Country Cinnamon Swirl Buttermilk Loaf
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Super moist Country Cinnamon Swirl Buttermilk Loaf is infused with caramelized cinnamon sugar swirls that will make your head spin! (In a good way!) Get in extreme *cinnamon* mode with this luscious cinnamon quick bread!! It’s smells so delicious baking in your kitchen, but wait until you have a slice, or two for breakfast!
More delish? You’ll love this Buttermilk Blueberry Explosion Cake, Raspberry Cinnamon Swirl Coffee Cake, Blueberry Fritter Loaf and this Apple Cinnamon Bread!
Why I’m in LOVE with this Cinnamon Swirl Buttermilk Quick Bread Loaf!
Shhh! Don’t tell the hubby! Hands down, this cinnamon bread recipe is so freaking moist (thank you buttermilk) and those swirls of cinnamon sugar are glorious!!
I’m sorry…but I have to brag! Hear me out. You would too, if you made it or make it? Then you’ll see what exactly what I’m bragging about. Whoa…This is a quick bread, so mix it up and bake it away quickly after mixing it up before the effect of the leavenings begin to dissipate. Meaning no rise. No yeast is needed!
After it was done, I couldn’t wait for it to cool completely. Sorry family, but sometimes a woman has to do what a woman has to do and take one for the team, right?
If you’re new to baking quick breads, I’d like to refer you to “Secret” Baking Confessions for Quick Breads” for special tips for baking quick breads. Even if you’re not new to baking breads, it’s always good to read up and refresh. 🙂
Ingredients You Need
Cinnamon Swirl Buttermilk Quick Bread Recipe
- all purpose flour
- granulated sugar
- baking soda
- salt
- buttermilk or make it homemade with 1 cup milk + 1 tablespoon vinegar or lemon juice. let sit for 5-10 minutes before using & stir to mix.
- egg
- canola oil
- butter extract optional, but highly recommended
Brown Sugar Cinnamon Swirl
- ground cinnamon
- brown sugar
- granulated sugar
Vanilla Glaze
- confectioners’ sugar
- milk
- vanilla extract
How to Make Cinnamon Swirl Loaf
For Cinnamon Sugar Mixture
- In a small bowl, combine 2 ½ teaspoons cinnamon, 2 tablespoons of brown sugar and ¼ cup granulated sugar and set aside.
Cinnamon Swirl Quick Bread
- In a large bowl, combine the flour, 1 cup sugar, baking soda, and salt together, set aside.
- In a medium bowl, combine the buttermilk, egg, butter extract (optional) and oil, then add in the dry ingredients just until moistened. Do not overmix.
- Spray a 9X5 loaf pan with non-stick cooking spray, line with parchment paper or aluminum foil if desired, and pour half of the batter into the pan.
- Sprinkle with ⅔rds of the cinnamon sugar mix on top of the batter and then top with remaining batter.
- Sprinkle top of bread loaf with remaining cinnamon sugar and cut through batter with a knife to swirl the cinnamon around into the batter.
- Bake in oven at 350 for 50-60 minutes until done in middle using a tester or feel the top with your finger tip to make sure it’s firm and baked through.
- Let cool on a wire rack for 20 minutes or more before slicing. Yum! Great warm or room temperature!
- Add glaze on cinnamon quick bread either while warm or cooled if you want the cinnamon roll effect.
To Make The Glaze
- Add confectioner’s sugar, milk and vanilla together and whisk together get the consistency you want. Add extra powdered sugar or milk accordingly and drizzle glaze on top of your loaf. Let set.
Storing & Freezing
- Quick breads are best if they are tightly wrapped and stored in the refrigerator overnight. After the bread has completely cooled, wrap it tightly in plastic or foil. As the bread chills, both the flavor and the moisture permeate the bread. The bread can be stored in the refrigerator for five to seven days.
- Quick breads can also be frozen. Place the wrapped breads in freezer-grade plastic bags and freeze them for up to three months. When ready to use, thaw the loaves in the refrigerator while still wrapped.
More Cinnamon Swirl Bread Recipe Tips
- I think the most important tip is to not ever over-mix your batter. Mix only until the dry ingredients are moistened to avoid tunnels and a tough texture and sinkage.
- If you don’t have buttermilk, which most of the time, we do not, just do this easy trick! All you need to make a substitute for buttermilk in baking recipes is milk and white vinegar, or lemon juice. Use 2%, whole milk or even non-dairy milks will work to make your buttermilk. Add measure one tablespoon of white vinegar or lemon juice into 1 cup of your milk choice, stir and let it sit for 5 minutes. Ta-dahhh! Instant buttermilk!
- Bake your Cinnamon Swirl Buttermilk Loaf and all breads fully. This is not the time to under-bake like you do with cookies, bars and brownies. Try using a thin-bladed knife, like a paring knife and push the blade into the center and draw it out. Do this several times to make sure you do not see any wet batter or moist crumbs clinging to the blade. Otherwise, use a digital thermometer..
- Slight Modification Used: I used Taste of Home’s recipe, but changed it up slightly by adding a little butter extract to give it a buttery flavor burst to go with the rich cinnamon sugar layers, but it’s not necessary if you don’t have it on hand. I also changed up the cinnamon sugar by adding in some brown sugar too, to make it even more caramelized. The whole family will love!!
You may want to check out this Super Easy Banana Bread Recipe, but for now, here’s the buttermilk quick bread recipe for this much loved Cinnamon Swirl Buttermilk Loaf! *Enjoy!*
More Cinnamon Baking Recipes!
- Cinnamon Swirl Streusel Coffee Cake for the Weekends! (9×13 Pan)
- Amazing Amish Friendship Cinnamon Bread (Without Starter)
- Easy Quick Gooey Cinnamon Rolls
- Cinnamon Pumpkin Rolls with Cream Cheese Frosting
- Overnight Cinnamon French Toast Bake
- Apple Cinnamon Roll Coffee Cake
- Apple Cinnamon Coffee Cake – Keto | Sugar Free Option too!
- Homemade Snickerdoodle Cookie Bars!
- Awesome Country Apple Fritter Bread!
Country Cinnamon Swirl Buttermilk Loaf
Ingredients
Cinnamon Swirl
- 2 ½ teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
Quick Bread
- 2 cups all purpose flour
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup buttermilk or 1 cup milk + 1 tablespoon vinegar or lemon juice. let sit for 5-10 minutes before using & stir
- 1 egg
- ¼ cup canola oil
- 1 teaspoon butter extract optional, but highly recommended
Vanilla Glaze
- ½ cup confectioners' sugar
- 1-2 tablespoons milk
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
Cinnamon Swirl
- In a small bowl, combine 2 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon, 2 tablespoons of brown sugar and 1/4 cup granulated sugar and set aside.
Quick Bread
- In a large bowl, combine the flour, 1 cup sugar, baking soda, and salt together, set aside.
- In a medium bowl, combine the buttermilk, egg, butter extract (optional) and oil, then add in the dry ingredients just until moistened. Do not overmix.
- Spray with non-stick spray a 9X5 loaf pan and pour in half of the batter.
- Sprinkle with 2/3rds of the cinnamon sugar mix on top of the batter and then top with remaining batter.
- Sprinkle top of bread loaf with remaining cinnamon sugar and cut through batter with a knife to swirl the cinnamon around into the batter.
- Bake at 350 for 50-60 minutes until done in middle using a tester or feel the top with your finger tip to make sure it's firm and baked through.
- Let cool on a baker's rack for 20 minutes or more before slicing. Yum! Great warm or room temperature!
Vanilla Glaze
- Add glaze on either while warm or cooled if you want the cinnamon roll effect.
- To make glaze, add confectioner's sugar, milk and vanilla together and whisk together get the consistency you want. Add extra powdered sugar or milk accordingly and drizzle glaze on top of your loaf. Let set.
Video
Notes
- Quick breads are best if they are tightly wrapped and stored in the refrigerator overnight. After the bread has completely cooled, wrap it tightly in plastic or foil. As the bread chills, both the flavor and the moisture permeate the bread. The bread can be stored in the refrigerator for five to seven days.
- Quick breads can also be frozen. Place the wrapped breads in freezer-grade plastic bags and freeze them for up to three months. When ready to use, thaw the loaves in the refrigerator while still wrapped.
Ohhh that definitely sounds amazing with the pecans! Thank you so much Gail, I’m so happy you liked it!!
Very good bread. I added 1/3 cup chopped pecans to center cinnamon filling. Next time I need to swirl the cinnamon and batter with a knife a little more. Also, bake for only 45 minutes or until bread measures 190.
I haven’t tried it but if I was making it vegan, I would use one of these options: a flax or chia egg (Combine 1 tablespoon flax meal or whole chia seeds with 3 tablespoons water and let sit for 5 to 10 minutes, until gelatinous), 1/4 cup applesauce, 1/2 cup mashed banana or whisk 1 teaspoon of vegetable oil, 2 tablespoons of water and 2 teaspoons of baking powder together to replace the egg. Might also be able to use 1/4 cup Greek yogurt. Hope this helps somewhat? I hope it works out for you!!
I want to make this for a friend who loves cinnamon, but does not eat eggs. would this work with an egg substitute?
Hi Madison! Thank you so much for trying this recipe, I love the substitution with the maple extract, yum! I’m so happy you love it! Happy holidays!
Absolutely amazing! I’ve made this a few times and it always comes out perfect. My mother-in-law does not like sweet desserts, and absolutely loves this bread! It’s the perfect balance between the cinnamon sugar and buttermilk.
A few notes: I couldn’t find butter extract, so subbed for Maple extract. Just 1 tsp per loaf, plus 1 tsp of vanilla extract too. The overpowering smell of maple in the batter scared me at first, but it was delicious and very mild once baked! I may even do 2 tsps of maple next time!
Additionally, I live in higher altitudes (5,400ft) and 60 minutes at 350* was perfection.
Thank you so so much for this recipe, it will be a staple for years to come!
Hi Anne! Good question! Ot should be somewhere between 190-200°F. Enjoy!! It’s one of our favorite loafs!
What temperature should the bread reach on a thermapen?
I agree! Thank you so much!!!
I love this recipe, I always make it and it is perfect for xmas gifts with all the cinnamon!!
This recipe was delicious!! I am on WW and substituted a few items however it came out beautifully!! So delicious with the glaze on top also. Thank you for the recipe!!
Thank you! Will be baking up tomorrow!
You can do either. Frozen glaze should be thawed in the fridge because of the milk if you do. Ideally, the best option would be to glaze it afterwards in my opinion. Hope you love it Lindsey!! Happy New Year!
This looks great and I have extra buttermilk to use. I plan on freezing this, do you suggest freezing without the glaze and make once I thaw or can I glaze freeze with the loaf glazed?
Thanks!
Great to hear Maureen! Thank you so much for your kind comment and review! 🙂 That makes my day! xo
Delicious and easy.! It doesn’t get any better than that! Have made it a 1/2 dozen times. First time, I forgot to make the glaze, second time I added it, absolutely does not need it. Thanks for a great recipe!
Thank you so much Christie! I hope you get to try it!
Kim this Country Cinnamon Swirl Buttermilk Loaf sounds and looks PHENOMENAL! I love how moist and fluffy that texture is! Pinning this!
No I haven’t but that would be fine if you want to add more or less, depending on your preference. I hope you all enjoy!!
This looks amazing and planning to make today for my kids for tomorrow’s breakfast. They are nuts for cinnamon and brown sugar – have you ever tried doing 11/2 the amount of cinnamon swirl? Thank you! Jenn
Theresa I’m so glad you tried it! I agree, this is a bread that is definitely awesome to give to some friends. It’s perfect for that. Thank you for your kind comment and rating. I appreciate it so much! xo
This was a fantastic, moist quick bread. I’ve made lots and lots of various quick breads over the years and this one is now one of our favorites. I did add the butter flavor extract, and took your advice and wrapped it tightly in foil (non-stick) and kept in refrigerator. Excellent. Will definitely make this many more times. Would be great to give as a thank you to some friends.
Great to hear Martha! So glad you enjoyed it!! xo
I used vegetable oil instead of canola and vanilla instead of the butter extract and it came out great! Thank you for the recipe.
Excellent! Thank you so much Peggy!
OMG!! This is absolutely delicious. I did put baking powder by mistake. When I realized it, I added about 1/4 tsp. of baking soda. Was worried I screwed it up, but NO!! So good!
This worked perfectly for you! I’m so happy to hear that Emily! xo Thank you for sharing your experience and comments!
I had buttermilk to use up (god forbid I waste it!) so I looked up a recipe and landed here. I didn’t have a loaf pan handy, so I doubled the recipe and baked in a 9×13, same bake temp and time, it is AMAZING!!! I added about 2 + tsp of vanilla just because, and totally forgot the icing, but still delicious! Def a keeper!!
Yes, I’ve only tried oil with this recipe, but it should work.
I wanted to ask if unsalted butter could be used instead of oil!
Awesome! Let me know! Thanks so much Kyla!!