Wednesday, February 3, 2010

Easy Cinnamon Bread

Do you love cinnamon rolls? Do you wake up and crave the cinnamony goodness that oozes out of the hot, iced roll? Do you lack the time and effort it takes to prepare homemade yeast rolls first thing in the morning? If you're like me, you answered yes to all of the questions above. Added to that is the fact that my kids could eat sugary, yeasty goodies every morning of the week (sorry teachers!) and beg me to bake something of that nature daily. I have to admit that one of our favorites is Pillsbury's Orange Rolls that you purchase in the can in the dairy section. Gasp! :) Seriously, don't knock it until you have to get two kids on the bus at 6:45 in the morning! Who sets these time schedules anyway? Goodness, but I'm barely coherant that early in the morning.

Oh, but I digress! In the evenings, after the kids are tucked snugly in their beds, I often grab a cookbook off the shelf and sit and read through it. There's nothing more relaxing than perusing through cookbook after cookbook picking up hints and tricks for cooking and baking as well as bookmarking tasty recipes to try on my gullible (I mean-willing) family. One book that I pick up often is "The King Arthur Flour Baker's Companion". If you don't have this one in your library yet, add it to your wish list, beg and plead for it or make up a special occassion that will give you a reason to run out right now and buy it. Seriously, it's a must have.

The other night while reading through the "yeast" section of the cookbook, this recipe leaped off the page at me. "Easy Cinnamon Bread". Hmmm? Yeast. Cinnamon. Sugar. AND...cinnamon chips!! Holy Yum! Delicious cinnamon roll taste in bread form. I HAD to make this bread! I set aside some time the next night and whipped up this very simple to make bread. Oh the smells that lofted through our house as this was baking. The kids and I were practically drooling just waiting for it to finish, but once we did get a nibble of the fresh baked yumminess...it was well worth the wait! The bread was wonderful the day of baking and the following day. After that, it was a tad stale, but we toasted it up, smoothed it with butter and enjoyed the remainder of the loaf. I'm thinking that I'll try baking up a loaf on a Wednesday or Thursday, slice it up into large slices and plan to fix Cinnamon-French Toast on a Saturday morning. Doesn't that sound divine?

From the heart of my kitchen to yours, may your experience be fun and the food always flavorful. Enjoy!

Easy Cinnamon Bread

3 cups (12 3/4 ounces) unbleached all-purpose flour
1/2 (3 1/2 ounces) sugar
2 teaspoons instant yeast
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup (8 ounces) warm milk
1/4 cup (2 ounces) butter, melted
1 large egg
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 cup (6 ounces) cinnamon chips
Cinnamon-sugar, for topping

In a large bowl, mix together the flour, sugar, yeast, cinnamon and salt. In a separate bowl, whisk together the milk, butter, and egg. Combine the wet and dry ingredients, beating until smooth. Cover and let the batter rest at room temperature for 1 hour, then stir in the baking powder and cinnamon chips.

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

Spoon the batter into a greased 8 1/2 X 4 1/2-inch loaf pan. Sprinkle the top with the connamon sugar.

Bake the bread for 35 to 40 minutes, until a cake tester inserted into the center comes out clean. Remove the bread from the oven, let it rest in the pan for 5 minutes, then transfer it from the pan to a rack to cool completely. Don't slice the bread while it's hot; it will slice much better when it's completely cool.

Source: The King Arthur Flour Baker's Companion

47 comments:

Lyndas recipe box said...

I've bookmarked this to try- it sounds amazing!

Velva said...

The cinnamon bread looks divine. This owuld be perfect with a really good hot cup of coffee. Love it.

I can completely relate to enjoying reading cookbooks as a way to relax. I do it all the time.

Thanks for sharing.

cookies and cups said...

Gonna try this one for sure. Love a good cinnamon bread, because I haven't mastered the whole yeast thing yet and my version of cinnamon rolls is cracking open up the can of Grands!
Thanks!

Ingrid_3Bs said...

Yum, I saw and drooled over that bread a couple of months ago on Monica's blog. Thanks for reminding that I hadn't made it yet! Think I could do the work tonight but bake it up in the AM?
~ingrid

Christy said...

Ingrid-I've had luck with refrigerating yeast dough in the past. I always let my dough sit out 30-60 minutes before baking it. I hope it works...let me know!

Barbara Bakes said...

I know I would love this bread, especially when it comes together so quickly!

Krista said...

I love those orange rolls too!

This bread looks amazing...especially with those cinnamon chips. And french toast...what a great idea!

Susan said...

I love cinnamon bread and have saved this recipe to try. Thanks for sharing.

Pam said...

I love anything with cinnamon - this bread looks amazing.

顏色很亮 said...
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Jen said...

Christy,
I saw you became a follower of my blog, so I had to hop over and check your's out. As soon as I read your profile description, I knew I was gonna like you. It sounds almost identical to mine! 2 kids, a husband we are infatuated with and a personal relationship with our Heavenly Father! Awesome!
I'm not sure your food blog is going to help me achieve my weight-loss goals :o) but....it sure does look yummy! Maybe I can try some of your recipes when I am cooking for friends and family or want to have a special treat! Keep in touch! Jen

Diana's Cocina said...

I just made this and getting ready to post it soon. Yours looks yummy. I swear I can smell it. LOL! I'm your new follower. Stop by and see mee if you get a chance.

作弊 said...
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Kaitlin said...

This looks great! Yum!

chris said...

what is a cinnamon chip? I'm sure going to google it.... cause I NEED to make this... for french toast for sure.

chris said...

okie dokie... if it was 12:30am Arizona time, I would be out buying cinnamon chips.
I did google them and they look so interesting.. I can't wait to use them. They are magical. I can't believe I never heard of cinnamon chips. Thanks for showing me your baking ways...

My Little Space said...

Hi Christy, first time here! I love this cinnamon bread idea. It's realy tempting. Can't wait to try this out soon. Btw, you have a lovely blog here.
Have a nice weekend
Cheers, Kristy

倫音 said...
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Jane said...

Hi Christy--
I love that King Arthur cookbook, and as a matter of fact I have a package of their cinnamon chips waiting in the wings to be used one of these days. Your bread looks so fantastic, I think I should follow your lead. I wanted to tell you that I think your blog's beautiful, and I really like your red and white polka dots! Very bright and pretty. I, too, love to peruse cookbooks (well, baking books!) at night after things have settled down. It's one of life's quiet little joys, isn't it?

:) Jane

Julie said...

Looks just amazing...after I saw it started imagining the smell of cinnamon :)

Anonymous said...
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Ingrid_3Bs said...

Justed to pop in and wish you a fabulous Mother's Day! Hope all has been well! Miss ya!
~ingrid

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Unknown said...

Yummy! Saved it for future reference - I can't wait to try it :)

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Hannah said...

Wow, this looks awesome! I love cinnamon bread!

http://ourhappyhomeblog.blogspot.com

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Flourchild said...

Yum! I love the looks of thi bread! I too,love to read my cookbook at night. I read mine in bed with my bed side lamp on!! It relaxes me and my husband laughs!!

The Daily Smash said...

YUMMY this look so good. Love your blog. Check out my food blog at
www.thedailysmash101.blogspot.com

Jersey Girl Cooks said...

This looks awesome! I just Stumbled it too to share with other cinnamon bread lovers.

Julie said...

Oh yeah, this would be amazing for French toast!

Mona said...

This recipe sounds like a great one to try for my picky kids. They love bread and they love cinnamon.