Cinnamon Swirl Bread

 

This bread is one of the first successful breads I made. The recipe was given to me by a woman I worked with at the RIT Counseling Center, CB. So delicious and pretty easy. 

It's very economical to make your own bread.  This loaf, which blows any cinnamon swirl bread out of the water, can be made for less than a dollar.  Two loaves for one dollar, if that, really.  One of the loaves is twice as big as the ones you find in a bag at the supermarket.  CrAzY, right?  And seriously, one day off, your doing things around the house, it won't take you any time at all.  You can even make multiples and freeze them or give them away to dazzle your friends and family! 

CINNAMON SWIRL BREAD

If you have instant yeast, you do not have to worry about having warm water to help with rising.  You always have to worry about liquids being too hot though.  The best way to test it is to stick your finger in the liquid, if you can keep your finger comfortably submersed for 15 seconds, your good to go.  If you don't use instant yeast, you will have to make sure your liquids are about 110°F

2 packages (1/4 ounce each) instant dry yeast or 4 1/2 teaspoons yeast 

1/3 cup warm water, maybe a bit more

1 cup warm whole milk 

1 cup sugar, divided

2 large eggs

6 tablespoons butter, softened

1-1/2 teaspoons salt

5-1/2 to 6 cups all-purpose flour

2 tablespoons ground cinnamon

DIRECTIONS

In a large bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water. Add milk, 1/2 cup sugar, eggs, butter, salt and 3 cups flour; beat on medium speed until smooth. Stir in enough remaining flour to form a soft dough.

Turn dough onto a floured surface; knead until smooth and elastic, about 6-8 minutes. Place in a greased bowl, turning once to grease the top. Cover with plastic wrap; let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 1 hour.

Mix cinnamon and remaining sugar. Punch down dough. Turn onto a lightly floured surface; divide in half. Roll each portion into an 18x8-in. rectangle; sprinkle each with about 1/4 cup cinnamon sugar to within 1/2 in. of edges. Roll up jelly-roll style, starting with a short side; pinch seam to seal. Place in two greased 9x5-in. loaf pans, seam side down.

Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 1-1/2 hours. Preheat oven to 350°.

Bake until golden brown, 30-35 minutes. Remove from pans to wire racks to cool. Yield: 2 loaves (16 slices each).