The Shortcut to Making Dollywood’s Famous Cinnamon Bread at Home



Dollywood is famous for many things: iconic Dolly Parton memorabilia, thrilling rides and, of course, delicious food. One iconic sweet treat from the theme park is the cinnamon bread, which is fluffy and sugary with a spiced kick. Since getting your hands on one of these loaves requires a trip to the Nashville theme park — and possibly a long line — why not eliminate that and make it at home instead? It’s so easy to do, especially using a shortcut ingredient: frozen bread dough. This slashes the rise time, while delivering on a pillowy-soft bread loaf. 

Servings: 2 Loaves

Ingredients:

BREAD:

  • • Vegetable oil cooking spray
  • • ½ cup sugar
  • • 1½ tbsp cinnamon
  • • 1 1-pound loaf frozen bread dough, thawed
  • • 4 tbsp (½stick) butter, melted

GLAZE:

  • • 1 cup powdered sugar, sifted 
  • • 2-3 tbsp water or fresh lemon juice

Directions:

  • • Coat two loaf pans with vegetable oil cooking spray.
  • • Combine the sugar and cinnamon in a shallow dish and set aside.
  • • Cut the dough lengthwise into two pieces. 
  • • Make 4 crosswise slits in each piece, taking care not to cut all the way through. 
  • • Brush the loaves all over with butter, making sure to cover the creases. 
  • • Roll each loaf in the cinnamon mixture, packing the cinnamon into the creases with your hands. 
  • • Place the loaves in the prepared pans and set aside in a warm place to rise for 30 minutes. 
  • • While the bread is rising, preheat the oven to 300°F.
  • • Bake the bread, turning the pans around once, for 35 minutes, or until the top is golden and a tap on the bottom of the pan yields a hollow sound.
  • • Meanwhile, make the glaze. In a small bowl, vigorously stir together the powdered sugar and water until the mixture is smooth and free of lumps. 
  • • Turn the breads out onto a rack while they’re still warm and drizzle with the glaze.