Cinnamon Donut Loaf (Printable Version)
A tender cinnamon-swirled loaf with brown sugar layers and buttery cinnamon sugar topping, perfect for breakfast or dessert.
# What You Need:
→ Loaf Batter
01 - 1½ cups all-purpose flour
02 - ¾ cup granulated sugar
03 - 2 tsp baking powder
04 - ½ tsp salt
05 - 1 tsp ground cinnamon
06 - ½ cup whole milk
07 - 2 large eggs
08 - ⅓ cup unsalted butter, melted
09 - 1 tsp vanilla extract
→ Cinnamon Sugar Layer
10 - ⅓ cup brown sugar
11 - 1 tsp ground cinnamon
→ Topping
12 - 2 tbsp unsalted butter, melted
13 - ¼ cup granulated sugar
14 - 1 tsp ground cinnamon
# How-To:
01 - Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease an 8x4-inch loaf pan and line it with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on the sides for easy removal.
02 - In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, granulated sugar, baking powder, salt, and ground cinnamon until evenly distributed.
03 - In a separate bowl, beat together the milk, eggs, melted unsalted butter, and vanilla extract until smooth and well incorporated.
04 - Pour the wet mixture into the dry ingredients and fold gently with a spatula until just combined. Be careful not to overmix, as this can result in a dense, tough crumb.
05 - In a small bowl, stir together the brown sugar and ground cinnamon until uniformly blended. Set aside.
06 - Pour half of the batter into the prepared loaf pan, spreading it into an even layer. Sprinkle the cinnamon sugar mixture uniformly across the surface. Top with the remaining batter and smooth the top with a spatula.
07 - Bake on the center rack for 40 to 50 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the loaf comes out clean. The top should be golden brown and spring back lightly when touched.
08 - Let the loaf rest in the pan for 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack. While still warm, brush the top generously with melted butter and immediately sprinkle with a mixture of granulated sugar and ground cinnamon.
09 - Allow the loaf to cool completely on the wire rack before slicing into 8 even portions. This ensures the cinnamon sugar topping sets and the interior firms up for clean cuts.
# Expert Hints:
01 -
- It gives you all the warm fuzzy comfort of a cinnamon donut without needing a fryer or any fancy equipment.
- The brown sugar cinnamon layer running through the middle creates this gorgeous swirl that surprises people every time they slice into it.
02 -
- Overmixing the batter is the fastest way to turn this tender loaf into something rubbery and dense, so stop folding the instant the flour disappears.
- The cinnamon sugar layer sometimes sinks slightly during baking if the batter is too thin, so aim for a thick ribbony consistency when combining wet and dry.
03 -
- Tent the loaf loosely with foil during the last 10 minutes of baking if the top is browning too quickly but the center is not yet set.
- Warm the milk slightly before mixing it with the eggs and butter so everything blends more smoothly and the batter comes together faster.