Dollywood Cinnamon Bread with Icing: Sweet, Swirled Perfection

If you’ve ever visited Dollywood, you know that their legendary cinnamon bread is a must-try treat. Soft, fluffy bread swirled with cinnamon and sugar, topped with rich cream cheese icing, it’s a perfect breakfast, brunch, or dessert. This Dollywood cinnamon bread with icing recipe brings the theme park favorite right to your kitchen.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Classic Flavor: Cinnamon and sugar swirls with a soft, buttery loaf.
• Rich Icing: Cream cheese icing adds sweetness and a smooth, tangy contrast.
• Versatile: Perfect for breakfast, brunch, or as a sweet treat any time.

Ingredients

• Bread:
  • 3 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 2 tsp baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp baking soda
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp ground cinnamon
  • 3/4 cup buttermilk
  • 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
• Cinnamon Swirl:
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
  • 1 tbsp ground cinnamon
  • 2 tbsp unsalted butter, melted
• Cream Cheese Icing:
  • 4 oz cream cheese, softened
  • 1/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 cup powdered sugar
  • 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1–2 tbsp milk (to thin as needed)

Instructions

1. Preheat Oven: Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour a 9×5-inch loaf pan.
2. Mix Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon.
3. Mix Wet Ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk together buttermilk, melted butter, eggs, and vanilla extract.
4. Combine: Gradually add dry ingredients to wet, mixing until smooth.
5. Prepare Cinnamon Swirl: In a small bowl, mix brown sugar, cinnamon, and melted butter.
6. Layer the Bread: Pour half of the batter into the prepared pan. Sprinkle half of the cinnamon sugar mixture on top. Add remaining batter, then top with remaining cinnamon sugar. Swirl gently with a knife.
7. Bake: Bake for 45–50 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool in pan 10 minutes, then transfer to wire rack.
8. Prepare Icing: Beat cream cheese and butter until smooth. Add powdered sugar, vanilla, and milk until desired consistency.
9. Drizzle Icing: Once bread is cool, drizzle cream cheese icing generously over the top. Slice and serve.

Dollywood Cinnamon Bread with Icing

Soft, fluffy cinnamon bread swirled with brown sugar and cinnamon, topped with rich cream cheese icing – a Dollywood favorite at home.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 20 minutes mins

Cook Time 50 minutes mins

Total Time 1 hour hr 10 minutes mins

Servings: 8 slices

Course: Breakfast, Dessert

Cuisine: American, Sweet Bread

Calories: 320

Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients

  

Bread

• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 0.25 cup granulated sugar
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 0.5 tsp baking soda
• 0.5 tsp salt
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• 0.75 cup buttermilk
• 0.25 cup unsalted butter melted
• 2 eggs large
• 1 tsp vanilla extract

Cinnamon Swirl

• 0.5 cup brown sugar packed
• 1 tbsp ground cinnamon
• 2 tbsp unsalted butter melted

Cream Cheese Icing

• 4 oz cream cheese softened
• 0.25 cup unsalted butter softened
• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 0.5 tsp vanilla extract
• 1-2 tbsp milk to thin if needed

Equipment

• Loaf pan
• Mixing bowls
• Whisk
• Wire rack

Method

 

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease/flour 9×5-inch loaf pan.
2. Whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon.
3. In another bowl, mix buttermilk, melted butter, eggs, and vanilla.
4. Gradually combine dry ingredients with wet until smooth.
5. Mix brown sugar, cinnamon, and melted butter for the swirl.
6. Layer batter and cinnamon mixture in loaf pan, swirl gently.
7. Bake 45–50 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes.
8. Beat cream cheese and butter, add powdered sugar, vanilla, and milk until smooth.
9. Drizzle icing over cooled bread, slice, and serve.

Notes

Bread is best served warm but can be stored wrapped in plastic for up to 3 days.

Tips for Perfect Cinnamon Bread

• Even Swirl: Use a butter knife to gently swirl the cinnamon sugar through the batter without overmixing.
• Room Temperature Ingredients: Ensure eggs and butter are at room temperature for a smooth batter.
• Make Ahead: This bread tastes even better the next day after flavors meld. Store wrapped in plastic to keep moist.

Variations

• Nutty Delight: Add chopped pecans or walnuts to the cinnamon swirl for crunch.
• Caramel Twist: Drizzle caramel sauce over the icing for an indulgent treat.
• Mini Loaves: Divide batter into mini loaf pans for giftable portions.

Serving Suggestions

• Serve warm for breakfast with coffee or tea.
• Pair with fresh fruit for brunch gatherings.
• Slice and enjoy as a dessert with a scoop of vanilla ice cream for a special treat.

Fun Facts & Cultural Context

• Dollywood’s cinnamon bread has become iconic since the park opened, drawing visitors from all over for its unique sweet flavor.
• The combination of cream cheese icing with cinnamon sugar bread is inspired by traditional American sweet breads but elevated for a theme park experience.
• Making it at home allows for customization, whether adjusting sweetness, adding nuts, or creating mini loaves for gifts.

Nutrition Highlights (per slice)

• Calories: 320
• Carbohydrates: 40g
• Protein: 5g
• Fat: 15g
• Saturated Fat: 8g
• Fiber: 1g
• Sugar: 22g
• Vitamin A: 8% DV
• Vitamin C: 0% DV