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Cinnamon Donut Bread – Sweet Easy Recipes

Some mornings call for a little extra sugar. That’s exactly how this cinnamon donut bread was born—out of a craving for something warm, a bit sweet, and easy enough to whip up before coffee kicks in. You don’t need fancy gear or a pastry degree, just a bowl, a spoon, and a hunger for that nostalgic donut-shop flavor. This loaf gives you that cake-donut vibe without the fryer mess. It’s soft inside, golden on the outside, and loaded with cinnamon sugar that’s basically the warm hug of baking spices. When I pulled this from the oven the first time, my kitchen smelled like one of those weekend fairs with fresh donuts spinning on a rack—minus the overpriced ticket. You can slice it warm, or let it cool and go full breakfast-dessert hybrid. Either way, it’s the kind of recipe you’ll keep coming back to. Great for brunch spreads, easy enough for weekday treats, and flexible for any sweet craving you need to quiet fast. If you love sweet easy recipes like I do, this one’s a keeper.
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time45 minutes
Total Time55 minutes
Course: Breakfast
Cuisine: American
Keywords: air fryer cookies easy recipes, butter swim biscuits easy recipes, cheesey potatoes easy recipe, easy recipes for dinner, easy recipes ninja creami, food receipt easy recipes, sweet easy recipes
Servings: 10 slices
Author: Lila

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 cup buttermilk
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 cup granulated sugar (for topping)
  • 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon (for topping)
  • 2 tablespoons melted butter (for topping)

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 350°F. Grease a standard loaf pan or line it with parchment paper.
  2. In a mixing bowl, whisk together the melted butter and sugar until combined.
  3. Add the egg, buttermilk, and vanilla. Mix until smooth.
  4. In another bowl, combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon.
  5. Slowly add the dry ingredients into the wet, stirring just until everything is incorporated. Don’t overmix.
  6. Pour the batter into your loaf pan and smooth the top.
  7. Bake for 45–50 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean from the center.
  8. Let the loaf cool for 10 minutes in the pan, then transfer to a wire rack.
  9. Mix the cinnamon and sugar topping together in a small bowl.
  10. Brush the loaf with melted butter, then sprinkle (or generously coat) with the cinnamon sugar.
  11. Slice and serve while slightly warm, or let it cool completely—it’s delicious either way.

Notes

You can swap buttermilk with milk plus a tablespoon of vinegar or lemon juice. This bread stores well covered at room temp for 3 days or freeze slices for later.