Cozy Cinnamon Sugar Donut Bread: Your Kitchen’s New Morning Star

There’s something magical about the aroma of cinnamon and sugar wafting through your house on a lazy Sunday morning. Last fall, I woke up craving the cinnamon sugar donuts from my favorite bakery but didn’t want to get dressed and drive across town. That’s when I remembered seeing a bread recipe that promised donut flavor without the deep frying. I threw it together with ingredients I already had, and when I pulled this golden, sugar-crusted loaf from the oven, I knew I’d created something special.

This Cozy Cinnamon Sugar Donut Bread is exactly what it sounds like—a tender, sweet bread that tastes like your favorite cinnamon sugar donut but comes together with the ease of quick bread. No yeast waiting, no dough rolling, no hot oil splattering. Just mix, pour, bake, and coat in that glorious cinnamon sugar crust that makes it absolutely irresistible.

Why Donut Bread Is Your New Breakfast Hero

Traditional donuts require time, specialized equipment, and frankly, a lot of courage to deal with hot oil first thing in the morning. This donut bread gives you all that classic flavor—the tender crumb, the sweet cinnamon coating, the slight richness from butter—without any of the fuss. It’s a quick bread, which means it uses baking powder instead of yeast, so there’s no rising time required.

What makes this bread truly special is the coating process. After baking, you brush the warm loaf with melted butter, then roll it in cinnamon sugar. This creates a delightful crust that’s reminiscent of the best cake donuts. Each slice has that satisfying crunch before giving way to the soft, slightly sweet interior.

Ingredients for Cozy Cinnamon Sugar Donut Bread

 Bread:

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1½ teaspoons baking powder
• ½ teaspoon baking soda
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
• ¾ cup granulated sugar
• 2 large eggs, room temperature
• ½ cup whole milk, room temperature
• ½ cup sour cream or plain Greek yogurt
• ⅓ cup unsalted butter, melted and slightly cooled
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Cinnamon Sugar Coating:

• ½ cup granulated sugar
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• ¼ cup unsalted butter, melted (for brushing)

Optional Glaze:

• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 2-3 tablespoons milk
• ½ teaspoon vanilla extract

  

Step-by-Step Instructions for Cinnamon Sugar Donut Bread

Preparation and Mixing

Step 1: Preheat and Prepare Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9×5-inch loaf pan generously with butter or non-stick spray, then dust with flour. This double insurance ensures easy removal. Alternatively, line with parchment paper leaving overhang for handles.

Step 2: Combine Dry Ingredients In a large bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Make sure there are no lumps of baking powder or soda—they’ll create unpleasant pockets in your finished bread. The smell of cinnamon at this stage should make your mouth water already.

Step 3: Mix Wet Ingredients In a separate medium bowl, whisk together sugar and eggs until the mixture becomes pale and slightly thick, about 2 minutes. This brief beating incorporates air for a lighter texture. Add milk, sour cream, melted butter, and vanilla, whisking until smooth and well combined.

Bringing It Together

Step 4: Combine Wet and Dry Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients. Using a rubber spatula or wooden spoon, fold gently just until no flour streaks remain. The batter will be thick and somewhat lumpy—this is perfect. Overmixing creates tough, dense bread, so resist the urge to make it perfectly smooth.

Step 5: Bake Pour the batter into your prepared loaf pan, smoothing the top with a spatula. Tap the pan gently on the counter a few times to release any air bubbles. Bake for 50-55 minutes, until the top is golden brown and springs back when lightly touched. A toothpick inserted into the center should come out clean or with just a few moist crumbs.

The Magical Coating

Step 6: Create the Cinnamon Sugar While the bread bakes, combine the sugar and cinnamon for the coating in a shallow dish, mixing well. Have your melted butter ready in another dish. The anticipation at this stage is almost unbearable as your kitchen smells like a bakery.

Step 7: Coat While Warm This is the crucial step! As soon as the bread comes out of the oven, let it cool in the pan for about 10 minutes—just long enough that you can handle it. Remove from pan and, while still very warm, brush all sides generously with melted butter. Immediately roll and press the loaf in the cinnamon sugar mixture, coating all sides evenly. The warmth helps the sugar stick and creates that beautiful crust you see in the photo.

Step 8: Cool and Serve Place the sugar-coated loaf on a wire rack to cool completely, or serve warm. I personally prefer it slightly warm—the texture is incredible and the cinnamon coating is at peak deliciousness.

Nutritional Information

Per serving (1 slice, loaf makes 12 slices):

• Calories: 275
• Total Fat: 11g
• Saturated Fat: 7g
• Cholesterol: 55mg
• Sodium: 195mg
• Total Carbohydrates: 41g
• Dietary Fiber: 1g
• Sugars: 26g
• Protein: 4g

Note: Nutritional values include the cinnamon sugar coating but not optional glaze.

Presentation Tips for Cinnamon Sugar Donut Bread

The presentation of this bread is naturally stunning thanks to that gorgeous golden-brown crust sparkled with cinnamon sugar. The image shows the loaf partially sliced, which is the perfect way to display it. Cut on a slight diagonal for visual interest, fanning out a few slices to show the tender interior contrasting with the sugar crust.

Serve on a rustic wooden cutting board with a butter knife alongside. For special occasions, add a small bowl of softened butter or the optional glaze for dipping. A dusting of extra cinnamon over the serving board adds aromatic appeal.

For a truly bakery-style presentation, you can create score marks on top before baking—three diagonal slashes create a beautiful artisan look. The bread will still get coated in cinnamon sugar, but the slashes add professional pizzazz.

Perfect Pairings

Cinnamon Sugar Donut Bread pairs beautifully with:

Coffee: The classic pairing—the bread’s sweetness plays perfectly against coffee’s slight bitterness.

Hot Chocolate: On chilly mornings, this combination is pure comfort.

Fresh Fruit: Sliced strawberries or apple slices provide a refreshing contrast to the sweet bread.

Cream Cheese Spread: Whipped cream cheese with a touch of vanilla creates a delicious spread.

Recipe Variations and Substitutions

Flavor Variations:

• Apple Cinnamon Bread: Fold 1 cup diced apples into the batter before baking
• Maple Donut Bread: Replace ¼ cup milk with maple syrup and add maple extract
• Chocolate Chip Addition: Stir ½ cup mini chocolate chips into batter
• Pumpkin Spice Version: Add 2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice to batter

Dietary Modifications:

• Gluten-Free: Use 1:1 gluten-free flour blend with xanthan gum
• Dairy-Free: Replace milk with almond milk and use dairy-free sour cream and butter
• Lower Sugar: Reduce sugar in bread to ½ cup and use less coating
• Whole Wheat: Replace half the all-purpose flour with whole wheat pastry flour

Coating Alternatives:

• Vanilla Sugar Coating: Use vanilla sugar instead of cinnamon sugar
• Cardamom Sugar: Replace cinnamon with ground cardamom
• Plain Sugar: Skip cinnamon for classic donut flavor
• Chocolate Glaze: Drizzle with melted chocolate instead of sugar coating

Frequently Asked Questions About Cinnamon Sugar Donut Bread

Q: Can I make this bread ahead of time? A: Yes! The bread stays fresh for 3-4 days at room temperature when wrapped tightly. The coating may soften slightly but it’s still delicious.

Q: Why is my bread dense? A: This usually results from overmixing the batter or using old baking powder/soda. Mix just until combined and check your leavening dates.

Q: Can I freeze Donut Bread? A: Absolutely! Wrap tightly in plastic wrap, then foil. Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw at room temperature, then refresh in a 300°F oven for 10 minutes.

Q: The coating isn’t sticking. What did I do wrong? A: The bread needs to be warm for the butter and sugar to adhere properly. If it cooled too much, brush with melted butter again.

Q: Can I make this in muffin tins instead? A: Yes! Fill muffin cups ⅔ full and bake for 18-22 minutes. Brush with butter and roll in cinnamon sugar while warm.

Q: My bread cracked on top. Is that normal? A: Yes! That crack is characteristic of quick breads and actually makes it look more rustic and homemade.

Storage and Make-Ahead Tips

Store Cinnamon Sugar Donut Bread wrapped tightly in plastic wrap or in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 4 days. The bread actually stays remarkably moist thanks to the sour cream and butter. If the coating seems less crunchy after day one, toast slices lightly to refresh the texture.

For longer storage, this bread freezes exceptionally well. Wrap the whole loaf (or individual slices) tightly in plastic wrap, then aluminum foil, or place in a freezer-safe bag. It will keep for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight at room temperature or in the refrigerator.

To refresh frozen or day-old bread, warm slices in a 300°F oven for 5-7 minutes, or toast individual slices. You can even brush warmed slices with additional melted butter and cinnamon sugar if you want to restore that fresh-baked experience.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Problem: Bread is raw in the middle but brown on top Solution: Cover loosely with foil for the last 10-15 minutes of baking. Your oven may run hot—verify temperature with an oven thermometer.

Problem: Coating falls off when slicing Solution: Let the bread cool completely before slicing. Use a serrated knife with a gentle sawing motion.

Problem: Bread is too dry Solution: Don’t overbake—remove when a toothpick has just a few moist crumbs. Also, make sure you’re measuring flour correctly (spoon and level, don’t scoop).

My Personal Baker’s Tip

Here’s my secret to making this bread absolutely exceptional: brown the butter before adding it to the batter. In a small saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat, swirling occasionally until it turns golden brown with a nutty aroma, about 5 minutes. Let it cool slightly before using. This adds incredible depth of flavor—that subtle nuttiness elevates the entire loaf.

Also, don’t skip the sour cream. I know some recipes call for just milk, but sour cream creates a tender crumb and keeps the bread moist for days. If you’re out of sour cream, full-fat Greek yogurt works perfectly as a substitute. The tang provides a lovely contrast to the sweet coating.

Conclusion

Cozy Cinnamon Sugar Donut Bread is proof that sometimes the best recipes are born from cravings and convenience. This bread delivers all the nostalgic comfort of cinnamon sugar donuts without requiring any special equipment or deep-frying expertise. It’s perfect for lazy weekend mornings, holiday breakfasts, or any time you want your kitchen to smell like pure happiness.

The beauty of this recipe is its simplicity combined with its impressive results. When you pull this golden, sugar-crusted loaf from your oven, people will think you’ve been baking for hours. Only you need to know it took less than 15 minutes to mix together. So preheat that oven, dust off your loaf pan, and get ready to fall in love with your new favorite breakfast bread!

Print