The Ultimate Snickerdoodle Bread Recipe: Soft, Moist, and Irresistibly Cinnamon-Sugar Coated
Are you craving the comforting, nostalgic flavors of a classic snickerdoodle cookie but in a more substantial, sliceable, and utterly delicious form? Look no further than this mouthwatering Snickerdoodle Bread! This recipe takes all the beloved elements of your favorite snickerdoodle – the warm cinnamon, the sweet tang, and that signature soft texture – and transforms them into an incredibly easy quick bread. You’ll be delighted to find this loaf is ready in just over an hour, boasting a wonderfully soft, tender crumb and an irresistible crunchy cinnamon sugar topping that will have you coming back for slice after slice.
It’s the perfect treat for any time of day, whether you’re enjoying it with your morning coffee, as an afternoon snack, or even as a simple yet satisfying dessert. The ease of preparation makes it an ideal choice for busy bakers or anyone looking for a quick and rewarding baking project.
Cinnamon has always been one of my absolute favorite spices, and I’m always looking for new ways to incorporate its warm, inviting flavor into my baking. Cinnamon in my grandma’s banana bread recipe? Yes, please! Cinnamon chocolate chip muffins? Sign me up! I even have a popular snickerdoodle pumpkin bread recipe that features a surprise layer of cinnamon and cardamom sugar – it’s SO good and truly highlights the versatility of this beloved spice!
For this delightful cinnamon loaf recipe, I’ve had the pleasure of partnering with Lifeway, just as I did with my fluffy kefir pancakes recipe. Incorporating Lifeway’s kefir into the batter is a game-changer; it’s the secret ingredient that creates an incredibly soft, moist, and tender texture, elevating this quick bread to new heights. Beyond its ability to tenderize, kefir also adds a subtle yet distinct tangy flavor, perfectly mirroring the characteristic tang that cream of tartar brings to traditional snickerdoodle cookies. This unique combination ensures every bite is a harmonious blend of sweet, spicy, and tangy notes.
Whether you’re a devoted snickerdoodle fan eager to experience those familiar flavors in a new format, or simply seeking an exciting twist on traditional quick bread, this Snickerdoodle Bread recipe is guaranteed to become a crowd favorite. Its ease, delicious taste, and comforting aroma make it a standout addition to any baker’s repertoire.
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Why You’ll Love This Snickerdoodle Bread Recipe
- Unforgettable Flavor Fusion: This recipe expertly combines the warm, inviting, and utterly comforting flavors of classic snickerdoodle cookies with the satisfying convenience of a simple quick bread. It’s truly the best of both worlds, offering familiar tastes in a fresh, delightful form.
- Effortless Baking: You’ll appreciate that this recipe relies on readily available pantry staples, making it incredibly easy to whip up anytime a craving strikes. No need for special grocery trips; just gather your basic baking ingredients and get started!
- Irresistible Texture Contrast: The iconic cinnamon-sugar topping isn’t just for show; it creates a delightful, crunchy texture that beautifully contrasts with the soft, tender interior of the bread, providing an extra burst of flavor in every bite.
- Incredibly Versatile: This Snickerdoodle Bread is perfect for almost any occasion. It makes a thoughtful and delicious gift, an ideal addition to holiday dessert spreads, or simply an exquisite afternoon treat to enjoy with your coffee or tea. It even makes a fantastic breakfast or brunch item!
- Quick & Rewarding: As a quick bread, it requires no yeast or lengthy rising times. From start to finish, you can have a warm, freshly baked loaf on your counter in just about an hour, making it perfect for those busy days when you still crave homemade goodness.
Essential Snickerdoodle Bread Ingredients
To create this delectable quick bread, you’ll need a few key ingredients, most of which are likely already in your kitchen. High-quality ingredients are always recommended for the best flavor and texture, ensuring your Snickerdoodle Bread turns out perfectly every time.
Ingredient Notes:
- All-purpose flour: This forms the essential structure of our bread. For the most accurate and consistent results, I highly recommend using a kitchen scale to weigh your flour in grams. If you’re measuring by volume, be sure to gently spoon the flour into the measuring cup and level it off with a straightedge. This prevents over-measuring, which can lead to a dense and dry loaf.
- Baking powder: This leavening agent is crucial for giving our quick bread its beautifully fluffy and light texture. Always ensure your baking powder is fresh; an old, inactive batch won’t provide the necessary lift, resulting in a flat bread.
- Just a pinch of salt: Salt is a flavor enhancer that does more than just balance sweetness. It deepens and brightens all the other flavors, particularly bringing out the warm, aromatic notes of cinnamon, creating a more complex and satisfying taste.
- Ground cinnamon: This is the star spice, providing the signature warm, spicy, and fragrant flavor that defines a snickerdoodle. High-quality cinnamon will make a noticeable difference in the final taste and aroma of your bread.
- Soft, unsalted butter: We use unsalted butter to control the overall salt content of the recipe. Ensure it’s properly softened to room temperature, as this is essential for creaming with sugar to incorporate air, which contributes to the bread’s tender crumb and rich flavor.
- Granulated sugar: Beyond just sweetening the bread, granulated sugar plays a vital role in creating a tender crumb and assisting with the beautiful golden-brown crust.
- Use large, room-temperature eggs: Eggs act as a binder, adding structure, richness, and moisture to the bread. Bringing them to room temperature allows them to emulsify more effectively with other ingredients, resulting in a smoother, more uniform batter and a better-baked product.
- Vanilla extract: A good quality vanilla extract enhances and rounds out the overall flavor profile of the bread, adding depth and warmth to the cinnamon notes.
- Lifeway Organic Plain Whole Milk Kefir: This is a secret weapon in this recipe! Kefir adds exceptional moisture and a subtle, characteristic tang that perfectly mimics the flavor profile of traditional snickerdoodle cookies, usually achieved with cream of tartar. Its acidity also reacts with the baking powder, contributing to a wonderfully tender and moist texture. Don’t skip this ingredient for the authentic snickerdoodle experience!
See recipe card below for a full list of ingredients and precise measurements.
Snickerdoodle Bread Substitutions & Creative Variations
While this Snickerdoodle Bread recipe is perfect as written, it’s also incredibly versatile, allowing for several delicious substitutions and creative variations to suit your taste or what you have on hand. Feel free to experiment and make it your own!
- For an extra layer of texture and nutty flavor, consider adding ½ cup of finely chopped nuts, such as pecans or walnuts, to the batter. They’ll provide a lovely crunch that complements the soft bread.
- Infuse even more cinnamon goodness by folding in ½ cup of cinnamon chips into the batter, creating delightful pockets of warm spice throughout the bread. Feeling adventurous? Mix in some white chocolate chips or even regular chocolate chips for a sweet and unexpected twist! 😋
- If Lifeway Organic Plain Whole Milk Kefir isn’t available, you can substitute it with regular buttermilk. Buttermilk has a similar acidity and tang, which will help maintain the bread’s tender texture and characteristic flavor. Avoid using regular milk, as it won’t provide the same acidity or richness.
- For an extra sweet indulgence, once the bread has cooled completely, drizzle a simple vanilla icing over the top. A quick icing can be made by whisking powdered sugar with a splash of milk and a touch of vanilla extract until smooth.
- Turn this into an Apple Snickerdoodle Bread by folding in ½ cup of finely diced apples (like Granny Smith or Honeycrisp) into the batter before baking. This adds a fantastic autumnal touch and extra moisture.
- Create a delightful streusel topping by combining ¼ cup all-purpose flour, 2 tablespoons cold butter (cut into small pieces), and 2 tablespoons brown sugar. Crumble this mixture over the cinnamon-sugar topping before baking for a more complex crunch.
This recipe has not been extensively tested with other substitutions or variations beyond those listed. If you try replacing or adding any ingredients, we’d love to hear how it turned out! Please let us know in the comments below!
How to Make Snickerdoodle Bread: A Step-by-Step Guide
Creating this delicious Snickerdoodle Bread is a straightforward process, perfect for bakers of all skill levels. Follow these simple steps to achieve a perfectly baked, incredibly flavorful loaf every time.
Step 1: Prepare Dry Ingredients. In a medium-sized mixing bowl, thoroughly whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, salt, and ground cinnamon. This crucial step ensures that all the leavening agents and spices are evenly distributed throughout the batter, leading to a consistent rise and flavor in every slice.
Step 2: Cream Wet Ingredients. In a separate, larger bowl, use an electric hand mixer (or stand mixer) to cream the softened unsalted butter and granulated sugar together until the mixture is light, fluffy, and pale in color. This process incorporates air, which contributes to the bread’s final texture. Next, beat in the large eggs and vanilla extract until they are well combined and fully incorporated into the mixture.
Step 3: Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients. Gradually add the whisked dry ingredients and the Lifeway kefir into the wet ingredients, alternating between the two. Begin and end with the dry ingredients. Mix gently with a spatula or on low speed with your mixer, stirring just until everything is combined and no streaks of dry flour remain. Be careful not to over-mix, as this can develop the gluten too much and result in a tough bread.
Step 4: Bake to Perfection. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a 9×5 inch loaf pan with parchment paper, allowing it to overhang slightly on the sides to create “handles” for easy removal later, and lightly grease any exposed parts of the pan. Spread the Snickerdoodle cake batter evenly into the prepared loaf pan. In a small bowl, combine the granulated sugar and cinnamon for the topping, then sprinkle this mixture generously and evenly over the batter. Bake for 40-50 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and crunchy, and a wooden skewer or toothpick inserted into the center of the bread comes out clean. Let it cool in the pan for 20-30 minutes before lifting it onto a wire rack to cool completely. Slice and enjoy your freshly baked Snickerdoodle Bread!
Expert Baking Tips for the Best Snickerdoodle Bread
Achieving the perfect Snickerdoodle Bread is simple with these expert tips:
- Always Use Room Temperature Ingredients: This is a golden rule in baking, especially for quick breads. Ensure your eggs, butter, and kefir are all at room temperature. Cold ingredients don’t emulsify properly, leading to a lumpy batter and a denser, less uniform crumb. Room temperature ingredients combine smoothly, trap air more effectively (resulting in a lighter texture), and bake more evenly.
- Do Not Over-Mix the Batter: Once you start combining the wet and dry ingredients, mix just until the dry ingredient streaks disappear. Over-mixing develops the gluten in the flour, which can lead to a tough, rubbery, and dense bread instead of the desired soft, tender crumb. A few lumps are perfectly fine!
- Accurately Check for Doneness: Baking times can vary significantly between ovens. Start checking your bread at the 40-minute mark. Insert a wooden skewer or toothpick into the very center of the loaf. It should come out clean, with no wet batter clinging to it. The cinnamon-sugar topping should also appear set, golden, and crunchy. Using an oven thermometer can help you verify your oven’s true temperature, ensuring consistent results.
- Cool Properly for Optimal Texture: After baking, resist the urge to immediately remove the bread from the pan. Allow it to cool in the loaf pan for 20-30 minutes. This allows the bread to set and firm up, preventing it from crumbling. Then, carefully lift it out using the parchment paper overhang and transfer it to a wire cooling rack to cool completely. Cooling on a rack ensures air circulates around the entire loaf, preventing the bottom from becoming soggy and maintaining that delightful crunchy topping.
Common Snickerdoodle Bread Questions Answered
Here are some frequently asked questions to help you master this delicious Snickerdoodle Bread:
While whole milk can be used in a pinch, it won’t yield the same results. Kefir is crucial for this recipe as its acidity reacts with the baking powder, contributing to the exceptionally moist and tender texture, and providing a subtle tangy flavor similar to the cream of tartar in traditional snickerdoodles. If you must substitute, buttermilk is your best option as it offers a similar acidic profile, though the unique gut-health benefits of kefir will be absent.
Absolutely! Mini loaves are a fantastic idea for gifting or individual portions. Simply distribute the batter evenly into a greased mini loaf pan. Don’t forget to sprinkle that delicious cinnamon sugar topping on each one! Bake them at 350°F (175°C) but significantly reduce the baking time. Start checking for doneness around 15-20 minutes by inserting a toothpick into the center; it should come out clean.
Lifeway kefir is a widely available and popular product! You should be able to find their Organic Plain Whole Milk Kefir in the dairy section of many major grocery stores and even some convenience stores across the U.S. To make it super easy, you can always check their official website, lifewaykefir.com, to use their store locator and see where it’s available near you.
Yes, you absolutely can! Beyond the suggested nuts and cinnamon/chocolate chips, you could try adding dried cranberries for a festive touch, or even a swirl of softened cream cheese through the batter before baking for a rich, tangy surprise. Just be mindful not to overload the batter, generally sticking to about ½ to ¾ cup of total mix-ins.
How to Store Snickerdoodle Bread for Freshness
Proper storage is key to keeping your Snickerdoodle Bread fresh and delicious for as long as possible, ensuring that crunchy topping and soft crumb remain intact.
Room Temperature Storage
To maintain its optimal freshness and that desirable crunchy topping, ensure your snickerdoodle bread cools completely on a wire rack before storing. Once fully cooled, place the entire loaf or individual slices in an airtight container. This will keep it deliciously fresh for about 3-5 days at room temperature. Avoid wrapping it while still warm, as this will trap moisture and make the topping soggy.
Freezing Instructions
Snickerdoodle bread freezes beautifully! For best results, allow the bread to cool completely. You can freeze the entire loaf or individual slices. Wrap each slice or the whole loaf tightly in plastic food wrap, ensuring no air pockets. Then, place the wrapped bread in a freezer-safe bag or container to prevent freezer burn. It can be frozen for up to 1 month. This is a great way to have a delicious treat ready whenever a craving strikes!
Reheating Instructions
If frozen, simply thaw your snickerdoodle bread at room temperature for a few hours. For a warm, freshly baked experience, you can gently reheat slices in the microwave for 15-30 seconds, or in a preheated oven (around 300°F/150°C) for about 5-10 minutes, until warmed through. Reheating in the oven can help crisp up the topping again.
More Snickerdoodle Recipes You’ll Love
Can’t get enough of that wonderful snickerdoodle flavor? Here are some other fantastic snickerdoodle recipes from our kitchen that you’re sure to enjoy!
- Browned Butter Snickerdoodle Cookies
- Snickerdoodle Rolls
- Edible Snickerdoodle Cookie Dough
- Homemade Snickerdoodle Pumpkin Bread
Did you try this recipe?
We absolutely love hearing from you! If you’ve baked this Snickerdoodle Bread, please let us know what you thought by leaving a comment below. We’d also be thrilled if you shared your delicious creations on social media and tagged us on Instagram, Facebook, & Pinterest! Your feedback and shares help our community grow.
Thank you for baking with us!
-Kayla
📖 Recipe
Snickerdoodle Bread (Quick and Easy!)
Kayla Burton
Pin Recipe
Equipment
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9×5 inch loaf pan lightly greased and lined with parchment paper for easy removal
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Mixing bowls one medium and one large
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Measuring spoons
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Kitchen Scale/measuring cups
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Spatula
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Whisk
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Electric mixer recommended for best creaming results
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Wire cooling rack
Ingredients
Snickerdoodle Batter
- 2¼ cups all-purpose flour weighed in grams for best results, or carefully spooned and leveled
- 2 teaspoons baking powder ensure it’s fresh for good rise
- ½ teaspoon salt to balance and enhance flavors
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon for signature snickerdoodle flavor
- 12 tablespoons unsalted butter softened to room temperature
- 1 cup granulated sugar for sweetness and tender crumb
- 2 large eggs at room temperature for best emulsification
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract enhances overall flavor
- 1 cup Lifeway Organic Plain Whole Milk Kefir at room temperature, essential for moisture and tangy flavor
Cinnamon Sugar Topping
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Instructions
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Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Lightly grease a 9×5 inch loaf pan and carefully line it with a sheet of parchment paper, allowing the paper to overhang on the long sides to create “handles” for easy removal later.
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In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, salt, and ground cinnamon until thoroughly combined. Set aside.
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In a large bowl, using an electric mixer, cream together the softened unsalted butter and granulated sugar for 2-3 minutes until the mixture is light, fluffy, and pale.
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Beat the room-temperature eggs into the butter-sugar mixture one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Stir in the vanilla extract until fully incorporated.
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Alternately add the dry ingredients and the Lifeway kefir to the wet ingredients, beginning and ending with the dry. Mix on low speed or by hand with a spatula just until the ingredients are combined and no dry streaks of flour remain. Be careful not to over-mix.
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Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan and use a spatula to gently smooth the top surface.
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In a small separate bowl, combine the ¼ cup granulated sugar and 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon for the topping. Sprinkle this mixture evenly over the top of the batter in the loaf pan.
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Place the loaf pan on the middle rack of your preheated oven. Bake at 350°F (175°C) for approximately 40-50 minutes. The bread is done when the cinnamon sugar topping appears golden and crunchy, and a wooden skewer or toothpick inserted into the very center of the bread comes out clean.
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Allow the snickerdoodle bread to cool in the pan for 20-30 minutes on a wire rack. Then, carefully lift it out of the pan using the parchment paper handles and transfer it directly to the wire rack to finish cooling completely. Slice and enjoy your delicious homemade Snickerdoodle Bread!
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Notes
Storage: To ensure your snickerdoodle bread stays as fresh and delicious as possible, always allow it to cool completely before storing. Once cooled, keep it in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days. For longer storage, individual slices can be tightly wrapped and placed in a freezer-safe container, where they will keep well for up to 1 month.
Lifeway Kefir Partnership: This recipe was proudly created in partnership with Lifeway Foods. I genuinely love their mission and the incredible results achieved by baking with their high-quality kefir products!
The provided nutritional information is an estimate per serving. Accuracy is not guaranteed.