🍞 Cinnamon Swirl Sweet Sourdough Bread
In Cups • Beginner Friendly • Dutch Oven or Loaf Pan
⭐ Dough Ingredients
• 1 cup active sourdough starter
• ¾ cup warm milk
• 3 tablespoons melted butter
• ¼ cup sugar
• 1 egg
• 3 ½–4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 ½ teaspoons salt
• 1 teaspoon vanilla (optional but recommended)
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⭐ Cinnamon Brown Sugar Filling
• ½ cup brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons cinnamon
• 3 tablespoons softened butter (to spread)
• Optional: a little honey for extra stickiness
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🥣 How to Make It
1️⃣ Mix the Wet Ingredients
In a bowl, whisk together:
• warm milk
• melted butter
• sugar
• egg
• vanilla
2 ️⃣ Add Starter
Mix in 1 cup active sourdough starter.
3️⃣ Add Flour + Salt
Add:
• 3 ½ cups flour
• salt
Stir until dough forms.
Add up to ½ cup more flour if dough is too sticky.
4️⃣ Knead
Knead by hand for 8–10 minutes until soft and smooth.
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⏳ 5️⃣ First Rise (Bulk Rise)
Cover and let rise 4–6 hours until doubled.
(Sweet dough rises slower, so be patient!)
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🍥 6️⃣ Roll Out the Dough
• Lightly flour your surface.
• Roll dough into a rectangle (about 12x16 inches).
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🍯 7️⃣ Add the Cinnamon Filling
Spread the soft butter all over the dough.
Mix the brown sugar + cinnamon together.
Sprinkle it evenly over the whole surface.
(If you want EXTRA gooey: drizzle 1 tablespoon honey on top.)
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🍥 8️⃣ Roll It Up
Roll the dough tightly into a log — like a giant cinnamon roll.
If making a loaf:
• Place the log into a loaf pan (seam side down)
If using Dutch oven:
• Shape into a circular coil OR leave as a tight log
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⏳ 9️⃣ Second Rise
Let it rise again:
• Room temp 2–3 hours
or
• Fridge overnight 8–12 hours (best flavor + easier to score)
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🔥 🔟 Bake
⭐ Dutch Oven Method
Preheat Dutch oven at 400°F for 30 minutes.
Bake:
• 20 minutes covered
• 15–20 minutes uncovered until golden brown.
⭐ Loaf Pan Version
Bake at 350°F for 35–40 minutes.
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✨ Optional Extra: Cinnamon Sugar Topping
After baking, brush the top with:
• melted butter
• sprinkle brown sugar + cinnamon
It makes the top shiny and sweet 😍
If you're new to sourdough baking and want to try something a bit sweet and flavorful, cinnamon swirl sweet sourdough bread is a fantastic and rewarding recipe to try. This recipe combines the tangy depth of sourdough with the warm, inviting flavors of cinnamon and brown sugar, making it perfect for breakfast, snacks, or even dessert. One of the benefits of using sourdough starter in this recipe is that it not only helps the bread rise naturally but also adds a subtle complexity to the flavor. The recipe recommends 1 cup of active sourdough starter, which should be bubbly and active for the best results. If your starter is less active, give it a few feeds before starting. The dough is enriched with warm milk, melted butter, sugar, and an egg, which makes it soft and tender—ideal for sweet bread varieties. Vanilla is optional but highly recommended to enhance the aroma. Kneading the dough by hand for about 8 to 10 minutes until smooth helps develop gluten for a good structure. Sweet doughs tend to rise more slowly than lean doughs because sugar can inhibit yeast activity, so patience during the bulk rise (4–6 hours) is important. For shaping, the dough is rolled into a rectangle and spread with a generous layer of softened butter, followed by a cinnamon and brown sugar mixture. Adding honey on top of the filling can make the inside extra sticky and gooey. Rolling the dough tightly like a giant cinnamon roll creates the signature cinnamon swirl look and texture. You have two options for baking: shaping the rolled dough into a loaf pan or forming a coil or log for baking in a Dutch oven. The Dutch oven method uses higher heat and steam, which tends to give the bread a nice crust and an even bake. The second rise is crucial for developing flavor and dough texture. A room temperature rise of 2–3 hours or an overnight rise in the fridge (8–12 hours) is suggested. Refrigerating the dough overnight often improves flavor complexity and makes scoring easier. For the baking step, preheating the Dutch oven to 400°F and baking covered then uncovered ensures the bread has a nice golden crust. For the loaf pan, baking at 350°F for 35–40 minutes works well. As an optional finishing touch, brushing the top with melted butter and sprinkling cinnamon sugar after baking adds a shiny, sweet glaze that enhances both appearance and taste. Overall, this cinnamon swirl sweet sourdough bread is approachable for beginners but delivers bakery-quality results with its soft crumb, sweet cinnamon filling, and sourdough tang. It’s perfect for weekend baking projects that fill your home with irresistible aromas and end with delicious slices to enjoy with butter, jam, or cream cheese.