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Delicious Cinnamon Donut Loaf

Featured in Sweet Treats Worth the Calories.

This Delicious Cinnamon Donut Loaf mixes the fluffiness of baked bread with the cinnamon-sugar flavors of donuts. Brown sugar and cinnamon create striking swirls in a rich buttermilk batter, baked to soft perfection. Once out of the oven, it’s coated in melted butter and rolled in sugar for a crispy, donut-inspired finish. Every bite is sweet, moist, and just right for mornings or snacks.
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Updated on Tue, 18 Mar 2025 09:52:34 GMT
A delicious loaf of cinnamon bread with a sugar crust. Pin it
A delicious loaf of cinnamon bread with a sugar crust. | cookwithtaste.com

Make your home smell like a bakery with this mouthwatering cinnamon donut bread. Every soft slice brings back memories of those sugar-dusted donuts we all love, but in an easy-to-slice loaf. We've tried this dozens of times to get it just right - you'll love how soft it is inside with those pretty cinnamon swirls that pack flavor in every mouthful.

Buttermilk is the secret weapon here - it makes the bread unbelievably soft, just like fresh donuts from a shop. Eat it while it's still warm and you'll swear you're at your favorite donut place.

Essential Ingredients

  • Buttermilk: Makes everything tender and adds a slight tang against the sweetness
  • Molasses: Adds deep, caramel-like flavor to the cinnamon swirl
  • Oil and Butter Mix: Keeps everything moist while adding rich taste
  • Quality Cinnamon: Try to grab Vietnamese cinnamon if you can for extra flavor punch
A tasty baked good with a spiral pattern on the surface, looking delicious. Pin it
A tasty baked good with a spiral pattern on the surface, looking delicious. | cookwithtaste.com

Cooking Steps

Main Batter:
Sift all dry stuff well. Whip the fats with sugar until light. Add eggs one at a time. Switch between adding flour and buttermilk, don't overmix.
Cinnamon Mix:
Take some batter out. Mix in brown sugar, cinnamon, and molasses just until combined.
Putting It Together:
Put in half the plain batter, drop spoonfuls of cinnamon mix on top, make swirls. Do the layers again.

This bread came about on a cold winter day when I wanted donuts but didn't want to leave home.

Perfect Baking

Keep your oven at 350°F the whole time so it bakes evenly and gets that nice golden color.

Beautiful Marbling

Don't go crazy with the swirling - less mixing means prettier patterns in your bread.

Get Ready Early

You can mix the cinnamon-sugar topping beforehand, but wait to put it on until you're ready to eat.

Ways To Enjoy

Great when fresh, or turn day-old slices into amazing French toast.

Expert Tricks

  • Take ingredients out of the fridge ahead of time
  • Don't substitute the buttermilk if you want real donut flavor
  • Let it sit exactly 10 minutes before taking it out of the pan

When cinnamon and sugar smells fill your kitchen, regular mornings turn special. This bread brings a cozy feeling to weekend breakfasts, and it's even better when you share it with family.

A yummy baked treat with spiral design sits on a wooden serving plate. Pin it
A yummy baked treat with spiral design sits on a wooden serving plate. | cookwithtaste.com

Frequently Asked Questions

→ Why mix dry and wet separately?
It prevents overmixing so the bread stays soft and airy.
→ No buttermilk? What works best?
Stir in 1/2 tablespoon of vinegar or lemon juice to regular milk and let it sit for five minutes.
→ How do I know it’s baked through?
Stick a toothpick in—if it pulls out with minimal crumbs, you're good.
→ Is it okay to freeze this loaf?
Yes! Wrap it well, freeze for up to three months, and add the sugar coating after thawing.
→ Why wait to coat the loaf?
Letting it cool 10 minutes helps the loaf hold together for dipping.

Cinnamon Donut Loaf

Tender loaf layered with sugar and cinnamon, topped with a buttery coating that gives it a donut-like crunch.

Prep Time
15 Minutes
Cook Time
45 Minutes
Total Time
60 Minutes
By: Milly

Category: Desserts

Difficulty: Intermediate

Cuisine: American

Yield: 6 Servings (1 loaf)

Dietary: Vegetarian

Ingredients

→ Bread Base

01 1 1/2 cups plain flour
02 1/4 cup canola oil
03 3/4 cup white sugar
04 1/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
05 1/2 cup buttermilk
06 1/2 teaspoon table salt
07 1 teaspoon baking powder
08 2 large eggs
09 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract

→ Cinnamon Swirl

10 2 tablespoons packed brown sugar
11 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
12 1/2 teaspoon molasses

→ Topping

13 1/4 cup light brown sugar
14 1/4 cup white sugar
15 1 stick (1/2 cup) melted unsalted butter
16 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Instructions

Step 01

Set the oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease your 9x5-inch loaf pan. Grab a medium bowl and mix baking powder, salt, and flour together.

Step 02

In a bowl, cream together the sugar, butter, and canola oil till it’s fluffy (takes about 3 minutes). Drop in eggs one by one and whip in the vanilla. Gradually mix in the flour mix and buttermilk, alternating them—start and end with the dry stuff.

Step 03

Scoop out about 3/4 cup of batter into another bowl. Quickly stir in molasses, cinnamon, and brown sugar until it’s well mixed.

Step 04

Pour half the regular batter into the pan. Add blobs of the cinnamon batter and swirl them in. Repeat with the rest of the batter layers.

Step 05

Slide the pan into the oven and bake for 45-50 minutes. It’s ready when a toothpick comes out mainly clean. Cool in the pan for 10 minutes before moving it.

Step 06

In one shallow dish, melt the butter. Mix both sugars and cinnamon in another shallow dish. Roll the cooled bread in the butter first, then in the sugar mix. Wait till it’s fully cooled to slice.

Tools You'll Need

  • 9x5-inch loaf tin
  • Hand or stand mixer
  • Wire rack for cooling
  • Two shallow bowls (for coating)

Allergy Information

Please check ingredients for potential allergens and consult a health professional if in doubt.
  • Includes dairy (buttermilk, butter)
  • Has eggs
  • Contains flour (gluten)

Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)

It is important to consider this information as approximate and not to use it as definitive health advice.
  • Calories: ~
  • Total Fat: ~
  • Total Carbohydrate: ~
  • Protein: ~