Cozy Cinnamon Sugar Pull-Apart Bread
A warm, soft, and sweet pull-apart bread layered with cinnamon sugar, perfect for stress baking and comfort food lovers. This easy recipe delivers a cozy treat with a pillowy texture and a classic cinnamon sugar flavor.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30-35 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 50 minutes
- Yield: 12 servings 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
- 3 ½ cups (440g) all-purpose flour
- 1 packet (2 ¼ tsp / 7g) active dry yeast
- 1 cup (240ml) warm whole milk (about 110°F/43°C)
- ¼ cup (50g) granulated sugar
- ⅓ cup (75g) unsalted butter, melted and slightly cooled
- 1 large egg, room temperature
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ cup (100g) granulated sugar (for filling)
- 2 tbsp ground cinnamon
- 3 tbsp (45g) unsalted butter, melted (for brushing between layers)
- 1 cup (120g) powdered sugar (optional glaze)
- 2–3 tbsp milk or cream (optional glaze)
- ½ tsp vanilla extract (optional glaze)
Instructions
- Warm the milk to about 110°F (43°C). Stir in the sugar and yeast, then let it sit for 5-10 minutes until foamy.
- In a large bowl or stand mixer, combine the flour and salt. Add the melted butter, egg, and the yeast-milk mixture. Mix until a shaggy dough forms.
- Knead the dough by hand on a lightly floured surface or with a dough hook for about 8-10 minutes until smooth and elastic.
- Place the dough in a greased bowl, cover with a kitchen towel or plastic wrap, and let it rise in a warm spot for about 1 to 1 ½ hours until doubled in size.
- While the dough rises, mix the granulated sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl. Melt the butter for brushing and keep it warm.
- Punch down the risen dough and turn it onto a floured surface. Roll it out into a 12×18 inch (30×45 cm) rectangle.
- Brush the dough evenly with melted butter, then sprinkle the cinnamon sugar mixture generously over the top.
- Cut the dough into 12 strips about 1.5 inches wide. Stack the strips on top of each other to create layers, then cut the stack into three equal sections.
- Grease a 9×5 inch loaf pan. Place each stack vertically into the pan side by side. Cover loosely with plastic wrap and let rise again for 30-45 minutes until puffy.
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Bake the bread for 30-35 minutes until golden brown and cooked through. Tent with foil if browning too quickly.
- Optional: While warm, whisk powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla to a pourable glaze and drizzle over the bread. Let cool slightly before serving.
Notes
Keep liquids warm but not hot to activate yeast properly. Don’t over-flour the dough to avoid dense bread. Let the dough rest if it shrinks back when rolling. The second rise in the pan is crucial for pull-apart texture. Use a toothpick test to check doneness. For gluten-free, use a 1:1 gluten-free flour blend and xanthan gum if needed. For dairy-free, substitute milk and butter with plant-based alternatives.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice (1/12 of loa
- Calories: 235
- Sugar: 10
- Sodium: 200
- Fat: 7
- Saturated Fat: 4
- Carbohydrates: 35
- Fiber: 1
- Protein: 5
Keywords: cinnamon sugar bread, pull-apart bread, stress baking, comfort food, easy bread recipe, cinnamon bread, sweet bread