Breads/ Breakfast

Cinnamon Sugar Pull-Apart Bread

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Thanks, everyone, for the great feedback on yesterday’s post! It seems like a bunch of us, pregnant or not, are interested in freezer meals. I especially loved reading in the comments what your favorite post-baby meals were. Everyone had great advice and tips.

I am excited to share with y’all today this super yummy cinnamon sugar pull-apart bread that I think would be just perfect for Easter brunch, or anytime really! It’s SO good and tastes just like a cinnamon roll. I mean, who in their right mind could resist this if it was sitting on the counter? Not this girl.

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I’m drooling just looking at these photos. And speaking of freezer friendly, immediately after making this {well, after it cooled} I ate two slices then wrapped the rest up tightly in tin foil and froze it to bring out later this weekend. Our best friends from Texas are coming in with our sweet godson for my baby shower and I think this will be the perfect thing to nibble on in the morning!

If you’re thinking of Easter, I suggest making it beforehand when you have time and freezing. Just defrost at room temperature then reheat in the oven and it will be as good as new. Saves time and stress when cooking for a crowd because this bread does take a little time and effort to make. It’s not hard; it just requires some time.

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Basically, you just take a sweet roll dough and smear the whole thing with soft butter and cinnamon sugar, then cut into strips that you then sandwich together before cutting into squares.  That creates the perfect little slices for the “pull-apart” effect. It’s really easy, I promise.

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Just look at those cute slices! They are so perfectly portioned. But who can stop at just one?

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Naturally, I drizzled icing all over the top so it really did taste just like a cinnamon roll. If you usually make cinnamon rolls for Easter, why not switch it up and try this instead? It makes for a gorgeous presentation and would also be great for a shower or party.

Happy baking, friends!

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Cinnamon Sugar Pull-Apart Bread

yields 1 loaf

adapted from Southern Living

Print this Recipe!

Ingredients:

1 tsp dry active yeast

2 tbsp warm water

pinch of sugar

4 tbsp unsalted butter, softened

1/4 cup sugar

1/2 tsp salt

2 1/4 cup bread flour

1/2 cup whole milk

1/4 tsp nutmeg

1 egg

for filling ~

1/2 cup sugar

1 tbsp cinnamon

4 tbsp unsalted butter, softened

for frosting ~

powdered sugar

enough milk to make a slightly runny icing

Directions:

Mix together the yeast, warm water and pinch of sugar in a glass measuring cup. Let sit for 5 minutes until foamy.

While the yeast is resting, beat together your butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add the egg and continue beating until combined. Add the milk then your yeast. Stir well.

Add the flour, nutmeg and salt to the bowl and mix so that a dough forms. If you’re using a Kitchen Aid mixer and you have a dough attachment handy (the captain hook looking thing), switch to that now. Knead dough for 5 minutes until smooth and elastic. You could also easily do this by hand on a lightly floured surface.

Place a clean dishcloth over your bowl with the dough in it and let rise in a warm place for 2 hours.

After 2 hours, roll out dough into a large rectangle on a lightly floured surface. Spread remaining 4 tbsp SOFT butter all over. Make sure your butter is very, very soft here! Mix together your cinnamon sugar and sprinkle this very generously over the top. By generous, I mean a really thick layer of cinnamon sugar. Go big or go home.

Slice rectangle into 5-6 thick strips. Sandwich strips together and then cut this thick layered strip into 4-5 rectangles. Place rectangles cut-side up in a greased loaf pan. Smoosh together really well (it won’t fill up the whole loaf pan) then place your dishcloth back over top and let rise for 1 more hour in a warm spot.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Bake bread for 30 minutes until golden brown. Let cool before drizzling with icing.

Time:

~4 hrs

 

 

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  • Alexandra Aimee
    April 2, 2014 at 9:53 pm

    Ohhhh my gosh. This looks delicious!

    — Alex at Cashmere Kangaroo

  • Averie @ Averie Cooks
    April 2, 2014 at 11:37 pm

    I saw your pics of this on IG and was so excited that you were making it! I love pull apart bread, and that cinn-sugar filling just makes me want it even more! Pinned

  • Kim @ Roaming Raspberry
    April 3, 2014 at 3:31 am

    Oh wow Jenna. This looks amazing! I don’t think I have the patience to make it, but I definitely have the patience to stare at that picture all day! Looks so so good!

  • Trey
    April 3, 2014 at 4:16 am

    WOW! I love Cinnamon-Sugar Pull Apart Bread!! Joy the Baker’s version of this inspired me to start Dudes Cook Too!! Last summer, our family was on vacation, and I made Shrimp Fettucine with Garlic Butter Pull-Apart bread. It was a hit!!

    • jenna
      April 3, 2014 at 6:56 pm

      That meal sounds AMAZING!

  • Angela @ Eat Spin Run Repeat
    April 3, 2014 at 4:43 am

    I am a huuuuuge sucker for cinnamon anything. This looks absolutely brilliant and I think I’d have to just defrost a few slices at a time or else I’d make the whole thing disappear!

  • Rebekah {aCricketSang}
    April 3, 2014 at 4:45 am

    So delicious! I tried this once before and my bread puffed up twice as much and was mounding in the pan. But it was so good! Really more of a dessert, but I might have to give it another try.

  • Jojo @ RunFastEatLots
    April 3, 2014 at 5:04 am

    This looks amazing and I think I will make it and eat the entire pan!

  • Chicago Jogger
    April 3, 2014 at 5:05 am

    This looks amazing! I agree, perfect for Easter. I didn’t realize pull-apart bread was so easy, layering like you suggest. I’m going to add this to my list to make for my family in a few weeks 🙂

  • Sara @ LovingOnTheRun
    April 3, 2014 at 5:35 am

    Holy wow….this looks so delicious! I would love to make this for Easter

  • Jenna
    April 3, 2014 at 5:53 am

    I love how thick the slices are! What a perfect treat

  • Dana Alexandra
    April 3, 2014 at 6:01 am

    This looks delicious! If I were to freeze it and save for Easter morning, should I take it out the night before to defrost and reheat at 350 degrees? And how long would you suggest to reheat for?

    Thanks so much for sharing! Very excited to make this for Easter!

    • jenna
      April 3, 2014 at 6:55 pm

      I would. I would let it defrost at room temperature then wrap in foil and reheat at 350 for maybe 15 minutes until hot. It will be great!

  • Dixya @ Food, Pleasure, and Healthd
    April 3, 2014 at 7:06 am

    drooooling at this bread right now..i will make this sometime soon. thank you so much.

  • jan
    April 3, 2014 at 7:43 am

    Mmmm that sounds so yummy & easy! How can you go wrong w/ sweet roll bread, butter, & cinnamon/sugar!?

  • Bryony @ Bryony Cooks
    April 3, 2014 at 8:37 am

    This is one of my favourite special brunch treats to make! I’ll definitely have to make this soon.

  • Gayle @ Pumpkin 'N Spice
    April 3, 2014 at 9:02 am

    Wow this looks so delicious! I just want to grab it right out of my computer screen! This is definitely going on my list of things to bake!

  • Kelly
    April 3, 2014 at 9:34 am

    Yum, this looks delicious!! Reminds me of Monkey Bread! I will definitely be trying out this recipe!

  • Kate
    April 3, 2014 at 9:40 am

    Hey Jenna, I was wondering where i could find the recipe for your jam that you posted on instagram?

    • jenna
      April 3, 2014 at 6:56 pm

      It’s from a cookbook called “Canning for a New Generation” by Liana Krissoff. Highly recommend!

  • Katrina @ WVS
    April 3, 2014 at 9:43 am

    Pull apart breads are so fun! This looks great!

  • Angel Reyes
    April 3, 2014 at 10:45 am

    It looks so good!!! It occurs to me that beyond Easter, it would be awesome to bring this to meetings at work! OMG!

  • Julianna @ Julianna Bananna
    April 3, 2014 at 12:10 pm

    yum! this looks delicious!! pinning for later 🙂

  • Michelle @ A Healthy Mrs
    April 3, 2014 at 1:11 pm

    Oh man, my mouth is watering just looking at these pictures! Yum! 🙂

  • Angelyn @ Everyday Desserts
    April 3, 2014 at 1:15 pm

    This looks so incredible! I’ll be making this asap!!

  • Steph
    April 3, 2014 at 6:56 pm

    Mmmmm this looks so good

    http://thewearwithal.typepad.com/

  • Traci
    April 3, 2014 at 7:07 pm

    Would be perfect for Easter. The idea of putting some finely diced apples in with the cinnamon sugar mix popped into my head, which made this recipe even more appealing to me! :]

  • Hillary
    April 5, 2014 at 5:14 am

    I made this last night to have for breakfast this morning and it was absolutely delicious! I was a little concerned before I put it in the oven because I didn’t think the dough had risen enough but bread magic got to work in the oven and I pulled out a perfectly risen “loaf”! It smelled so good that I couldn’t help but sneak a piece off the top of one of the sliced edges! Thanks for sharing another fantastic recipe!

  • Lindsey @ American Heritage Cooking
    April 5, 2014 at 9:38 am

    Now you’ve done it! The problem with pull apart bread is that half the fun is pulling off the next piece!!! This bread looks like trouble! In the best kind of way!

  • Kirsten | Fit + Fab
    April 5, 2014 at 4:05 pm

    I MUST make this recipe. Is it a too terrible to admit that my inner old chubby no holds back self wants to make the leftovers (if there is any!) into french toast for the next morning? YUM!

  • Jessica @ www.myhealthypassion.com
    April 7, 2014 at 10:20 am

    I am SO going to make this…looks so easy and yummy!

  • Megan {Country Cleaver}
    April 7, 2014 at 8:37 pm

    How could I not dive right into those slices!! YUMOHHH!

  • Lauren @ Sassy Molassy
    April 7, 2014 at 10:29 pm

    I really want to make this, perhaps for Easter. I’m thinking of adding a little orange zest and possibly a bit of orange juice to the glaze??

  • Erin
    April 8, 2014 at 8:03 am

    Jenna – I made 2 loafs last night and plan on freezing for Easter and for a weekend girls trip. I too had to sneak a taste – and it was DELICIOUS! As always, that you for sharing.

    • Erin
      April 8, 2014 at 8:11 am

      *loaves – yikes!

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  • Kay @ goaloflosing.com
    April 16, 2014 at 9:57 am

    I can’t wait to try this!!

  • Rachel
    April 16, 2014 at 4:38 pm

    This looks amazing!! Do you think the dough will keep in the fridge if I make it on Friday but don’t bake it until Sunday? I will be out of town Saturday (so won’t be home to take out of the freezer) but would love it make it for Easter brunch on Sunday!

    • jenna
      April 16, 2014 at 5:38 pm

      I do think so. Just take it out of the fridge on Sunday about an hour before you plan to use it so it has time to warm back up. Be sure to cover the bowl very tightly with plastic wrap when it’s in the fridge and you should be fine.

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  • Ed
    May 4, 2017 at 11:31 am

    Looks so tasty, as being an apple pie lover would ad some sliced apples because its a great combination of apples and cinnamon lol