Ingredients
- For the dough:
- 2½ cups all‑purpose or bread flour
- ½ cup warm milk (110 °F / 43 °C)
- 2¼ tsp active dry or instant yeast
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- ¼ cup unsalted butter, softened
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 large egg
- For the cinnamon swirl:
- ½ cup brown sugar
- 1½ tsp ground cinnamon
- 2 tbsp unsalted butter, softened
- Optional glaze:
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 2–3 tbsp milk or cream
- ½ tsp vanilla extract
Instructions
- Warm the milk and stir in yeast and a pinch of sugar. Let sit 5–10 minutes until foamy.
- In a large bowl, whisk together flour, sugar (except swirl), and salt. Add yeast mixture, egg, and softened butter. Stir until a soft dough forms.
- Knead on a lightly floured surface (or with a mixer) for 8–10 minutes until smooth and elastic.
- Place dough in a greased bowl, cover, and let rise about 1 hour or until doubled.
- Meanwhile, mix brown sugar and cinnamon for the swirl.
- Roll the dough into a rectangle about 12″×8″. Spread with softened butter and sprinkle evenly with cinnamon sugar.
- Starting from the short side, roll tightly into a log; pinch seam to seal.
- Place loaf seam‑side down in a greased 9×5″ pan. Cover and let rise 30–45 minutes, until it crowns above the rim.
- Preheat oven to 350 °F (175 °C). Bake 35–40 minutes, until golden and hollow‑sounding when tapped. Tent with foil near the end if browning too quickly.
- Cool in pan 10 minutes, then transfer to a rack. If using glaze, whisk powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla; drizzle over cooled loaf.
Notes
- Stir raisins or chopped walnuts into the swirl for added texture.
- For a softer crust, brush the warm loaf with melted butter right after baking.
- To make rolls, roll dough as directed, slice into 8 rolls, place cut‑side up in a pan, and bake 25–30 minutes.
- This dough freezes well—freeze the shaped loaf raw and bake from frozen, adding a few extra minutes.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: undefined
- Category: Bread / Breakfast
- Method: Yeast loaf
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 240
- Sugar: 12g
- Sodium: 150mg
- Fat: 6g
- Saturated Fat: 3.5g
- Unsaturated Fat: undefined
- Trans Fat: undefined
- Carbohydrates: 38g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 5g
- Cholesterol: 25mg
