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This cinnamon donut loaf brings the bakery right to your home with all the warm scents of freshly made donuts in an easy bread format. Every bite delivers that ideal mix of soft texture and sweet cinnamon coating that makes regular donuts so hard to resist.
I came up with this when my children were asking for donuts during a cold winter morning. It's now our weekend ritual—my kids wait impatiently near the oven for that sweet cinnamon smell to drift through the house.
Ingredients
- All purpose flour: creates just the right base while keeping everything soft inside
- Granulated sugar: adds sweetness that doesn't go overboard
- Brown sugar: brings extra moisture and richness to the cinnamon mix
- Buttermilk: makes everything tender with a slight tang that cuts the sweetness
- Cinnamon: works as the main flavor hero—grab something fresh with a strong smell for best taste
- Vanilla extract: boosts all other flavors—try to use real extract for cleaner taste
- Eggs: hold everything together and add a rich quality
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Preheat and prepare:
- Turn your oven to 350°F and get your loaf pan ready with butter or parchment. This step really matters for getting the bread out later—if you pick butter, don't forget the corners of the pan.
- Create the base:
- Mix all dry stuff well. This helps your bread rise the same way throughout and taste sweet in every bite. Break apart any lumps in the brown sugar.
- Combine wet ingredients:
- Mix buttermilk, melted butter, eggs, and vanilla until they look smooth. Temperature is important—cold buttermilk might make your melted butter form little chunks. Try to let buttermilk sit out a bit first.
- Mix the batter:
- Pour wet stuff into dry stuff gently. Stop mixing as soon as you can't see dry flour anymore. Too much mixing makes tough bread, so fold softly instead of stirring hard.
- Create the swirl:
- Put in half the mix, then half the cinnamon sugar, then the rest of the mix and finally the remaining cinnamon sugar. How you swirl makes each slice look different—try moving a knife around in figure eights for pretty results.
- Bake to perfection:
- Keep an eye on your bread after about 45 minutes. When it's done, the top should look golden and slightly split. Stick a toothpick in—a few moist crumbs are fine, but wet batter means it needs more time.
- Finish with topping:
- Brush some melted butter on the warm bread, which sticks the cinnamon sugar topping in place. Add this coating while the bread is warm but not super hot to get that perfect sweet crunch on top.
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That cinnamon sugar coating really turns this from basic bread into something memorable. My grandma always told me cinnamon makes food taste like it's made with love, and when I bake this, I can't help thinking about Sunday mornings in her kitchen with that sweet spicy smell floating around.
Serving Suggestions
This cinnamon donut loaf goes great with coffee or tea at breakfast, but works just as well for dessert when slightly warmed and topped with some vanilla ice cream. For something extra fancy, try pouring a cream cheese glaze made from powdered sugar, cream cheese, and a splash of milk over your slices.
Storage Tips
Keep your bread at room temp in a sealed container for up to 3 days. The flavor actually gets better on day two. If you want it to last longer, put it in the fridge for up to a week or freeze single slices wrapped in plastic and placed in a freezer bag. Warm frozen slices in the microwave for 20 seconds or lightly toast them.
Make It Your Own
While this standard version tastes great as is, you can easily change it to fit what you like. Try adding chopped apples for an apple fritter style, or mix in some toasted pecans for crunch. Want chocolate? Just add mini chocolate chips to the batter before the cinnamon swirl—they'll melt into little pockets throughout the bread.
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Frequently Asked Questions
- → How do I keep the loaf from sticking?
Rub the pan with some butter or use a non-stick spray. Lining it with parchment paper also helps lift it out easily.
- → Is there a buttermilk replacement?
If you're out of buttermilk, combine 1 tablespoon of vinegar or lemon juice with 1 cup of milk for a quick fix.
- → What makes the loaf heavy?
Batter gets dense when overmixed. Stir gently and stop as soon as the ingredients are just blended.
- → How do I layer the cinnamon swirl?
Add brown sugar and cinnamon between the batter layers. Then, swirl them together softly with a knife.
- → Can I bake it in advance?
Sure! Make it the day before and stash it in an airtight container to keep it soft and fresh.