There’s nothing quite like the warm, comforting aroma of freshly baked cinnamon bread filling your home. This Cinnamon Streusel Bread Recipe is the ultimate guide to creating a masterpiece in your own kitchen. Imagine a perfectly soft, moist bread with a rich, gooey cinnamon swirl, all crowned with a buttery, crunchy streusel topping. It’s a slice of pure happiness, perfect for breakfast, dessert, or a cozy afternoon snack. Forget the bakery; this recipe is straightforward, reliable, and delivers incredible results every single time.
Why You’ll Love This Cinnamon Streusel Bread Recipe
This isn’t just another bread recipe; it’s a game-changer for home bakers. We’ve designed this guide to be completely foolproof, ensuring you get that perfect bakery-quality loaf on your very first try.
- Perfectly Soft Crumb: The dough is enriched with milk and butter, creating a tender, moist texture that melts in your mouth.
- Gooey Cinnamon Swirl: Our filling technique ensures you get a beautiful, distinct ribbon of cinnamon sugar throughout the loaf.
- Crunchy Streusel Topping: The simple streusel adds a delightful buttery crunch that perfectly complements the soft bread.
Understanding the Key Components
The magic of this bread lies in three distinct layers that come together in perfect harmony. Understanding each part is the key to success.
The Tender Bread Dough
The foundation is a soft, enriched yeast dough. Using milk instead of water adds richness and fat, which results in a softer crumb and a longer shelf life. Room temperature ingredients are crucial for helping the yeast activate properly for a beautiful rise.
The Gooey Cinnamon Swirl
This is where the iconic flavor comes from. A simple mixture of brown sugar, cinnamon, and a touch of flour (to prevent it from becoming too runny) creates that irresistible sweet and spicy ribbon inside the bread.
The Perfect Streusel Topping
Streusel is a crumbly topping made from flour, sugar, and butter. The key is using cold butter and mixing it just until coarse crumbs form. This ensures it bakes up crispy and crunchy, rather than melting into the bread.
Ingredients You’ll Need
We’ll break this down into the three main parts: the dough, the filling, and the streusel topping. Using the right ingredients is the first step to perfection.
For the Bread Dough:
- All-purpose flour
- Granulated sugar
- Instant yeast
- Salt
- Whole milk
- Unsalted butter, softened
- Large egg, at room temperature
For the Cinnamon Filling:
- Brown sugar, packed
- Ground cinnamon
- All-purpose flour
For the Streusel Topping:
- All-purpose flour
- Brown sugar, packed
- Ground cinnamon
- Unsalted butter, cold and cubed
Step-by-Step Instructions
Follow these steps carefully for a flawless Cinnamon Streusel Bread Recipe. We’ve broken down the process to make it simple and easy to follow.
Step 1: Make the Streusel Topping
Combine Dry Ingredients: In a small bowl, whisk together the flour, brown sugar, and cinnamon.
Cut in the Butter: Add the cold, cubed butter. Using a pastry blender or your fingertips, cut the butter into the flour mixture until it resembles coarse crumbs. Place the bowl in the refrigerator to keep cold while you prepare the dough.
Step 2: Prepare the Bread Dough
Activate Yeast: Gently warm the milk to about 110°F (43°C). It should feel lukewarm. In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine the warm milk, sugar, and yeast. Let it sit for 5-10 minutes until it becomes foamy.
Mix the Dough: Add the softened butter, egg, salt, and about half of the flour to the yeast mixture. Using the dough hook attachment, mix on low speed until combined. Gradually add the remaining flour and knead on medium speed for 6-8 minutes, until the dough is smooth and elastic. It should pull away from the sides of the bowl.
Step 3: First Rise
Let it Rise: Form the dough into a ball and place it in a lightly greased bowl, turning to coat. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap or a clean kitchen towel. Let it rise in a warm, draft-free place for 1-1.5 hours, or until doubled in size.
Step 4: Mix the Cinnamon Filling
Combine: While the dough is rising, prepare the filling. In a small bowl, mix together the brown sugar, cinnamon, and flour until well combined. Set aside.
Step 5: Assemble the Loaf
Shape the Dough: Punch down the risen dough and turn it out onto a lightly floured surface. Roll it into a rectangle approximately 10×14 inches.
Add the Filling: Sprinkle the cinnamon-sugar filling evenly over the surface of the dough, leaving a small border around the edges.
Roll and Seal: Starting from one of the shorter ends, roll the dough up tightly into a log. Pinch the seam and the ends to seal securely.
Step 6: Second Rise
Final Proof: Carefully place the log, seam-side down, into a greased 9×5 inch loaf pan. Cover loosely and let it rise again for 45-60 minutes, or until it has risen about 1 inch above the rim of the pan. Towards the end of the rise, preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
Step 7: Bake to Perfection
Add Topping and Bake: Once risen, sprinkle the chilled streusel topping evenly over the top of the loaf. Place the pan in the preheated oven and bake for 40-50 minutes. The top should be golden brown and a thermometer inserted into the center should read 190°F (88°C). If the top starts to brown too quickly, you can tent it loosely with aluminum foil for the last 15 minutes of baking.
Pro Tips for the Best Cinnamon Streusel Bread
A few expert tips can take your bread from good to absolutely amazing.
- Measure Flour Correctly: For a soft, tender crumb, avoid packing the flour. Spoon the flour into your measuring cup and level it off with a knife.
- Use Room Temperature Ingredients: For the dough, using a room temperature egg and softened (not melted) butter helps the ingredients combine seamlessly and aids the yeast.
- Don’t Over-Proof: Over-proofing can cause the bread to collapse in the oven. The second rise is done when the dough springs back slowly after being poked gently.
Storing Your Homemade Bread
To keep your cinnamon streusel bread fresh, store it in an airtight container or a zip-top bag at room temperature for up to 3 days. For longer storage, you can freeze the entire loaf or individual slices. Wrap it tightly in plastic wrap and then foil, and it will keep in the freezer for up to 2 months.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. After the first rise, you can punch the dough down, cover it tightly, and refrigerate it for up to 24 hours. When you’re ready to bake, let it sit on the counter for about 30 minutes to warm up slightly before shaping and proceeding with the second rise.
Absolutely. To substitute active dry yeast, you’ll use the same amount. However, you must activate it in the warm milk and sugar mixture for about 5-10 minutes until it’s foamy before adding the other ingredients. The rise times may also be slightly longer.
To get a distinct swirl, roll the dough into an even rectangle and sprinkle the filling all the way to the edges. Then, roll the log up as tightly as you can and firmly pinch the seam to seal it. This prevents the filling from leaking and keeps the layers defined.
Store the bread in an airtight container or a zip-top bag at room temperature for up to 3 days. Avoid refrigerating it, as that can cause the bread to dry out faster. For longer storage, freeze it.
This usually happens if the butter was too warm when you mixed the streusel. It’s crucial to use cold, cubed butter and to mix it just until coarse crumbs form. Chilling the streusel in the refrigerator while the dough rises also helps it maintain its shape during baking.
More Breakfast & Dessert Recipes You’ll Enjoy
If you loved this recipe, you’re sure to enjoy our Blueberry Coffee Cake for another delightful breakfast treat. For a classic, check out this simple Amish White Bread recipe. And for a similar flavor profile with a twist, try our incredible Apple Fritter Bread.
Your New Favorite Recipe Awaits
This Cinnamon Streusel Bread Recipe is more than just food; it’s an experience. The process is just as rewarding as the delicious result. We can’t wait for you to try it! When you do, be sure to share your beautiful creations with us on Pinterest.
Cinnamon Streusel Bread Recipe
Cinnamon Streusel Bread Recipe (The Ultimate Guide)
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Make the Streusel: In a small bowl, whisk together the flour, brown sugar, and cinnamon for the topping. Cut in the cold, cubed butter with a pastry blender or your fingertips until it resembles coarse crumbs. Refrigerate until needed.
- Activate Yeast: In a stand mixer bowl, combine warm milk, sugar, and yeast. Let sit for 5-10 minutes until foamy.
- Mix Dough: To the yeast mixture, add the softened butter, egg, salt, and half the flour. Mix with the dough hook. Gradually add the remaining flour and knead on medium speed for 6-8 minutes until the dough is smooth and elastic.
- First Rise: Form dough into a ball, place in a greased bowl, cover, and let rise in a warm place for 1-1.5 hours, or until doubled.
- Prepare Filling: In a small bowl, mix together the brown sugar, cinnamon, and flour for the filling.
- Assemble: Punch down the dough and roll it into a 10x14 inch rectangle. Sprinkle the filling evenly over the top. Roll it up tightly into a log and pinch the seam to seal.
- Second Rise: Place the log in a greased 9x5 inch loaf pan. Cover and let rise for 45-60 minutes. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) during the last 15 minutes of rising.
- Bake: Sprinkle the chilled streusel over the loaf. Bake for 40-50 minutes, or until golden brown and an internal thermometer reads 190°F (88°C). Tent with foil if it browns too quickly. Let cool before slicing.
Notes
For best results, let the bread cool completely before slicing to ensure clean cuts.
