🍩🍞✨ Cinnamon Donut Bread – Soft, Sugary & Irresistibly Cozy!

🍩🍞✨ Cinnamon Donut Bread – Soft, Sugary & Irresistibly Cozy!

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.

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Prep Time 10

Cook Time 53

Servings: 8 Slices

Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

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

Equipment

9×5-inch loaf pan
Mixing bowls
Whisk
Measuring cups and spoons
Rubber spatula or wooden spoon
Cooling rack
Pastry brush (for butter glaze)

Method

Step 1: Preheat and Prep

Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9x5-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.

Notes

🧊 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. 🍞💛