Cinnamon Honey Butter Sourdough Bread Recipe

If you’re searching for a bread that feels like home and brings a soulful sweetness to your kitchen, you’ve just found it! Cinnamon Honey Butter Sourdough Bread is an absolute treat: a golden, tangy sourdough loaf swirled with rich cinnamon, honey, and a buttery ripple that turns every slice into pure comfort food. This bread boasts that irresistible mix of chewy crumb, tender swirl, and a brown-sugary aroma that fills your house with warmth. Whether you’re sharing it at brunch or sneaking a slice for yourself, this recipe transforms the humble loaf into something truly special.

Ingredients You’ll Need

Ingredients You’ll Need

The joy of making Cinnamon Honey Butter Sourdough Bread lies in its simple, powerhouse ingredients—each one playing a distinct role in building flavor, texture, and that iconic swirl. Here’s what you’ll need, along with a few tips for getting the very best out of each element.

• Bread flour: Delivers a sturdy structure with chew for the perfect sourdough texture—don’t swap for all-purpose unless you have to.
• Water: Hydration is key to developing dough strength; use filtered if possible for best results.
• Active and bubbly sourdough starter: Your wild yeast powerhouse—make sure it’s lively and recently fed for a good rise.
• Sugar: Adds a subtle sweetness to the dough, rounding out the sour tang of the starter.
• Salt: Critical for highlighting flavors and regulating yeast activity—don’t skip it!
• Butter: Unsalted works best; brings a lush, tender swirl that makes each bite memorable.
• Honey: The secret to a floral, mellow sweetness that pairs perfectly with cinnamon.
• Powdered sugar: Gives the cinnamon butter filling that silky, ribbon-like texture as it melts through the bread.
• Cinnamon: Make sure it’s fresh and aromatic—it’s the real star of the swirl.
• Flour (for the swirl): Just a tablespoon helps the butter mixture stay in place inside the roll and prevents leaks.

How to Make Cinnamon Honey Butter Sourdough Bread

Step 1: Mix and Autolyse the Dough

Start by combining your bread flour, water, sourdough starter, sugar, and salt in a large mixing bowl. Stir everything together until you get a rough, shaggy dough—no need for perfection here. Cover the bowl and let it rest. This simple pause, called the autolyse, lets the flour fully hydrate and gives your loaf a springy texture that holds swirls like a dream.

Step 2: Stretch, Fold, and Build Strength

About 30 minutes later, wet your hands and give the dough a set of stretch-and-folds: gently pull one side of the dough up and fold it over itself, rotating the bowl as you go. Cover and let it rest again. If you have extra time, repeat this process one or two more times, each 30 minutes apart. Every stretch and fold adds power to the dough, setting you up for those beautiful, hearty slices.

Step 3: Bulk Ferment Overnight

Now it’s time for the magic of sourdough. Leave the dough covered at a comfortable room temperature (below 72F works best) for a total of 10 to 14 hours. You’ll know it’s ready when it looks puffed up and has grown about 75%. The long, slow rise builds that classic tangy character in your Cinnamon Honey Butter Sourdough Bread.

Step 4: Make the Cinnamon Honey Butter Swirl

While your dough is finishing its rise, mix together softened butter, honey, powdered sugar, cinnamon, and that extra tablespoon of flour. The result should be a creamy, intensely scented filling that’s just begging to be rolled up and baked into the loaf!

Step 5: Shape and Swirl

Gently spread the dough out into a thick, chubby rectangle on an unfloured surface. Smear half of your cinnamon honey butter mixture in a generous layer across the dough. Then, fold the dough into thirds like a letter, stacking the layers. Add the rest of the butter mixture to the top, roll it all up, pinch the sides, and nestle it into a floured proofing basket. This shaping creates those dreamy, gooey cinnamon swirls.

Step 6: Cold Proof

Cover the basket and let the dough rest in the fridge for its second proof. Eight hours is ideal, but adjust as needed to fit your schedule. The cold fermentation does double duty: it’s convenient, and it deepens the flavor and structure, giving you dramatic, swoon-worthy slices.

Step 7: Preheat Your Oven and Bake

When you’re ready to bake, crank your oven up to 450F and place your Dutch oven inside to preheat. This hot start is what helps the bread spring up and get that crackly, golden crust.

Step 8: Score and Bake

Turn your proved loaf out, score the surface with a sharp knife for style (and to direct expansion), and swiftly move it into the preheated Dutch oven. Bake covered for 25 minutes to trap steam, then remove the lid and continue for another 10-15 minutes until the crust is deeply browned and irresistible.

Step 9: Cool Completely

Transfer your beautiful loaf to a wire rack to cool—this is so important, as it sets the crumb and swirl inside. As tempting as it is to slice right in, waiting at least an hour lets everything settle, so each slice of your Cinnamon Honey Butter Sourdough Bread is picture-perfect.

Step 10: Make Extra Cinnamon Honey Butter for Serving

Whip up a fresh batch of cinnamon honey butter (this time, skip the flour) to slather thickly on warm slices. The spread melts luxuriously into the pockets and swirls, making every bite even more decadent.

How to Serve Cinnamon Honey Butter Sourdough Bread

Garnishes

Try a dusting of cinnamon sugar or a drizzle of extra honey right before serving. For something extra special, add a handful of toasted nuts or even a sprinkling of sea salt to play up sweet-salty contrasts.

Side Dishes

This loaf shines alongside everything from fresh fruit and yogurt to bacon or scrambled eggs for a cozy brunch. It’s fantastically comforting with strong coffee or a gently spiced chai latte, or make a meal of it with a simple green salad for balance.

Creative Ways to Present

For gatherings, slice and fan the bread out on a rustic wooden board with a bowl of cinnamon honey butter at the center. Or, cut thick slices for decadent French toast and let the swirls steal the show! Toasted, buttered, or simply torn off in pieces—there’s no wrong way to enjoy it.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

Once completely cooled, wrap the Cinnamon Honey Butter Sourdough Bread snugly in foil or wax paper and stash it in an airtight container at room temperature for up to three days. The swirls keep the bread moist, but avoid plastic wrap if you want to preserve the crust’s magic crunch.

Freezing

To freeze, place the cooled, unsliced loaf in a freezer bag with as much air pressed out as possible. If you want grab-and-go slices, slice and separate layers with parchment first. Frozen bread keeps well for up to two months—just thaw at room temperature overnight before serving.

Reheating

To revive that fresh-baked feel, reheat individual slices in a toaster or unwrap the whole loaf and bake at 350F for 10-15 minutes until warmed through. Don’t forget that extra slather of cinnamon honey butter just before serving!

FAQs

Can I use instant yeast instead of sourdough starter?

For this recipe, the sourdough starter brings a unique tang and chewy texture you won’t get from instant yeast. While you could adapt the recipe with yeast, you’d miss out on what makes Cinnamon Honey Butter Sourdough Bread so special.

How do I know my starter is active enough?

Your starter should be bubbly and doubled in size a few hours after its last feeding. Drop a spoonful in water—it should float! That means it’s got enough lift for your loaf.

Why add flour to the cinnamon honey butter swirl?

A spoonful of flour keeps the buttery swirl from oozing out and helps it hold tight, so you get a luscious ribbon right through the crumb instead of a messy bake.

Can I make this bread less sweet?

Absolutely—just reduce the sugar and honey in both the dough and the filling to taste. The cinnamon will still shine, and you’ll have a more classic, subtly sweet sourdough loaf.

What if I don’t have a Dutch oven?

No Dutch oven? No problem. Bake on a preheated baking stone with a metal tray of water in the oven to create steam, which helps develop a crispy crust.

Final Thoughts

If you’re ready to bake something unforgettable, give Cinnamon Honey Butter Sourdough Bread a spot in your kitchen rotation. It’s a recipe that invites you to slow down, savor the process, and share irresistible slices with the people you love. Trust me: once you taste a warm, buttery swirl from your own oven, you’ll want to make it again and again!

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