Cinnamon, Swirled

I've been doing quite a bit of bread making lately!  I've been making a this great recipe for our every day consumption and have been branching out into new breads too.  I've even made some tortillas!!  YES!  While they need a little bit of perfecting (ok -let's be honest...a LOT of perfecting...), I think that I've found a winner with another new find.  Cinnamon Swirl Bread.  I know what you're thinking.  You're thinking: psh -who DOESN'T know how to make cinnamon swirl bread (because it was really quite easy)?

Right?  Did I hear correctly?  If you didn't think that, then maybe you're thinking that you'd like to eat some?  That you'd like to make some RIGHT this second (because it's that easy and even better -it tastes spectacular)?

Don't worry -I've gatcha covered.

I used a fabulous recipe from this fine lady's blog!  The Pioneer Woman.  Anyone know her?  heh -I don't know her either, but if I idolized humans, she'd be my idol!  *cough*  Anyway.  Of course the one she made looks beautiful (You should go see her finished version.  It's quite a bit prettier than mine ended up being), and the recipe tastes even better than it looks.

Here it is, folks (copied from her published posed):

Recipe

Homemade Cinnamon Bread

Prep Time:

 4 Hours

 

Cook Time:

 40 Minutes

 

Difficulty:

 Easy

 

Servings:

12

Print Recipe

Ingredients

• 1 cup Milk
• 6 Tablespoons Butter
• 2-1/2 teaspoons Active Dry Yeast
• 2 whole Eggs
• 1/3 cup Sugar
• 3-1/2 cups All-purpose Flour
• 1 teaspoon Salt
• 1/3 cup Sugar
• 2 Tablespoons Cinnamon
• Egg And Milk, Mixed Together, For Brushing
• Softened Butter, For Smearing And Greasing

Preparation Instructions

Melt butter with milk. Heat until very warm, but don't boil. Allow to cool until still warm to the touch, but not hot. Sprinkle yeast over the top, stir gently, and allow to sit for 10 minutes.

Combine flour and salt.

In the bowl of an electric mixer, mix sugar and eggs with the paddle attachment until combined. Pour in milk/butter/yeast mixture and stir to combine. Add half the flour and beat on medium speed until combined. Add the other half and beat until combined.

Switch to the dough hook attachment and beat/knead dough on medium speed for ten minutes. If dough is overly sticky, add 1/4 cup flour and beat again for 5 minutes.

Heat a metal or glass mixing bowl so it's warm. Drizzle in a little canola oil, then toss the dough in the oil to coat. Cover bowl in plastic wrap and set it in a warm, hospitable place for at least 2 hours.

Turn dough out onto the work surface. Roll into a neat rectangle no wider than the loaf pan you're going to use, and about 18 to 24 inches long. Smear with 2 tablespoons melted butter. Mix sugar and cinnamon together, then sprinkle evenly over the butter-smeared dough. Starting at the far end, roll dough toward you, keeping it tight and contained. Pinch seam to seal.

Smear loaf pan with softened butter. Place dough, seam down, in the pan. Cover with plastic wrap and allow to rise for 2 hours.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Mix a little egg with milk, and smear over the top. Bake for 40 minutes on a middle/lower rack in the oven.

Remove from the pan and allow bread to cool. Slice and serve, or make cinnamon toast or French toast with it.

Yummy!

So I did as instructed by the ever wonderful Pioneer Woman.  Mostly, it went as I expected.  I made some changes like making it into 2 loaves (because there was SO much dough), added different types of flour (like rye so it'd be a little heartier for a different project), and went a little easy on the cinnamon.  *sigh*  Ok -so maaaayyybeee I ran out of cinnamon because I have a tendency to "forget" to plan ahead....  *cough*  I also used extra butter on the inside of the roll.  Paula Dean would be so proud!

As I pulled it out of the oven I was graced with the most beautiful smell.  Yeasty, cinnamony, and fresh.

I couldn't wait to try some.

I burned my tongue.

Stop laughing.

It was really spectacular!  The loaf lasted all week without getting stiff and stale!  The second loaf I made was to go with a crock-pot french toast project that just was embarrassing.  Nothing like serving your in-laws burned food.  *sigh*  Good thing they love me for my sassiness and not my burned french toast....

I hope you get some enjoyment out of this recipe.  I'll definitely be making it again, and maybe even adding raisins!

Happy fooding!

Love,
Me!