A Taste of Dollywood: Making Cinnamon Bread at Home

• Meredith Jones

It’s the Dollywood off-season, and I am missing the park! The sights, the sounds, the rides, the shows, the shopping—and you guessed it, the cinnamon bread. This iconic treat is a must-have when you visit the Smokies, and my family loves it. So, I decided to try to make it at home. After a few attempts, we found a recipe that worked, and the results were delicious! Take a look at how we did it!

My family and friends are already asking me to make it again soon! Here’s how you can replicate it at home. (Remember, I told you it took me a few failed attempts before I found a recipe that I could execute well. It’s tough! If you’re not a master baker, or have lots of patience, you can always look forward to eating it at Dollywood.) I adapted this recipe from one I found online.

For the Dough:

• 1/2 cup warm water (100 to 110 degrees Fahrenheit)
• 3/4 tsp. active dry yeast
• 1 tbsp. plus a pinch of granulated sugar
• 1 1/2 cups bread flour
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 2 tbsps. unsalted butter, melted and cooled
• Cooking spray

For the Topping:

• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1/4 cup packed light brown sugar
• 1 tbsp. ground cinnamon
• 6 tbsps. unsalted butter, melted
• 2 tbsps. light corn syrup

For the Glaze:

• 1 1/4 cups confectioners' sugar
• Pinch of salt
• 2 tbsps. unsalted butter, melted
• 3 to 5 tbsps. Milk

Dough

Combine the warm water, yeast and a pinch of granulated sugar in a small bowl, and let sit until bubbly (five to eight minutes). Meanwhile, whisk the bread flour, remaining one tablespoon of granulated sugar and salt together. Add the yeast mixture and melted butter to the flour mixture. Knead with the dough until it is smooth and elastic (about eight minutes). Transfer to a bowl coated with cooking spray. Cover tightly with plastic wrap and let rise in a warm place until doubled in size (about one and a half hours). Lightly spray a baking sheet with cooking spray. Punch down the dough and transfer to a work surface; knead a few times. Cut in half and gently shape into two three-by-six-inch loaves (do not overwork the dough). Place the loaves three inches apart on the prepared pan. Lightly spray the loaves with cooking spray and cover with plastic wrap. Let rise in a warm place until puffy (30 minutes to one hour).

Topping

Whisk the granulated sugar, brown sugar and cinnamon in a small baking dish. Whisk the melted butter and corn syrup in another small baking dish. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line two nine-by-five-inch loaf pans with parchment paper, leaving a two-inch overhang on all sides. Cut four deep slashes across the top of each loaf (the loaves will look deflated). Dip each loaf in the butter-corn syrup mixture, turning to cover, then coat with the cinnamon sugar, making sure to get the sugar in the crevices. Place the loaves in the prepared pans. Drizzle with any remaining butter mixture and sprinkle with any remaining cinnamon sugar. Bake until light brown (25 to 30 minutes). Lift the bread out of the loaf pans using the parchment overhang and transfer to a rack. Let cool in the paper (about 15 minutes).

Glaze/Dip

Mix the confectioners' sugar, salt, melted butter and three tablespoons of milk in a bowl until smooth. Whisk in up to two more tablespoons of milk as needed to loosen. Drizzle on the warm loaves or serve on the side for dipping.