!
Step 5: Bake
Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan and smooth the top. Bake for 45–55 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
Step 6: Add the Cinnamon Sugar Coating
- Let the bread cool for 10 minutes, then remove from the pan.
- Brush the top and sides with melted butter.
- Combine sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl, then sprinkle or roll the loaf in the mixture until fully coated.
💡 Pro Tip: For extra donut flavor, double the cinnamon sugar and coat the loaf again once it cools slightly.
🍽️ Servings & Timing
- Servings: 8–10 slices
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Bake Time: 50 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour
🧊 Storage & Reheating
- Room Temperature: Store covered for up to 3 days.
- Refrigerate: Keeps well for up to 5 days in an airtight container.
- Freeze: Wrap tightly and freeze for up to 2 months.
- Reheat: Warm a slice in the microwave for 10 seconds or toast lightly for a crisp edge.
🥄 Variations
- Cinnamon Swirl Bread: Add a layer of cinnamon-sugar filling in the middle before baking.
- Glazed Donut Bread: Drizzle with a simple glaze of powdered sugar and milk.
- Apple Cinnamon Version: Add ½ cup finely diced apples to the batter.
- Pumpkin Spice Twist: Add ¼ cup pumpkin purée and pumpkin pie spice.
- Chocolate Chip Cinnamon Bread: Stir in ½ cup mini chocolate chips.
- Nutty Crunch: Add chopped pecans or walnuts for texture.
- Brown Butter Base: Use browned butter for a deeper, nutty flavor.
- Mini Donut Loaves: Bake in mini pans or muffin tins for individual servings.
- Stuffed Version: Add a cream cheese filling layer for extra richness.
- Coffee Cake Style: Top with crumb streusel before baking.
❓ 10 FAQs
- Does this really taste like a donut?
Yes! The cinnamon-sugar coating gives it that classic donut flavor without frying. - Can I use regular milk instead of buttermilk?
Yes, but buttermilk makes it extra tender — try adding vinegar or lemon juice to milk as a quick substitute. - Can I make it gluten-free?
Yes, use a 1:1 gluten-free flour blend. - Can I reduce the sugar?
You can cut by ¼ cup without losing much sweetness. - Can I bake it in a muffin tin?
Absolutely — bake for 18–20 minutes at 350°F. - Why did my bread sink in the middle?
It may have been underbaked or mixed too much — check with a toothpick next time. - Can I double the recipe?
Yes! Perfect for gifting or freezing one loaf. - Can I make this dairy-free?
Substitute plant-based milk and butter — coconut milk works beautifully. - Can I add a glaze instead of sugar coating?
Yes, a vanilla or maple glaze works wonderfully. - How do I make it extra moist?
Don’t overbake — remove as soon as the toothpick comes out clean with a few crumbs.
🏁 Conclusion
This Cinnamon Donut Bread is the ultimate cozy bake — soft, buttery, and rolled in cinnamon sugar like your favorite old-fashioned donut. It’s quick, simple, and guaranteed to fill your kitchen with the most heavenly aroma.
Enjoy it warm with a pat of butter, serve it as a sweet breakfast, or gift a loaf to someone you love — because nothing says comfort quite like a slice of cinnamon-dusted sweetness. 🍞💛
🍩🍞✨ Cinnamon Donut Bread – Soft, Sugary & Irresistibly Cozy!
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Ingredients
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Equipment
Method
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9×5-inch loaf pan and line it with parchment paper for easy removal.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, beat butter and sugar together until light and fluffy, about 2–3 minutes. Add the egg and vanilla, mixing until smooth.
- Alternate adding the flour mixture and buttermilk to the butter mixture, beginning and ending with flour. Mix until just combined — don’t overmix!
- Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan and smooth the top. Bake for 45–55 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Let the bread cool for 10 minutes, then remove from the pan.
- Brush the top and sides with melted butter.
- Combine sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl, then sprinkle or roll the loaf in the mixture until fully coated.
Notes
Yes! The cinnamon-sugar coating gives it that classic donut flavor without frying. Can I use regular milk instead of buttermilk?
Yes, but buttermilk makes it extra tender — try adding vinegar or lemon juice to milk as a quick substitute. Can I make it gluten-free?
Yes, use a 1:1 gluten-free flour blend. Can I reduce the sugar?
You can cut by ¼ cup without losing much sweetness. Can I bake it in a muffin tin?
Absolutely — bake for 18–20 minutes at 350°F. Why did my bread sink in the middle?
It may have been underbaked or mixed too much — check with a toothpick next time. Can I double the recipe?
Yes! Perfect for gifting or freezing one loaf. Can I make this dairy-free?
Substitute plant-based milk and butter — coconut milk works beautifully. Can I add a glaze instead of sugar coating?
Yes, a vanilla or maple glaze works wonderfully. How do I make it extra moist?
Don’t overbake — remove as soon as the toothpick comes out clean with a few crumbs. 🏁 Conclusion This Cinnamon Donut Bread is the ultimate cozy bake — soft, buttery, and rolled in cinnamon sugar like your favorite old-fashioned donut. It’s quick, simple, and guaranteed to fill your kitchen with the most heavenly aroma. Enjoy it warm with a pat of butter, serve it as a sweet breakfast, or gift a loaf to someone you love — because nothing says comfort quite like a slice of cinnamon-dusted sweetness. 🍞💛
