Cinnamon Crunch Bread Recipes

CINNAMON CRUNCH BRAIDED BREAD

Steps:

• Warm the milk in a bowl in the microwave for just about 1 to 11/2 minutes until it is warm. Add in the sugar and salt, then stir the mixture. Allow it to sit until it is warm, but not too hot (if you have a thermometer, it should measure about 105-110 degrees in order to proof active dry yeast). Add 1 package (2 1/4 teaspoons) of yeast right to this milk. Allow the yeast to proof for about 5 minutes. It should get nice and frothy.
• Add the softened (almost melted) butter and 2 eggs. Stir this well until it is all blended together.
• Gradually add in the flour,1 cup at a time. Add in the last 1/2 a cup and start to knead the dough with your hands until the last 1/2 cup of flour is incorporated in. Turn the dough out onto a floured surface and continue to knead the bread for about 7 minutes until it is smooth and elastic. Add a bit more flour as you need to during kneading. The dough should still feel sticky, but it will not stick to your hands. During needing, I added less than 1/4 cup of additional flour. If you add too much flour, your bread will be dry.
• Place this dough in a greased bowl and cover it. Allow the dough to rise in a warm place until it has doubled, about 1 hour.
• Split the dough into two balls. Knead 1/2 cup of homemade cinnamon chips into each dough ball. They made be hard to stick in initially, but as you work the dough, they'll stick. Split each dough ball into three pieces. Roll those 3 pieces out into a snake about 12" long. Braid the three ropes together and tuck/pinch the ends so that the braid does not come undone. Place each braid on a greased baking sheet.
• Beat the remaining egg and brush the tops of the loaves with this. This is what gives the bread such a lovely golden color!
• In a small bowl, combine the butter, brown sugar and cinnamon for the streusel. Continue to cut in the butter until the mixture is in coarse crumbs. Split this mixture between the two loaves, patting the sugar on top of the braids.
• Cover the loaves and allow the dough to rise for another 1/2 an hour, then bake the bread dough for 25 minutes in a 350 degree oven.
• Allow the bread to cool for 10 minutes, then slice and serve with butter or cinnamon butter.

CINNAMON CRUNCH BREAD

Steps:

• Whisk the warm buttermilk, warm water, yeast, and 2 Tablespoons sugar together in the bowl of your stand mixer fitted with a dough hook or paddle attachment. Cover and allow to sit for 5 minutes or until foamy on top.
• Add the remaining sugar, the butter, egg, salt, and 1 cup flour. Beat on low speed for 30 seconds, scrape down the sides of the bowl with a rubber spatula, then add the remaining flour. Beat on low speed until the dough comes together and pulls away from the sides of the bowl, about 2 minutes. *If you do not own a mixer, you can mix this dough with a large wooden spoon or rubber spatula. It will take a bit of arm muscle.*
• Keep the dough in the mixer and beat on low speed for an additional 2 minutes or knead by hand on a lightly floured surface for 2 minutes.
• Lightly grease a large bowl with oil or nonstick spray. Place the dough in the bowl, turning it to coat all sides in the oil. Cover the bowl with aluminum foil, plastic wrap, or a clean kitchen towel. Allow the dough to rise in a relatively warm environment for 1.5-2 hours or until double in size. (I always let it rise on the counter. Takes about 2 hours. For a tiny reduction in rise time, see my answer to Where Should Dough Rise? in my Baking with Yeast Guide.)
• Grease a 9×5 inch loaf pan.
• Punch down the dough to release the air. Place dough on a lightly floured work surface and with a floured rolling pin, roll the dough out into a 9×15 inch rectangle (approximately).
• Spread softened butter all over the top of the dough, leaving a 1/2 inch border uncovered. The softer the butter is, the easier it is to spread in this step. (Microwave it for a few seconds to soften if needed.) Mix the brown sugar and cinnamon together, then sprinkle evenly all over the butter.
• If you need a visual, watch the video to see exactly how I do this step. Tightly roll the dough into a 15-inch log. Place the log on its seam. Using a sharp knife, cut the log in half lengthwise. I find a serrated knife works best. Criss-cross one half on top of the other half- forming an X. Tightly twist the two together. Pinch the outer edges to seal as best you can. Place in prepared loaf pan and cover with aluminum foil, plastic wrap, or a clean kitchen towel. (This step can get a little messy!) Allow the covered loaf to rest for 30 minutes. It will slightly rise during this time.
• Adjust the oven rack to the lower third position. Place a baking sheet on the lower rack to catch any cinnamon/sugar that may drip down. Preheat the oven to 350°F (177°C).
• Whisk the melted butter, brown sugar, cinnamon, and flour together. Spoon over loaf right before baking.
• Bake until golden brown and, when gently tapped, the top of the loaf sounds hollow, about 45-55 minutes. The top browns quickly as it bakes, so tent the entire loaf with aluminum foil. (I usually place foil on top after about 20 minutes.) Remove finished bread the oven and place on a wire rack. Cool for 10 minutes in the pan, then remove from the pan and cool loaf on the wire rack.
• Slice and serve warm or at room temperature. Cover and store leftovers at room temperature for 2 days or in the refrigerator for up to 1 week. Leftover slices taste delicious when warmed in the microwave for 10 seconds. Topping tends to lose its crunch after a day or 2.

CINNAMON CRUNCH BANANA BREAD

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350 degrees. Butter a 9-by-5-inch loaf pan and line it with parchment or wax paper, leaving enough paper hanging over the sides to lift the cake out after baking. (This will prevent the topping from breaking when removing the bread from the pan.)
• Prepare the batter: In a medium bowl, combine flour, granulated sugar, cinnamon, baking soda and salt. In a large bowl, using a sturdy whisk, beat together oil, eggs and honey until smooth. Stir in bananas and warm water. Add dry ingredients to egg-oil mixture and stir to blend. Pour batter into prepared pan.
• Make the topping: In a small bowl, mix brown sugar, granulated sugar and cinnamon, using your fingers to break up any lumps. Sprinkle evenly over batter.
• Bake until a tester inserted into the center comes out clean, about 1 hour, checking after 50 minutes. If topping shows signs of burning, reduce heat to 325 degrees.
• Remove to a rack and let cool in pan for 30 minutes. Use the edges of the paper to lift the cake up and out. Place on a rack (leave the paper on) and let cool before slicing and serving.

CINNAMON CRUNCH SKILLET BREAD

Steps:

• Make the dough: Proof the yeast in 1/4 cup of warm water. Combine the dry ingredients in a large bowl or the bowl of a stand mixer. Add the warmed milk, vegetable oil and proofed yeast. Knead with the dough hook until dough is smooth, adding more flour by the Tbsp. as necessary. Remove dough to an oiled bowl, cover with plastic wrap and let rise to doubled, about 60 minutes.
• Grease a skillet and set aside.
• Divide dough into two pieces and roll into a rope about 3 feet long. Place the dough on to a long piece or parchment or foil wrap and liberally brush with melted butter mixed with the vanilla. Pour the brown sugar/cinnamon mixture evenly alongside the buttered ropes and then roll the ropes in the mixture until evenly covered. Pinch the end of the ropes together and then twist them together, pinching the other end once all twisted together.
• Place twisted ropes into the skillet, starting from the centre and winding it around. (If you have some melted butter left over from brushing, feel free to drizzle it over the dough). Cover the skillet with greased plastic wrap and let rise until doubled.
• Meanwhile, prepare the streusel topping by combining dry ingredients and cutting in the cold butter with a fork. Set aside.
• Preheat oven to 350° F. Once dough is doubled, sprinkle with streusel topping and bake for for 40-45 minutes, covering it with foil after 25 or 30 minutes if is dark enough.
• Meanwhile, prepare the glaze by combining the wet ingredients and adding to the powdered sugar. Stir well until smooth. Pour evenly over bread once it has cooled a bit.

CINNAMON CRUNCH ZUCCHINI BREAD

Steps:

• Make the streusel: Combine flour, sugar and cinnamon for the streusel in a small-medium bowl. Add the cold butter and cut it into the flour mix until small crumbs form. Chill in the fridge until ready to use.
• Shred zucchini: Shred the zucchini on a coarse grater and squeeze excess liquid.
• Prep: Preheat your oven to 360°F and line a 5x9 inch loaf pan with baking parchment.
• Mix the dry ingredients: Add all dry ingredients to a large bowl and whisk until well combined.
• Mix the wet ingredients: Add all wet ingredients EXCEPT for the shredded zucchini to a medium bowl or measuring jug. Whisk very well until smooth. Stir in the zucchini.
• Combine wet and dry: Pour the wet ingredients into the bowl with the dry ingredients and fold them in until JUST combined. Do not overmix!
• Finish and bake: Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan. Top with the streusel, gently pushing it into the batter. Bake for around 50 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean. Cool in the pan for 10-15 minutes before removing to a cooling rack.