Cinnamon Swirl Bread

5 from 1 vote

Inspired by Costco’s famous cinnamon sugar loaf, this from-scratch Cinnamon Swirl Bread is buttery, tender, and irresistibly sweet. The smell alone will make your kitchen feel like home. Perfect for breakfast, snacks, or holiday gifting!

Prep Time10

Cook Time45

Total Time1

Course: Bread

Cuisine: American

Keyword: cinnamon bread, cinnamon swirl bread, dessert, quick bread

Servings: servings

Author: Elena Davis

Ingredients

For the Cinnamon Swirl

¼ cup granulated sugar
3 teaspoons ground cinnamon

For the Batter

2 cups all-purpose flour
3 teaspoons baking powder
¾ teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 cup granulated sugar
1 large egg at room temperature
1 cup whole milk slightly warmed
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
¼ cup neutral oil avocado or canola
¼ cup unsalted butter melted

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease or line a 9x5-inch loaf pan with parchment paper.
Make the cinnamon swirl: In a small bowl, combine ¼ cup sugar and 3 teaspoons cinnamon. Stir together and set aside.
Make the Batter: In a large mixing bowl, beat the egg and sugar together until light and pale yellow.
Whisk in the milk, vanilla, oil, and melted butter until smooth and fully combined.
Place a fine mesh sieve over the bowl and sift in the flour, baking powder, salt, and remaining 1 teaspoon cinnamon.
Stir gently with a spatula or wooden spoon until just combined — do not overmix. The batter should be thick and smooth.
Assemble the loaf: Pour half the batter into the prepared loaf pan. Sprinkle half of the cinnamon-sugar mixture evenly over the top. Add the remaining batter and smooth gently. Sprinkle the rest of the cinnamon-sugar mixture over the top.
Use a butter knife to make gentle figure-8 swirls through the batter.
Bake: Bake for 45–50 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
Finish: Remove from oven. Cool in the pan for 10 minutes before transferring to a wire rack. Slice and enjoy!

Notes

Elena's Tips:

Use room temperature ingredients for the softest, most tender crumb.
Don’t overmix the batter — a few gentle folds keep it light and fluffy.
Swirl lightly! Over-swirling will blend the cinnamon layer instead of creating ribbons.
Brush with melted butter right after baking for that glossy, bakery-style top.
Sprinkle a little coarse sugar on top before baking for a sweet crunch.
Wrap leftovers tightly — it stays moist for days and freezes beautifully!

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