Cinnamon Swirl Recipe: Sweet Twirly Delight

Cinnamon swirls are sweet roll pastries that are commonly made in Northern Europe as well as Northern America. It consists of a rolled sheet of yeast dough onto which a mixture of cinnamon and sugar is sprinkled onto over a thin layer of butter.

Satisfy your sweet tooth first thing in the morning using this easy cinnamon swirl recipe!

Recipe For Cinnamon Swirls – Everything You Need To Know:

The main ingredients of this cinnamon swirl recipe are: flour, cinnamon, sugar and butter. The recipe is easy, inexpensive and does not require any special equipment. The ingredients are also easy to find either at home or in the supermarket.

Cinnamon Swirl Ingredients

For the dough

• 200 ml Whole Milk: Using whole milk for this cinnamon swirl recipe is preferred as it gives a richer taste to the cinnamon swirls.
• 50 g Caster Sugar: Caster sugar gives the dough a sweeter flavor. It is the best for this cinnamon swirl recipe as it dissolves quickly and has a nice uniform flavor.
• 100 g Unsalted Butter: Using unsalted butter in the dough is necessary for this recipe for cinnamon swirls.
• 500 g White Bread Flour: Using the right type of flour is very important for good results on this cinnamon swirl recipe. White bread flour has a high protein content that helps the dough rise perfectly.
• 1 packet Instant Yeast: Use one sachet of instant yeast to ensure a good rise of the dough. Instant yeast also works well with almost any type of bread.
• 1 tbsp Salt: Use just a tablespoon of salt to balance the taste of the dough.

For the filling

• 2 tbsp Ground Cinnamon: Cinnamon is the most important part of this cinnamon swirl recipe. You can not make cinnamon swirls without cinnamon!
• 75 g Extra Softened Butter: For the filling, use super soft butter. If the butter is hard, it will not spread evenly over the dough.
• 75 g Dark Brown Sugar: Dark brown sugar works best in this recipe for cinnamon swirls due to its cherished toffee flavor as well as darker color that makes the swirls stand out.

For the topping

• 1 Whisked Egg: Egg is a good addition to this cinnamon swirl recipe. Similar to butter, it helps soften the cinnamon swirl and provide some moisture.
• Icing Sugar or Apricot Jam: You can use either icing sugar or heated apricot jam as topping for the cinnamon swirls.

How To Make Cinnamon Swirls?

1. Combine the milk and butter together in a small pan. Melt the butter and milk over low heat.
2. In a large mixing bowl, add the flour, caster sugar, yeast and salt. Whisk the ingredients together.
3. Slowly add the melted butter and milk over the dry ingredients. Stir well between adding each ingredient in order to form a soft dough.
4. Transfer the dough to a lightly floured work surface. Using floured hands, knead the dough for 3-5 minutes. If the dough still feels sticky, add a little more flour to the dough.
5. Place the dough in a lightly greased bowl and cover it. Leave the bowl in a warm place for about an hour or until the dough doubles in size.
6. While the dough is rising, mix together the dark brown sugar and cinnamon. Put it to the side.
7. After the dough has risen, take it out of the greased bowl and place it on the lightly floured surface. Flatten the dough roughly using your fingertips. The, take a rolling pin, lightly flour it and roll the dough into a rectangle of about 2-3mm thickness.
8. Use the back of a spoon and spread the softened butter on top of the surface of the dough.
9. Sprinkle the mixture of cinnamon and dark brown sugar over the buttered dough. Gently push the sprinkle into the butter with your fingertips.
10. Roll the dough and slice off the rough edges at both sides of the rolled up dough.
11. Slice the dough into nine equal rolls roughly with a sharp knife.
12. Preheat the oven to 180°C (350°F). Then, line up the 9×9 inch square baking tin with grease-proof paper. Place the 9 rolls into the tin with the swirls facing upward.
13. Cover the pan with aluminum foil or plastic wrap and leave the rolls to rise up for 30 minutes.
14. Once the rolls have risen, whisk up an egg. Uncover the cinnamon swirls and brush them with the egg. Place the cinnamon swirls in the preheated oven
15. Bake for about 20-25 minutes until the cinnamon swirls are light brown.
16. Once done, remove the baking tin from the oven and place it on a wire rack till the cinnamon swirls cool down.
17. Once cooled, brush the cinnamon swirls with icing sugar or heated apricot jam using the back of a knife or an icing spatula.

Also Try: Tenderstem Broccoli Recipe – Garlic Lemon Infusion

Tips To Make The Best Cinnamon Swirls

Make sure to follow these tips and tricks for the best possible results on this cinnamon swirl recipe:

• The cinnamon swirls can be stored in an airtight container for 3 to 4 days in the refrigerator. After 3 to 4 days, the cinnamon swirls start to harden and go stale.
• Using one sachet of instant yeast will ensure a good rise of the dough. Make sure you use a yeast that states it can be added straight to the recipe or flour. Instant yeast is also more preferable in this cinnamon swirl recipe because it pairs well with any type of bread.
• Make sure to use white bread flour as it has a higher protein content and gives a better rise.
• Use a very sharp knife to cut the cinnamon swirls to avoid squishing them.
• Cinnamon swirls can be frozen for up to 3 months in an airtight container or freezer bag.

Cinnamon Swirl Recipe FAQs

How long can you store the cinnamon swirls for?

The cinnamon swirls can be stored in an airtight container for 3 to 4 days in an airtight container. After that, the cinnamon swirls start to harden and go stale.

Can you freeze cinnamon swirls?

Yes, you can freeze cinnamon swirls. Once the cinnamon swirls are ready, place them in the freezer in a freezer bag or airtight container for up to 3 months. When you want to eat the cinnamon swirls, heat for 2 minutes in the microwave to defrost and then pop in the oven to warm for 5 minutes.

Why do my cinnamon swirls rise unevenly while baking?

Cinnamon swirls rise unevenly during baking because of 2 main reasons. Either the cinnamon rolls are rolled too tight or if the baking tin is too small/overcrowded. However, the solution is easy. Use the back of a spoon to gently press the over-risen parts back down.

Cinnamon Swirl Recipe Card