02 April 2011

Cinnamon Bread Take 1.

I am addicted to this bread:

Cinnabon Bread.  The devil. 
There are some problems with this:
1. It is unhealthy.  Sure, one could argue the value of eating 12 pieces of bread jammed with delicious cinnamon in one sitting, but really Sunshine? Seriously?
2.  This bread costs a sh!t-ton of money. It is hard to justify spending $3+ for 12 slices of heaven when I could A. make my own bread; or B. buy 2 loaves of less-delectable non-cinnamon-filled bread; or the best option of all:  C. NOT EAT BREAD LIKE IT IS THE LIFE-GIVING FORCE OF THE WORLD.

So I wanted to make my own.  I was impatient so I printed off the first recipe I came across.  I knew it wouldn't be as delectable as the swirly goodness of the Cinnabon Bread, but I wanted to give it a shot. This bread is uber-sweet, but really amazing toasted with a little whipped butter on top.  Great as a dessert (my choice), or weekend-morning treat.  Or, an every day treat if you roll like that.  Next batch I am going to try to use less sugar in the bread dough--it didn't need the cup.  I also think that if you are healthy-cooking savvy, the oil could be replaced with unsweetened applesauce

Cinnamon Bread I
Adapted from allrecipies.

When I finally got around to taking a picture, there was less than 1/2 loaf left.  Oops.
2 cups all-purpose flour (I used bread flour)
1 cup white sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon (I added MORE)
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup buttermilk (homemade w/skim milk + 1TBSP vinegar)
1/4 cup vegetable oil
2 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 tablespoons white sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon (I added MORE)
2 teaspoons margarine (I used butter)
Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease one 9x5 inch loaf pan.
Measure flour, 1 cup sugar, baking powder, baking soda, 1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon, salt, buttermilk, oil, eggs and vanilla into large mixing bowl. Beat 3 minutes. Pour into prepared loaf pan. Smooth top.
Combine 2 tablespoons white sugar, 1 teaspoon cinnamon and butter, mixing until crumbly. Sprinkle topping over smoothed batter. Using knife, cut in a light swirling motion to give a marbled effect. (ok..this part was baffling to me.  Is the top supposed to be crumbly with the cinnamon-sugar-butter goodness? Or am I supposed to somehow smoosh the mixture into the bread and marble it.  If you notice in the picture, the marbling didn't' happen.  Unless marbling means a splooch into the center of the bread.  Which, as I looked up "marbled" in the dictionary, it doesn't.--Good luck with this part when you try it. Let me know how YOU did it ok? Please? I'd like to actually do it right!)
Bake for about 50 minutes. Test with toothpick. When inserted it should come out clean. Remove bread from pan to rack to cool. 
See the splooch.  Yeah...not marbled.
**It is important that you do not start to fill out a job application online before the bread is supposed to be done--because hearing the oven timer from the office is impossible and you will overcook the bread.  And you will get mad that the bread didn't turn out as awesome as it could have.  Believe me. I know.   

1 comment:

  1. I'm with you girl. I love that cinnamon bread too. This looks like a great alternative!

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