Amish Cinnamon Bread

Ingredients:

For the Dough:

  • 1 cup warm milk (110°F or 45°C)
  • 2 ¼ teaspoons (1 packet) active dry yeast
  • ½ cup granulated sugar, divided
  • ⅓ cup vegetable oil
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 4 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon salt

For the Cinnamon Swirl:

  • ½ cup granulated sugar
  • 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
  • ¼ cup unsalted butter, softened

Instructions:

  1. Prepare the Yeast:
    • In a small bowl, combine warm milk, 1 tablespoon of sugar, and yeast. Let it sit for about 5-10 minutes until it becomes frothy.
  2. Mix the Dough:
    • In a large mixing bowl, combine the remaining sugar, oil, egg, and vanilla extract. Add the frothy yeast mixture and mix well.
    • Gradually add the flour and salt, mixing until a soft dough forms. Knead the dough on a floured surface for about 5 minutes until smooth.
  3. First Rise:
    • Place the dough in a greased bowl, cover it with a clean cloth or plastic wrap, and let it rise in a warm place for about 1-2 hours, or until doubled in size.
  4. Prepare the Cinnamon Mixture:
    • In a small bowl, mix together the granulated sugar and cinnamon for the swirl.
  5. Shape the Bread:
    • Once the dough has risen, punch it down and divide it into two equal parts. Roll each part into a rectangle (about 9×12 inches).
    • Spread half of the softened butter on each rectangle, then sprinkle with half of the cinnamon sugar mixture.
  6. Form the Loaves:
    • Roll each rectangle tightly, starting from the long side, to form a log. Pinch the seams to seal. Place each rolled log into a greased loaf pan.
  7. Second Rise:
    • Cover the loaves and let them rise again in a warm place for about 30-45 minutes, or until puffy.
  8. Preheat the Oven:
    • Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
  9. Bake:
    • Bake the loaves for 25-30 minutes, or until golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. If the tops brown too quickly, you can tent them with foil.
  10. Cool:
    • Let the bread cool in the pans for about 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

Tips:

  • This bread is delicious served warm, and you can also drizzle a simple icing made from powdered sugar and milk over the top for extra sweetness.
  • It’s great for toasting or making French toast!

Enjoy your homemade Amish Cinnamon Bread! Let me know if you have any questions or need variations!

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