Nothing beats the aroma of freshly baked Cinnamon Swirl Loaf Bread filling your kitchen! This homemade bread is soft, fluffy, and packed with a rich cinnamon-sugar swirl that makes every bite absolutely irresistible. Whether you enjoy it warm out of the oven, toasted with butter, or drizzled with a simple vanilla glaze, this loaf is a must-try for any baking lover.

Cinnamon Swirl Loaf Bread

This recipe strikes the perfect balance between light, buttery bread and sweet cinnamon filling, creating a tender loaf with a beautiful swirl in every slice. It’s an impressive bake that looks fancy but is surprisingly simple to make—no professional baking skills required!

A Slice of Homemade Happiness

This Cinnamon Swirl Bread is perfect for breakfast, brunch, or an afternoon treat with coffee. It’s also a great way to make your home smell like a bakery, with warm cinnamon and vanilla notes lingering in the air. Once you try it, you’ll want to make it again and again!

What You Will Love About This Recipe

Soft & Fluffy Texture – The dough is light, airy, and perfectly tender.

Sweet Cinnamon Swirl – Every slice has the perfect balance of sugar and spice.

Easy to Make – No complicated steps, just simple, satisfying baking.

Perfect for Any Occasion – Great for breakfast, brunch, or dessert.

Freezer-Friendly – Make an extra loaf and store it for later!

How to Make Cinnamon Swirl Loaf Bread

Sift the flour into the bowl of a stand mixer then, add the sugar and yeast and mix well with a whisk or wooden spoon. Add the cubed butter and use your fingertips to rub it into the flour mixture until it resembles fine breadcrumbs.

Heat the milk until it is warm then add it to the dry ingredients in the mixing bowl along with the vanilla extract and egg.

Attach the mixing bowl to a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Turn the speed to low and mix for 7 minutes. The dough will turn from sticky to soft and should not feel sticky at the end of the mixing period.

Grease another bowl with a little oil then put the dough into it turning it in the oil in the bowl so it doesn’t dry out. Add cling wrap to the bowl and rest until the dough has doubled in size. This will take 1-2 hours depending on how warm your kitchen is. See notes on how to test the dough for readiness.

When the dough has doubled in size, dust a work surface with flour and turn the dough out onto it. Roll the dough into a rectangle of approximately 16” x 9”.

Line a 2lb loaf pan with baking parchment. You will grease it later with some leftover butter from the filling.
Melt the butter for the filling then use a pastry brush to brush it over the top of the dough. You will find that once you’ve brushed over the entire surface you will still have some melted butter leftover. Use this to grease the inside of the loaf pan.

Mix the brown sugar and cinnamon thoroughly then sprinkle it over the top of the dough. Use the back of a spoon to press the sugar filling into the dough.

With the shortest side facing you, roll the dough into a tight sausage shape. Cut through the middle of the rolled-up dough so you have two sections. Twist the two sections together into a 2 strand braid.

Carefully place the braid into the prepared loaf pan. Cling wrap the pan and set it aside for 30 minutes. After 20 minutes, preheat the oven to 350oF.

After 30 minutes, the dough in the loaf pan will have puffed up. Brush the top of the dough with 1 tbsp melted butter then put the pan in the center of the preheated oven for 45 minutes. See notes regarding baking time.

Take the loaf pan out of the oven and leave it to cool for 10 minutes in the pan. Remove from the pan and transfer to a wire cooling rack while you make the topping.
Add the powdered sugar, vanilla, and 1 tbsp of water to a mixing bowl. Mix until thoroughly combined. If it’s not runny enough you can go ahead and add another tbsp of water until it reaches a pourable consistency.
Drizzle the topping over the warm Cinnamon Swirl Loaf.

Slice and enjoy!

Tips & Tricks

✅ Use Room Temperature Ingredients – This helps the dough rise properly and gives it a light texture.
✅ Don’t Overheat the Milk – It should be warm, not hot, to activate the yeast without killing it.
✅ Roll the Dough Tightly – A snug roll ensures a beautiful swirl and prevents gaps in the bread.
✅ Let It Rise Properly – A good rise creates a fluffy texture, so be patient!
✅ Slice When Cooled – It’s tempting to cut right in, but waiting helps it set and hold its shape.

FAQs

Yes! You can knead the dough by hand—just mix until it forms a smooth, elastic dough, which may take about 10 minutes of kneading.

Wrap it tightly in plastic wrap or store it in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. For longer storage, freeze slices and toast them as needed.

Absolutely! While bread flour gives a slightly chewier texture, all-purpose flour works perfectly fine for a soft, delicious loaf.

Toast slices for a few minutes or warm them in the microwave for about 10-15 seconds for a fresh-out-of-the-oven taste.

Cinnamon Swirl Loaf Bread

Name: Cinnamon Swirl Loaf Bread
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 45 min
Total time: 1 h 15 min
Ingredients: For the loaf cake; • 3 cups strong white bread flour (or all purpose flour see notes) • 1/2 cup granulated sugar; • 1 packet instant or active dried yeast; • 1 stick butter, cold and cut into small cubes; • 1 cup whole milk; • 1 tsp vanilla extract • 1 egg; For the filling; • 3 tbsp melted butter; • 1/2 packed cup brown sugar; • 2 tbsps ground cinnamon; • 1 tbsp melted butter, for brushing the top of the loaf; For the topping; • 1.5 cups powdered sugar • 2 tsps vanilla extract; • 1-2 tbsps water

Prep Time: 30 minutes

Cook Time: 45 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes

This homemade Cinnamon Swirl Loaf Bread is one of a kind! It has a soft fluffy texture that rises to perfection. It is full of the perfect amount of cinnamon and sugar that you can taste in every single bite.

Ingredients

For the loaf cake
• 3 cups strong white bread flour (or all purpose flour see notes) • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1 packet instant or active dried yeast
• 1 stick butter, cold and cut into small cubes
• 1 cup whole milk
• 1 tsp vanilla extract • 1 egg
For the filling
• 3 tbsp melted butter
• 1/2 packed cup brown sugar
• 2 tbsps ground cinnamon
• 1 tbsp melted butter, for brushing the top of the loaf
For the topping
• 1.5 cups powdered sugar • 2 tsps vanilla extract
• 1-2 tbsps water

Instructions

Sift the flour into the bowl of a stand mixer then, add the sugar and yeast and mix well with a whisk or wooden spoon. Add the cubed butter and use your fingertips to rub it into the flour mixture until it resembles fine breadcrumbs.
Heat the milk until it is warm then add it to the dry ingredients in the mixing bowl along with the vanilla extract and egg.
Attach the mixing bowl to a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Turn the speed to low and mix for 7 minutes. The dough will turn from sticky to soft and should not feel sticky at the end of the mixing period.
Grease another bowl with a little oil then put the dough into it turning it in the oil in the bowl so it doesn’t dry out. Add cling wrap to the bowl and rest until the dough has doubled in size. This will take 1-2 hours depending on how warm your kitchen is. See notes on how to test the dough for readiness.
When the dough has doubled in size, dust a work surface with flour and turn the dough out onto it. Roll the dough into a rectangle of approximately 16” x 9”.
Line a 2lb loaf pan with baking parchment. You will grease it later with some leftover butter from the filling.
Melt the butter for the filling then use a pastry brush to brush it over the top of the dough. You will find that once you’ve brushed over the entire surface you will still have some melted butter leftover. Use this to grease the inside of the loaf pan.
Mix the brown sugar and cinnamon thoroughly then sprinkle it over the top of the dough. Use the back of a spoon to press the sugar filling into the dough.
With the shortest side facing you, roll the dough into a tight sausage shape. Cut through the middle of the rolled-up dough so you have two sections. Twist the two sections together into a 2 strand braid.
Carefully place the braid into the prepared loaf pan. Cling wrap the pan and set it aside for 30 minutes. After 20 minutes, preheat the oven to 350oF.
After 30 minutes, the dough in the loaf pan will have puffed up. Brush the top of the dough with 1 tbsp melted butter then put the pan in the center of the preheated oven for 45 minutes. See notes regarding baking time.
Take the loaf pan out of the oven and leave it to cool for 10 minutes in the pan. Remove from the pan and transfer to a wire cooling rack while you make the topping.
Add the powdered sugar, vanilla, and 1 tbsp of water to a mixing bowl. Mix until thoroughly combined. If it’s not runny enough you can go ahead and add another tbsp of water until it reaches a pourable consistency.
Drizzle the topping over the warm Cinnamon Swirl Loaf.
Slice and enjoy!

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

Serving Size:

1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 466Total Fat: 17gSaturated Fat: 10gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 6gCholesterol: 63mgSodium: 149mgCarbohydrates: 72gFiber: 2gSugar: 39gProtein: 7g

Melissa

I’m Melissa, the imaginative force behind Sparkles to Sprinkles, where creativity comes to life, and sprinkles of joy are scattered generously. Melissa is a proud Jersey girl who found love with a New York boy. As a mom to four wonderful boys and a few fur babies, her journey into the world of blogging began after making the life-changing decision to stay home and raise her children. Previously a dedicated workaholic, Melissa’s blog became her creative outlet and passion project. Inspired by her mother-in-law, a masterful cook renowned for her delicious home-cooked meals and legendary holiday feasts (think mouthwatering sausage stuffing), Melissa honed her culinary skills through a combination of family recipes and countless cooking classes. She often attended these classes with her son Michael, who shared her enthusiasm for cooking from a young age. Melissa’s love for learning extends beyond familiar cuisines, as she enjoys exploring international recipes in hands-on cooking classes. Her blog features a diverse array of recipes, showcasing her expertise with various kitchen appliances such as the Instant Pot, air fryer, Slow Cooker, Ninja Foodi, Instant Vortex Plus, and more. Join Melissa on her culinary adventures as she shares tried-and-true family favorites alongside exciting new discoveries!

Warm & Cozy: Homemade Cinnamon Swirl Loaf Bread