This is what you want to make on a cold winter day and then enjoy the rest of the week. This cinnamon bread recipe makes two loaves, so you can enjoy one now and freeze one for later. The dough is a pleasure to work with and roll out. The recipe calls for a sprinkling of cinnamon and sugar on the inside, but you can add some nuts or raisins also, if you like. Try a slice toasted, with lots of butter on top. You could even make french toast with it. Enjoy.
Cinnamon Bread
for a printable recipe only, click here
Makes 2 loaves. They freeze beautifully. You will need two 9x5 loaf pans.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup milk
- ¾ cup water
- ⅓ cup butter
- about 7½ cups cups of flour (more or less)
- 6 Tablespoons sugar
- 1½ teaspoons salt
- 4 teaspoons of instant dry yeast (fast acting yeast) or 2 packages of active dry yeast (I prefer the instant yeast) *
- 3 eggs, room temperature
- ½ cup sugar
- 2 teaspoons cinnamon
- 2 Tablespoons butter, melted
Instructions:
Combine milk, water and ⅓ cup butter in a small saucepan. Heat over low heat until liquids are warm (not hot - it will kill the yeast). Remove from heat and stir until butter is melted.
Place 6 cups of flour, 6 tablespoons sugar, salt and yeast in a bowl. If you're using a KitchenAid mixer, attach your dough hook. Mix for a few seconds and then gradually add the eggs. Mix and then add the liquids and mix for a couple of minutes. (If you are not using a mixer, just do this process in a large bowl and use a wooden spoon and then your hands).
Add remaining flour until dough clings to the hook and cleans the sides of the bowl. Add just enough flour until the dough gathers into a ball. Knead for about 5 minutes. Place in a greased bowl. Cover and set in a warm location; let rise until double, about 40 minutes.
Combine ½ cup of sugar and the cinnamon in a small bowl. Spray the loaf pans with non-stick spray.
Placing plastic wrap on the dough helps to roll it out.
Punch the dough down and divide in half. Roll each half to a 9"x14" rectangle, Brush with melted butter and sprinkle with the cinnamon mixture. Roll dough tightly and shape into loaves. Place in the loaf pans. Cover; let rise until double, about 40 minutes. Meanwhile, preheat your oven to 375 F degrees.
Bake at 375 F for 35 minutes. Remove from pans immediately and let cool on wire racks.
To freeze, wrap tightly.
* For more information about the various kinds of yeast, see my post "Yeast Explained".
Note: This dough recipe is also used to make awesome Walkaways.
