This recipe came about because I really wanted cinnamon buns and I wanted them STAT. But I wanted them without all the work and time it takes to actually make them. I also didn't have any yeast; yeast is a little hard to come by these days...So I made this Brown Sugar Cinnamon Swirl Bread instead.
With a simple and delicious 2 ingredient lemon glaze, this Cinnamon Sugar Bread is super easy and satisfying and it's just like eating a cinnamon roll, but in the form of a loaf! This easy quick bread recipe is popular anytime of the year and so simple to make.
Jump to:
My Overnight Cinnamon Sticky Buns are also quicker and easier than most cinnamon bun recipes out there, but I really didn't like the idea of having to wait overnight, nor did I have any frozen dinner rolls. Plus these days, there's not a lot of running out to the grocery store to get a couple of things. This cinnamon roll quick bread as the ideal solution!
🥘 Ingredients
It's surprising what a fabulous pairing cinnamon is with lemon. Many years ago I learned that adding some lemon zest to your cinnamon bun dough is the secret to extraordinarily delicious Cinnamon Buns! And although I make mine in the bread machine, they still take considerably more time than this bread. And I really didn't have the time or energy required to mess around with making actual cinnamon rolls. So not only did I add a lemon glaze to the top of this cinnamon bread, I added some lemon zest to the batter. And WOW does it ever work!
Fortunately, you're likely going to have most of the ingredients on hand! For this cinnamon bread recipe, you'll need:
- vegetable shortening
- white granulated sugar
- eggs
- all-purpose flour
- baking powder
- salt
- lemon
- sour cream
- brown sugar
- cinnamon
- powdered sugar/icing sugar
*see recipe card for quantities
💭Health Benefits of Cinnamon
And the great news - cinnamon is really good for you! Cinnamon also contains large amounts of polyphenol antioxidants. Antioxidants can help protect the body from disease and are found in fruits, vegetables, herbs and spices. Some other health benefits of cinnamon noted are aiding in digestive discomfort and short-term reduction in blood pressure. You can read more about cinnamon's health benefits You can read more about the health benefits of cinnamon HERE.
📖 Variations & Substitutions
- Sour Cream- You can substitute Greek yogurt if you don't have sour cream
🔪Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F/ 175 degrees C and grease a 9X5 loaf pan.
- Beat shortening and white sugar together with electric mixer, then beat in eggs.
- Mix flour, baking powder salt and lemon zest together in a separate bowl.
- Add dry ingredients to wet ingredients.
- Mix sour cream and baking soda together and add to mixture.
- In another small bowl mix brown sugar and cinnamon together.
Add ½ the batter to the greased loaf pan.
Then add ½ the cinnamon/brown sugar mixture to the top of the batter.
Mix in with a butter knife by cutting in and twisting knife in swirl motions in about 4 different spots.
Then swirl it a little more. *You don't want to swirl too much (you'll want to have some white showing/color contrast) or it won't look as nice when you slice it.
Repeat with remaining batter, then the rest of the cinnamon sugar and same cutting and swirling technique as above.
⏲️ Baking time
- Bake for 45 minutes at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) , then turn down to 300 degrees F and bake for 10- 15 additional minutes or until cake tester or toothpick come out clean.
- Remove and cool for 5 minutes before removing from pan. Cool on wire rack for another 5 minutes.
👪 Serving Size
This cinnamon quick bread recipe serves 10. However, you can double or triple this recipe by adjusting the serving size on the recipe card. Just click on the serving size (it's highlighted in blue) and select the number of servings you’d like. You'll need extra loaf pans. *You can freeze the extra loaves (see storage, above).
🍽Equipment
You'll need a whisk, an electric mixer and a 9X5 loaf pan for this homemade cinnamon bread with icing (affiliate links)
🌡️Storing
This cinnamon swirl quick bread can be kept in the fridge in an airtight container or ziplock bag for up to 4 days. Freeze in a sealed container/ziplock bag for up to 3 months.
💭Top Tip
Don't slice this loaf until you are ready the eat the pieces. Cut this brown sugar cinnamon bread as you need it, as slicing it dries it out more quickly. If you do slice it before storing it, make sure to cover the exposed pieces with plastic wrap.
This brown sugar cinnamon swirl bread is a quick bread so you don't need yeast. Quick breads rise because they use chemical leaveners like baking soda, baking powder or cream of tartar instead of yeast. And quick cinnamon bread is exactly what I wanted when I set out to satisfy my cinnamon bun fix! It only takes a few minutes to prep and an hour to bake. And not only is it superb with a cup of coffee, it makes a great breakfast, a mid-morning snack or even dessert!
So if you're also looking for the flavors of a cinnamon roll in a quick and easy way, then give this delicious cinnamon bread a try. With the tangy sweet glaze, this is the perfect way to get your cinnamon bun fix. You won't be disappointed!
And if you love quick breads, then check out my other quick bread recipes: Old Fashioned Date Nut Loaf, Healthy Carrot Loaf, Easy Tropical Banana Bread and my Classic Lemon Loaf (shown below).
⭐ Reviews
Did you love this Brown Sugar Cinnamon Swirl Bread? If so, please leave a 5 star rating and comment below.
📋 Brown Sugar Cinnamon Swirl Bread Recipe (with Lemon Glaze)
Ingredients
Loaf
- ¼ cup vegetable shortening
- 1 cup white granulated sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1 ½ cups all purpose flour
- 1 ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest
- 1 cup sour cream
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
Swirl
- ⅓ cup brown sugar
- 2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Lemon Glaze
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- ½ cup powdered (icing) sugar
Instructions
Bread
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F/ 175 degrees C and grease a 9X5 loaf pan.
- In a large mixing bowl, beat shortening and white sugar together with electric mixer on medium speed, then beat in eggs.
- Mix flour, baking powder salt and lemon zest together in a separate bowl.
- Add dry ingredients to wet ingredients.
- Mix sour cream and baking soda together and add to mixture.
Swirl
- In another small bowl mix brown sugar and cinnamon together.
- Add ½ the batter to the prepared loaf pan.
- Then add ½ the cinnamon/brown sugar mixture.
- Mix in with a butter knife by cutting in and twisting knife in swirl motions in about 4 different spots.
- Then swirl it a little more. *You don't want to swirl too much (you'll want to have some white showing/color contrast) or it won't look as nice when you slice it.
- Repeat with remaining batter, then the rest of the cinnamon sugar and same cutting and swirling technique as above.
- Bake for 45 minutes at 350 degrees F, then turn down to 300 degrees F and bake for 10- 15 additional minutes or until cake tester or toothpick come out clean.
- Remove and cool for 5 minutes before removing from pan. Cool on rack for another 5 minutes.
Lemon Glaze
- Whisk lemon juice and powdered sugar together in a small mixing bowl and pour over loaf.
- Let set in fridge for 5 minutes to harden glaze. Then sprinkle on a additional cinnamon. Slice and serve.
Nicoletta De Angelis Nardelli
Such a wonderful looking bread! Love cinnamon but I didn't know that it paired so well with lemon! I'm going to try next time, and I'm going to make your fantastic cinnamon swirl bread because it looks so good!
Julia
My grandmother always made cinnamon bread and it looks so much like yours. How delicious! Thanks for sharing, I'm going to have to try it out!
Kelly Neil
Oh wow I've never paired cinnamon and lemon before but let's get real that loaf looks amazing and I love anything with glaze!
Terri Gilson
I agree, Kelly- bring on the glaze!
Sean@Diversivore
Lemon and cinnamon! Great combination, and one I'm delighted to say I'd not really given much thought to. You've executed this recipe quite beautifully. I love that the ingredient list is so simple too! Cheers!
Terri Gilson
Thanks, Sean! It really is a great combo - hope you get a chance to try it!
Nancy @instanomss
another great classic cake ive pinned for later!
Terri Gilson
Thanks, Nancy!
Cynthia @ Cynful Kitchen
I love easy loaf recipes! I feel your pain of wanting cinnamon buns but don't want the work.
Terri Gilson
Thanks, Cythia. Yes, this was the perfect compromise!