Delightful Cinnamon Donut Bread Recipe

Imagine the comforting aroma of warm cinnamon sugar filling your kitchen. This Delightful Cinnamon Donut Bread Recipe brings that irresistible experience straight to your home. It’s a delightful hybrid, offering the ease of a quick bread with the mouthwatering taste of a classic fried donut. So simple to make, yet incredibly flavorful, this easy donut bread is perfect for breakfast, brunch, or a sweet treat anytime.

Why You’ll Love This Delightful Cinnamon Donut Bread

This cinnamon sugar loaf is destined to become a family favorite for many reasons:

• Quick and Easy: Prepare this delicious quick bread with minimal fuss and effort.
• Simple Pantry Staples: You likely have all the ingredients on hand already.
• Unique Donut-Like Flavor: Enjoy the sweet, spiced taste of a donut without the deep-frying.
• Moist, Tender Crumb: Each slice boasts a wonderfully soft and tender texture.
• Perfect for Any Time: It’s ideal for breakfast, a coffee break, or a comforting dessert.
• Great for Sharing: This lovely loaf makes a wonderful gift or a crowd-pleasing addition to any gathering.

Ingredients

Making this Delightful Cinnamon Donut Bread Recipe starts with simple pantry staples. Gather these ingredients to create your moist and flavorful loaf, plus the irresistible spiced sugar coating.

For the Bread Batter:

• 2 cups (250 g) all-purpose flour
• 1 ½ cups (300 g) granulated sugar
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• ½ teaspoon kosher salt
• 1 ¼ cups (306 g) whole milk
• 1 large egg, room temperature
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract

For the Spiced Sugar Coating:

• ¼ cup (½ stick / 57 g) unsalted butter, melted
• ½ cup (100 g) granulated sugar
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg

Notes & Substitutions

• Flour: All-purpose flour works perfectly for this tender quick bread. Avoid using bread flour, as it can result in a tougher crumb.
• Sugar: Granulated sugar provides the ideal sweetness and texture for both the bread and the delicious coating.
• Leavening: Baking powder is key for giving this sweet cinnamon bread its beautiful rise. Ensure your baking powder is fresh for the best results.
• Salt: Kosher salt balances the sweetness, enhancing all the delightful flavors in the loaf.
• Milk: Whole milk creates the richest, moistest crumb, contributing to that classic donut-like texture. You can substitute 2% milk if needed, but the bread may be slightly less tender.
• Egg: A large, room temperature egg incorporates more smoothly into the batter. This helps create a more uniform texture in your baked goods.
• Butter: Unsalted butter allows you to control the overall salt content. If you only have salted butter, simply reduce the added kosher salt by half a teaspoon.
• Flavoring: Good quality vanilla extract, along with freshly ground cinnamon and nutmeg, elevates the delightful donut flavor profile. These warm spices are essential for that signature taste.

Equipment

You don’t need any fancy tools to make this delicious bread. Here’s what you’ll need:

• Standard 8.5×4.5-inch loaf pan
• Two mixing bowls (one large, one medium)
• Whisk
• Measuring cups and spoons
• Parchment paper
• Pastry brush
• Toothpick for testing doneness

Instructions

Baking this Delightful Cinnamon Donut Bread Recipe is a straightforward process. Follow these simple steps for a perfect, warmly spiced loaf.

1. Prepare the oven and pan: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Lightly spray an 8.5 x 4.5-inch loaf pan with nonstick cooking spray to prevent sticking.
2. Combine dry ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, 1 ½ cups granulated sugar, baking powder, and ½ teaspoon kosher salt until well combined. This ensures even distribution of the leavening.
3. Mix wet ingredients: In a separate medium bowl, whisk together the whole milk, large room temperature egg, 2 tablespoons melted unsalted butter, and vanilla extract. Whisk until all ingredients are thoroughly combined and smooth.
4. Combine wet and dry: Pour the milk mixture into the flour mixture. Stir gently with a spoon or spatula until just combined. Be careful not to overmix; a few small lumps are perfectly fine. Overmixing leads to a tough bread.
5. Pour into pan: Pour the batter evenly into your prepared loaf pan. Spread it gently to ensure it fills the pan from corner to corner.
6. Bake the bread: Place the loaf pan in the preheated oven. Bake for 60-70 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out with only a few moist crumbs, not wet batter.
7. Cool slightly: Once baked, remove the bread from the oven. Let it cool in the loaf pan for about 10 minutes. This allows the loaf to firm up slightly before handling.
8. Prepare for coating: Carefully remove the warm bread from the pan. Place it onto a large piece of parchment paper.
9. Apply butter: While the bread is still warm, gently brush the entire surface with the ¼ cup melted unsalted butter for the topping. Ensure all sides are generously coated.
10. Create spiced sugar: In a small bowl, mix together the ½ cup granulated sugar, 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon, and ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg for the topping. Stir until the spices are evenly distributed throughout the sugar.
11. Coat the bread: Evenly sprinkle the spiced sugar mixture over the butter-coated surface of the bread. Turn the loaf as needed to ensure all sides are thoroughly coated. You may have a small amount of the sugar mixture left over.

Pro Tips & Troubleshooting

Achieving a perfectly moist and flavorful loaf is easy with a few simple tips for your cinnamon donut bread.

• Room temperature ingredients: Ensure your egg and milk are at room temperature. This helps them emulsify better with the melted butter, creating a smooth, uniform batter and even baking.
• Do not overmix: Mix the wet and dry ingredients just until combined. Overmixing develops gluten, which can lead to a dense, tough, and dry bread texture.
• Measure flour correctly: Always spoon flour into your measuring cup, then level it off with the back of a knife. Scooping directly can pack too much flour, making your bread dry.
• Test for doneness: A toothpick inserted into the center should come out with a few moist crumbs, not wet batter. If it comes out clean, the bread might be slightly overbaked.
• Coat while warm: Brush the melted butter and apply the spiced sugar coating while the bread is still warm. The warmth helps the butter soak in and allows the sugar mixture to adhere perfectly.

Serving, Storage, & Variations

Enjoy this Delightful Cinnamon Donut Bread Recipe in many ways! It’s a truly versatile treat.

Serving Suggestions:
Enjoy this delicious quick bread for breakfast with your morning coffee. It also makes a delightful brunch item, an afternoon snack, or a comforting dessert.

Pairings:
It pairs wonderfully with a hot cup of coffee, tea, or a cold glass of milk. For an extra indulgent treat, serve a slice warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a dollop of whipped cream.

Storage:

• Room Temperature: Store leftover bread in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1-2 days.
• Refrigerator: To extend freshness, store the bread in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
• Freezer: For longer storage, wrap individual slices tightly in plastic wrap, then again in aluminum foil. Freeze for 3-6 months.

Thawing Instructions:
Allow frozen slices to reach room temperature on the counter. You can also gently warm them in the microwave or a low oven for a fresh-baked taste.

Variations

Get creative with your donut-style quick bread!

• Muffin Adaptation: Pour the batter into a greased muffin tin instead of a loaf pan. Bake for 20-25 minutes, then coat with the butter and spiced sugar.
• Different Spices: Experiment with a pinch of cardamom, ginger, or allspice in addition to, or in place of, the nutmeg for a unique twist on this sweet cinnamon bread.
• Glaze Option: For a less messy topping, skip the butter and sugar coating. Instead, drizzle a simple powdered sugar glaze (made from powdered sugar and a little milk or lemon juice) over the cooled loaf.
• Add-ins: Fold in ½ cup of mini chocolate chips, chopped pecans, or walnuts with the dry ingredients for added texture and flavor.

Nutrition

This Delightful Cinnamon Donut Bread Recipe is truly a treat, perfect for satisfying your sweet tooth or enjoying a special moment. Please note that these values are estimates and can vary based on specific ingredients and serving sizes.

Delightful Cinnamon Donut Bread Recipe

This delightful Cinnamon Donut Bread combines the comforting flavors of cinnamon and sugar in a moist, easy-to-make loaf. Perfect for breakfast or a sweet treat, it offers all the deliciousness of a donut in a simple bread format.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 20 minutes mins

Cook Time 1 hour hr 15 minutes mins

Total Time 1 hour hr 35 minutes mins

Servings: 8 slices

Calories: 400

Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients

  

Bread

• 2 cups all-purpose flour (250 g)
• 1 ½ cups granulated sugar (300 g)
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• ½ teaspoon kosher salt
• 1 ¼ cups whole milk (306 g)
• 1 large egg room temperature
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter melted
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract

Cinnamon Sugar Topping

• ¼ cup unsalted butter (½ stick / 57 g), melted
• ½ cup granulated sugar (100 g)
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg

Equipment

• Oven
• Loaf pan
• Large mixing bowl
• Whisk
• parchment paper
• Brush

Method

 

Preparation

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F and spray an 8 ½ x 4 ½-inch loaf pan with nonstick cooking spray.
2. In a large bowl, combine the flour, 1 ½ cups granulated sugar, baking powder, and salt.
3. In a separate bowl, whisk together the milk, egg, 2 tablespoons melted butter, and vanilla extract until well combined.

Baking

1. Pour the milk mixture into the flour mixture, stirring gently until just combined; be careful not to overmix as the batter should be a bit runny.
2. Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan, spreading it evenly.
3. Bake for 60-70 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out with a few crumbs and the top is golden brown.

Topping Application

1. Remove the bread from the oven and let it cool in the pan for about 10 minutes, then carefully transfer it to parchment paper.
2. While the bread is still warm, gently brush its entire surface with ¼ cup melted butter for the topping.
3. In a small bowl, mix together the remaining granulated sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg for the topping.
4. Evenly sprinkle the sugar and spice mixture over the butter-coated bread, turning the loaf as needed to coat all sides.

Notes

Do not overmix the batter; it should be a bit runny. You may have leftover sugar and spice mixture for the topping, which can be saved and reused.

FAQ

Here are answers to some common questions about making your delightful cinnamon bread.

Conclusion

This Delightful Cinnamon Donut Bread Recipe truly captures the essence of a warm, sugary donut in a convenient loaf. It’s incredibly simple to prepare, making it a perfect baking project for beginners and busy parents alike. You’ll love its comforting aroma and irresistible taste, making every bite a sweet escape. Whip up a loaf today, enjoy its comforting versatility, and share the joy with your loved ones!