How to Make Dollywood-Inspired Cinnamon Bread
Ingredients
- Bread Flour — Provides structure and chewiness.
- Yeast — Active dry yeast ensures a light fluffy texture.
- Unsalted Butter — Enhances richness and flavor.
- Brown Sugar & Cinnamon — The key to the gooey caramelized crust.
- Honey or Maple Syrup — Natural alternatives to corn syrup adding depth of flavor and moisture.
- Vanilla Extract — Adds warmth and enhances the sweetness of the bread.
- Salt — Balances the flavors and enhances the dough’s structure.
Instructions
Step 1: Proof the Yeast
- Dissolve the yeast in warm water with a pinch of sugar. Let it sit until foamy (about five minutes). If it doesn’t foam, discard and try again with fresh yeast.
Step 2: Make the Dough
- Combine the flour and salt in a stand mixer, then add melted butter and the yeast mixture. Knead with a dough hook for 5-8 minutes until smooth. Place the dough in a greased bowl, cover, and let it rise in a warm spot until doubled in size (about an hour).
Step 3: Shape the Loaves
- Punch down the dough and divide it in half. Shape each piece into a rectangle (about 3x6 inches) and place them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Cover with greased plastic wrap and let rise for another 30 minutes. If refrigerating overnight, do so at this stage.
Step 4: Prepare the Coating
- In one dish, mix brown sugar, granulated sugar, and cinnamon. In another, combine melted butter with corn syrup.
Step 5: Make It Buttery
- Cut four deep crosswise slits into each loaf. Dip both sides into the butter-corn syrup mixture, ensuring every crevice is coated.
Step 6: Coat with Cinnamon Sugar
- Roll each loaf in the cinnamon-sugar mixture, making sure it gets into all the slits.
Step 7: Bake
- Place the loaves in parchment-lined loaf pans. Drizzle the remaining butter over the top and sprinkle on any leftover sugar mixture. Bake at 350°F for about 30 minutes. Let cool for 15 minutes before serving (if you can wait!).