Indulge in the heavenly aroma and exquisite taste of homemade Cinnamon Bread. This tender, sweet quick bread boasts an incredibly moist texture, a generous, thick cinnamon-sugar swirl running through its core, and a delightful crunchy topping that adds the perfect finish. It’s an utterly irresistible treat that will quickly become a household favorite!

If you love the simplicity and deliciousness of quick breads, be sure to explore some of our other cherished recipes. You might enjoy our Apple Cinnamon Bread, the wonderfully moist Zucchini Bread, or the autumnal delight of Pumpkin Bread!

Overhead view of a beautiful, golden-brown Cinnamon Bread loaf, sliced to reveal its perfect cinnamon-sugar swirl and crunchy topping. — Experience the pure delight of tender, sweet, and moist Cinnamon Bread – a simple quick bread recipe that always impresses!

The Ultimate Homemade Cinnamon Bread Recipe

Inspired by the fantastic feedback on our cinnamon banana bread, we embarked on a mission to create a standalone cinnamon bread recipe that didn’t rely on ripe bananas. The result is this incredibly quick, easy, and undeniably delicious Cinnamon Bread. It’s designed to be your new go-to recipe, ready whenever a craving for warm, spicy-sweet goodness strikes.

This recipe delivers a bread with a truly perfect texture – wonderfully soft and moist – complemented by a rich, aromatic cinnamon flavor that permeates every bite. What makes it even better is its straightforward preparation. You’ll only need one bowl for the main batter and another for the luscious cinnamon-sugar swirl filling, along with a trusty wooden spoon. No fancy mixers are required, making this a truly accessible baking project for all skill levels.

A delightful bonus: This remarkably soft Cinnamon Bread retains its freshness for days, making it ideal for meal prep or enjoying throughout the week. Furthermore, it freezes beautifully, allowing you to have a delicious homemade treat on hand whenever you desire. It’s an essential addition to any baker’s recipe collection!

Cinnamon-Sugar Lover’s Tip

Are you a true fan of cinnamon-sugar desserts? Then you’re in for a treat! Beyond this amazing Cinnamon Bread, you’ll adore our pull-apart Cinnamon Roll Monkey Bread, our incredibly simple no-knead Cinnamon Roll Recipe, or the comforting simplicity of our Cinnamon Roll Skillet Cake!

Step-by-step image showing dry ingredients like flour, baking soda, and cinnamon being whisked together in a large mixing bowl. — Mixing the dry ingredients is the first step towards a perfectly balanced Cinnamon Bread.

Key Ingredients for the Perfect Cinnamon Bread

One of the beauties of this Cinnamon Bread recipe is that it relies on readily available pantry staples. However, a few key ingredients deserve special attention to ensure your loaf turns out exceptionally moist, flavorful, and perfectly textured every time. Understanding their role can elevate your baking game!

Greek Yogurt (or Sour Cream): This is a secret weapon for moisture and tenderness! Full-fat Greek yogurt or full-fat sour cream is highly recommended. The higher fat content contributes significantly to the bread’s moist crumb and rich flavor. While plain yogurt works, using a flavored variety like honey vanilla can subtly enhance the taste without requiring extra effort or ingredients. Avoid low-fat or fat-free options, as they won’t provide the same richness or texture.
Fresh Baking Agents: The leavening agents – baking soda and baking powder – are crucial for giving your quick bread its signature rise and light texture. It’s essential to ensure they are fresh and active. Expired baking agents can lead to a dense, flat bread. A quick test for baking soda involves mixing a little with vinegar; for baking powder, mix with hot water. Both should bubble vigorously if fresh.
Whole Milk: For the best flavor and the softest, most tender texture, whole milk is the ideal choice. Its fat content enriches the batter and contributes to a wonderfully moist finished product. While 2% or 1% milk can be used in a pinch, we strongly advise against skim or non-dairy milks (unless otherwise specified for a recipe), as their thin consistency can result in a drier, less flavorful bread.
Room Temperature Ingredients: This is a golden rule in baking, especially for quick breads. Ensuring your egg, Greek yogurt/sour cream, and milk are at room temperature allows them to emulsify properly with the other ingredients, creating a smooth, uniform batter. This even distribution helps the bread rise better and contributes to a more tender, consistent crumb. Cold ingredients can cause the batter to seize, making it lumpy and potentially affecting the final texture of your Cinnamon Bread.

Step-by-step image showing wet ingredients, including egg, oil, yogurt, and milk, being whisked vigorously in a large bowl. — Whisking wet ingredients thoroughly ensures a smooth, well-combined batter for your quick bread.

Essential Quick Bread Baking Tips for Success

Achieving the perfect quick bread, like this Cinnamon Bread, is incredibly simple when you follow a few key techniques. These tips ensure your loaf is always moist, tender, and rises beautifully, avoiding common baking pitfalls:

Gentle Mixing is Key: To keep this Cinnamon Bread recipe easy and ensure a tender crumb, stir the batter using a wooden spoon and whisk only. Avoid using a hand or stand mixer for the main batter. Overmixing introduces too much air and develops the gluten in the flour, which can lead to a tough, chewy bread instead of the desired soft, moist texture. Mix just until combined.
Don’t Overmix – Stop Early: This ties into the previous point. The moment you no longer see any streaks of dry flour in the batter, stop stirring. A few small lumps are perfectly fine and even preferred. Continuing to mix beyond this point will toughen your bread.
Accurate Measuring Matters: Baking is a science, and precision in measuring ingredients is crucial. For dry ingredients like flour and sugar, measure every cup or spoon by gently spooning the ingredient into the measuring cup until it’s slightly mounded (heaping/overfilled). Then, use the back of a straight table knife or a leveling tool to level off the top, ensuring you have the perfect measurement. Avoid scooping directly with the measuring cup, as this can pack the flour, leading to too much flour and a dry, dense bread.
Always Prepare Your Pan: To prevent your delicious Cinnamon Bread from sticking to the pan or breaking apart when you try to remove it, always line the pan. This can be done by greasing it generously with butter or cooking spray and then dusting it lightly with flour, or by lining it with parchment paper for effortless removal. Proper pan preparation ensures a beautifully intact loaf.
Resist the Urge to Peek: During baking, it can be tempting to frequently open the oven door to check on your bread. However, doing so causes the oven temperature to drop rapidly, which can lead to a collapsed loaf or an uneven bake. Keep the oven door closed until at least three-quarters of the estimated baking time has passed, or until you start to smell that irresistible cinnamon aroma.

Process shot illustrating how wet and dry ingredients are gently combined in a large bowl with a wooden spoon for Cinnamon Bread. — Combine the wet and dry ingredients just until smooth for the best quick bread texture.

Creative Variations to Elevate Your Cinnamon Bread

Switch Things Up and Customize Your Loaf

While this Cinnamon Bread is absolutely delightful on its own, its versatility allows for many delicious variations to suit your taste or occasion:

Add a Glaze or Frosting: To transform your bread into something truly decadent, similar to a cinnamon roll, consider adding a luscious topping. A rich cream cheese frosting or a simple vanilla glaze (made with powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla extract) drizzled generously over the cooled loaf will take it to the next level.
Honey Butter Enhancement: For those who appreciate buttered bread, spreading some homemade honey butter on a warm slice of Cinnamon Bread offers an extra layer of sweetness and unparalleled flavor. It’s a simple addition that makes a big impact.
Make it Raisin Bread: If you enjoy the classic combination of cinnamon and raisins, easily convert this into a delightful raisin bread. Simply mix 1 cup of plump raisins with 1 tablespoon of flour (to prevent them from sinking to the bottom) before gently stirring them into the finished batter.
Nutty Crunch: For added texture and flavor, fold in ½ to ¾ cup of chopped walnuts or pecans into the batter along with the dry ingredients. The toasted notes of the nuts complement the cinnamon perfectly.
Chocolatey Twist: Introduce a delightful surprise by adding ½ cup of mini chocolate chips or chopped chocolate to the batter. Cinnamon and chocolate are a surprisingly delicious pairing!
Apple Cinnamon Fusion: Elevate the fall flavors by gently folding in ½ cup of finely diced apples (peeled or unpeeled, depending on preference) into the batter. This adds extra moisture and a burst of fruity freshness.

Process shot showing the cinnamon swirl mixture being prepared in a small bowl, showcasing its rich brown sugar and cinnamon hues. — The irresistible cinnamon swirl is a highlight of this tender bread.

Storage and Freezing Guidelines

Keeping Your Cinnamon Bread Fresh and Delicious

This homemade Cinnamon Bread is so good, you might not have any leftovers! But if you do, here’s how to ensure it stays fresh and delicious for as long as possible:

Room Temperature Storage:

At room temperature, your Cinnamon Bread remains wonderfully fresh and tasty for about 2 days. Many find that it’s even more moist and flavorful on the second day as the flavors have had more time to meld. To store it longer at room temperature, keep the loaf in an airtight container or tightly wrapped in plastic wrap to prevent it from drying out.

Refrigeration:

For extended freshness beyond two days, we recommend storing the bread in the fridge. Wrap individual slices tightly in plastic wrap or store the whole loaf in an airtight container to protect it from absorbing other refrigerator odors and to maintain its moisture. It will keep well in the refrigerator for up to a week.

Freezing for Long-Term Enjoyment:

Cinnamon Bread freezes beautifully, making it perfect for preparing ahead or saving for a quick treat whenever you need one. Follow these simple steps for optimal freezing:

First and foremost, allow the bread to cool completely on a wire rack. Attempting to freeze warm bread will lead to condensation and ice crystals, compromising its texture.
Once thoroughly cooled, you have two options:
- Whole Loaf: Wrap the entire loaf tightly in several layers of plastic wrap, followed by a layer of aluminum foil. This double-layer protection is crucial to prevent freezer burn.
- Individual Slices: For ultimate convenience, slice the cooled bread and wrap each slice individually in plastic wrap, then place them together in a large freezer-safe bag. This allows you to grab just one slice at a time.
Place the wrapped bread in a heavy-duty freezer bag, pressing out any excess air before sealing. This further protects it from freezer burn.
Defrost slices at room temperature or gently warm them in the microwave or toaster oven. A whole loaf can be defrosted overnight in the refrigerator or on the counter for a few hours. Enjoy your frozen Cinnamon Bread within 3 months for the best quality.

Process shot depicting the final layering of cinnamon bread batter into a prepared 9x5-inch loaf pan, showcasing the swirl before baking. — Layering the batter and cinnamon swirl perfectly creates a beautiful pattern and delicious flavor throughout.

Baking Pan Perfection Tip

Using the correct size of bread pan is crucial for success! This Cinnamon Bread recipe is specifically formulated to bake up properly in a 9×5-inch (1 pound) loaf pan. Using other loaf pan sizes, especially one that is too small, will result in the batter overflowing, or an underbaked center and overbaked edges. If you only have an 8×4-inch pan, you might consider using only about 75% of the batter and adjusting the bake time accordingly, but the 9×5-inch pan yields the best results. By the way, here’s my favorite loaf pan!

More Delicious Cinnamon Goodness You’ll Love:

If you’re a true enthusiast of cinnamon’s warm, comforting spice, then your culinary adventure doesn’t have to end with this incredible Cinnamon Bread. We have a variety of other recipes that perfectly showcase the versatility and charm of cinnamon, from delightful cookies to unique sweet snacks:

Cinnamon Roll Cookies: Imagine the taste of a cinnamon roll, but in a convenient, bite-sized cookie form, complete with a luscious cream cheese frosting. These are perfect for parties or a quick sweet fix.
Caramel Snickerdoodles: A delightful twist on the classic snickerdoodle, these cookies feature a gooey caramel center (thanks to Rolos stuffed inside!) and are coated in the iconic cinnamon-sugar mix.
Cinnamon Roll Popcorn: A truly unique snack, this recipe transforms ordinary popcorn into an extraordinary treat with the flavors of cinnamon rolls and a drizzle of sweet white chocolate. It’s addictively good!
Pumpkin Oatmeal Cookies: Infused with the cozy spice of cinnamon, these soft and chewy pumpkin oatmeal cookies are a perfect fall delight, though delicious year-round.
Cinnamon Banana Bread: Our original inspiration! This super moist banana bread is taken to new heights with a generous swirl of cinnamon and a crunchy streusel topping.

Final baked loaf of Cinnamon Bread, rich golden brown with a visible sugary crust.

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5 out of 5 stars from 1 vote

Cinnamon Bread

By
Chelsea Lords

This Cinnamon Bread is soft, sweet, and packed with cinnamon-sugar goodness—inside and out! Ultra-moist and easy to make, it’s a guaranteed crowd-pleaser.

Prep Time:
25 minutes

Cook Time:
1 hour

Cooling:
1 hour 15 minutes

Total Time:
2 hours 40 minutes

Servings:
10 slices (1 loaf)

Video Overview

Watch a quick video tutorial on how to make this delicious Cinnamon Bread for visual guidance.

Equipment

9 x 5-inch bread pan (see note 1 for details on pan size)
Large mixing bowls (2)
Whisk
Wooden spoon or spatula
Wire cooling rack

Ingredients

Cinnamon Swirl

1/3 cup light brown sugar (lightly packed)
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1-1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

Dry Ingredients

2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon salt

Wet Ingredients

1 large egg (at room temperature, see note 2)
2/3 cup light brown sugar (lightly packed)
1/3 cup vegetable oil (or canola oil)
1/3 cup Greek yogurt (full-fat; or sour cream, at room temperature)
3/4 cup whole milk (at room temperature)

Topping

2 tablespoons light brown sugar (lightly packed)
1 tablespoon granulated sugar
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Glaze (optional, see note 3)

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Generously grease and lightly flour (or line with parchment paper) a 9×5-inch bread pan. Set aside.
Combine the cinnamon swirl ingredients (light brown sugar, all-purpose flour, and ground cinnamon) in a small bowl. Stir well to combine and set aside.
In a large bowl, mix together the dry ingredients (all-purpose flour, baking soda, ground cinnamon, and salt) until they are well integrated.
In a separate large bowl, combine all the wet ingredients (egg, light brown sugar, vegetable oil, Greek yogurt, and whole milk). Briskly whisk (using a hand whisk; do not use a hand or stand mixer to avoid overmixing) until the mixture is well combined and completely smooth. Once smooth, pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients. Gently mix with a wooden spoon, scraping the sides with a spatula as needed, until completely integrated and no white streaks of flour remain. As soon as you have a nice smooth batter, stop mixing immediately.
Stir the topping ingredients (light brown sugar, granulated sugar, and ground cinnamon) together in a small bowl and set aside.
Spread half of the bread batter into the prepared pan, carefully pressing the batter to reach the very edges of the pan. Evenly spoon the cinnamon-swirl mixture on top of the first layer of batter. Carefully spread the remaining half of the bread batter on top of the cinnamon swirl. Gently smooth the top with a spatula or the back of a spoon into an even layer that touches the edge of the pan (this may require some gentle coaxing to avoid disturbing the cinnamon sugar layer). Evenly sprinkle the topping ingredients over the top of the bread, but do not press them into the batter.
Place the bread in the preheated oven and bake for 60–75 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean or with only moist crumbs attached. Remove from the oven and let it cool in the pan for 15 minutes before carefully inverting it onto a wire cooling rack to cool completely. It’s important to wait for at least 1 hour before cutting into the loaf; then use a very sharp serrated knife to cut it into slices. If desired, add a glaze (see note 3) to the completely cooled bread.

Recipe Notes

Note 1: For the best results, it’s critical to use the right size bread pan – a 9×5-inch pan. An 8×4-inch pan is too small and will cause the batter to overflow or result in an improperly baked loaf. If an 8×4-inch pan is your only option, fill it with approximately 75% of the batter and reduce the bake time accordingly. Always ensure your pan is well-greased with cooking spray or shortening, then dusted with flour, or lined with parchment paper for easy removal.

Note 2: It is truly important that the egg, Greek yogurt (or sour cream), and milk are all at room temperature. This allows them to integrate smoothly and evenly into the batter, leading to a perfectly emulsified mixture and a more tender, consistent crumb in your finished bread. Cold ingredients can make the batter lumpy and dense.

Note 3: If you wish to add a simple yet delicious glaze, combine 1/2 cup powdered sugar, 1 tablespoon whole milk, a tiny drop of vanilla extract, and a small pinch of salt in a small bowl. Whisk until smooth. Once the bread has completely cooled, spoon the glaze evenly over the top.

Storage: This Cinnamon Bread is at its peak of freshness and flavor within 1–2 days of baking; many find it even more moist and delicious on the second day. To maintain its optimal texture, store it in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days. For longer storage, up to a week, we recommend refrigerating the bread after day 2. To keep slices individually fresh, wrap each one tightly in plastic wrap before placing them in an airtight container or bag.

Nutrition Information

Nutrition information is automatically calculated and should be used as an approximation only.

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