Cinnamon Swirl Donut Bread

Craving a donut but want the ease of a quick bread? This Cinnamon Swirl Donut Bread delivers all the cozy cinnamon sugar flavor of a cake donut, baked into a moist, tender loaf with a marbled cinnamon swirl and crackly sugar top.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

All the flavor of a donut, no frying needed
Gorgeous cinnamon swirl throughout the loaf
Crunchy sugar top just like a cinnamon sugar donut
Perfect for breakfast, brunch, or a sweet snack

Ingredients

For the Bread:

2½ cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
½ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
½ cup unsalted butter, softened
1 cup granulated sugar
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup buttermilk

For the Cinnamon Swirl:

1 cup light brown sugar, packed
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
¼ cup unsalted butter, melted

For the Topping:

1 tablespoon granulated sugar

‍ Instructions

1️⃣ Preheat & Prep

Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour a 9×5-inch loaf pan.

2️⃣ Mix the Dry Ingredients

In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, cinnamon, salt, and nutmeg. Set aside.

3️⃣ Cream the Wet Ingredients

In a large bowl, beat the softened butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy.
Add in eggs, one at a time, then stir in vanilla.

4️⃣ Combine Wet & Dry

Gradually add the flour mixture, alternating with buttermilk, starting and ending with dry ingredients. Mix until just combined — don’t overmix!

5️⃣ Make the Cinnamon Swirl

In a small bowl, stir together brown sugar, cinnamon, and melted butter until smooth.

6️⃣ Layer and Swirl

Pour half the batter into the prepared loaf pan.
Drizzle half the cinnamon swirl mixture over the batter and swirl gently with a knife.
Add the remaining batter, top with the rest of the swirl mixture, and swirl again to marble.

7️⃣ Top & Bake

Sprinkle the top with 1 tablespoon granulated sugar for crunch.
Bake for 55–60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.