Cinnamon Streusel Bread Recipe
Nothing beats the warm smell of freshly baked bread. When cinnamon fills your kitchen, your home instantly feels cozy. This delicious Cinnamon Streusel Bread Recipe is soft, sweet, and packed with warm spice.
Ingredients
For the Cinnamon Streusel Topping:
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup brown sugar packed
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter melted
For the Cinnamon Swirl Layer:
- 1/3 cup brown sugar packed
- 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
For the Bread Batter:
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter softened at room temperature
- 1 cup granulated white sugar
- 2 large eggs room temperature
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1 cup sour cream or plain Greek yogurt
Instructions
Prep the Oven and Pan
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a standard 9x5-inch loaf pan with parchment paper. Lightly grease the paper with cooking spray. Set the pan aside for later.
Make the Streusel Topping
- In a medium bowl, combine the flour, brown sugar, and ground cinnamon. Pour in the melted butter. Stir with a fork until moist crumbs form. Set the delicious crumble mixture aside.
Mix the Cinnamon Swirl
- In a small bowl, whisk together the brown sugar and cinnamon for the swirl center. Make sure there are no lumps of sugar left. Set this aromatic spice mix aside.
Whisk the Dry Ingredients
- In another bowl, whisk the all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt together. Mix them well so the leavening agents distribute evenly. Set the dry mixture aside for a moment.
Cream Butter and Sugar
- In a large bowl, beat the softened butter and granulated sugar together. Use an electric mixer on medium speed. Beat for two minutes until the mixture looks light and fluffy.
Add Eggs and Vanilla
- Add the eggs to the butter mixture one at a time. Beat well after each egg. Stir in the vanilla extract. Scrape down the sides of the bowl with a rubber spatula.
Combine Batter and Sour Cream
- Alternate adding the flour mixture and sour cream into the wet ingredients. Start and end with the dry flour mixture. Stir gently until just combined. Do not overmix the batter.
Layer the Loaf Pan
- Spread half of your thick bread batter into the prepared loaf pan. Sprinkle the cinnamon swirl mixture evenly over the batter. Carefully top with the remaining half of the bread batter.
Top with Streusel and Bake
- Scatter the prepare streusel crumbs generously across the top layer of batter. Press the crumbs very gently into the batter. Bake for 50 to 55 minutes until golden brown.
Cool and Slice
- Test the center with a toothpick. If it comes out clean, your loaf is fully cooked. Cool the loaf in the pan for 10 minutes. Transfer to a rack before slicing.
Notes
- Do not overmix the batter: Stir until the dry ingredients just disappear. Overmixing creates a tough, dry loaf.
- Use room temperature ingredients: Cold eggs and cold sour cream can cause your batter to separate or curdle.
- Try adding nuts: Add 1/2 cup of chopped pecans or walnuts to your streusel mix for extra crunch.
- Add a sweet glaze: Drizzle a simple powdered sugar glaze over the cooled bread for extra sweetness.
- Swap the sour cream: Plain Greek yogurt or buttermilk works great if you do not have sour cream on hand.
- Check your oven temp: If the streusel top turns dark brown too fast, cover the loaf loosely with aluminum foil.