Cinnamon Swirl Bread

I love this bread for French Toast.  I always make sure to make some on my bread making day.  This is also great to use in the bread pudding recipe I posted awhile back.  But more than anything, this bread is amazing straight out of the oven!

BREAD:

1 Tablespoon butter

1/2 cup milk

2 Tablespoons granulated white sugar

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

2 1/4 teaspoons active dry yeast

3/4 cup warm water

3 cups all-purpose flour, divided + more for surface work

FILLING:

2 Tablespoons butter, softened

2 Tablespoons granulated white sugar

1 Tablespoon brown sugar

1 Tablespoon ground cinnamon

Directions:

1. In a microwavable bowl, heat butter and milk in 30 second intervals; stir together until butter is melted.

2. In a large bowl, stir sugar, salt and cinnamon. Pour warm butter/milk mixture into the bowl; stir.

3. In a glass measuring cup or small bowl, mix yeast and warm water until yeast is dissolved; pour into the bowl and stir.

4. Mix in 2 1/2 cups flour. Turn out dough onto a floured board (dough will be sticky). Sprinkle remaining 1/2 cup of flour onto the dough and knead until the dough is soft and smooth (4 to 5 minutes). Add additional sprinkles of flour, if needed.

5. Put dough into a greased bowl; turn the dough over so the top of the dough is greased too. Cover with a clean dish towel and let rise in a warm place for about 60 minutes, or until doubled in size.

6. Punch down the dough in the bowl with your fist. Turn dough onto a floured surface and knead for about 1 minute.

7. Roll dough out into a basic rectangular shape. Use a butter knife or your clean fingers to spread 2 Tablespoons softened butter on the surface of the rolled out dough. In a small bowl, mix white sugar, brown sugar and cinnamon. Sprinkle this mixture on top of the butter.

8. Roll up dough and form into a loaf. Place into a buttered 5x9-inch bread pan, seam side down. Cover with a clean dish towel and let rise in a warm place until doubled in size, about 30 minutes.

9. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.

10. Score risen dough in the pan by cutting 3 slashes diagonally across the top of the loaf with a sharp knife. Bake bread for 35 to 45 minutes, or until golden brown. Fully baked bread should sound hollow when tapped.

11. Turn out bread and let cool on a wire rack.