Dollywood’s Famous Cinnamon Bread

This recipe for Dollywood’s Famous Cinnamon Bread was released by the iconic singer herself. It’s made at the Grist Mill and loved by all visitors to Dollywood in Pigeon Forge Tennessee. Now you can make this cinnamon bread treat anytime you like at home!

 

Easy Dollywood’s Famous Cinnamon Bread Recipe

This pull apart bread is served at the Grist Mill inside Dollywood, Dolly Parton’s beloved theme park located in Pigeon Forge Tennessee. It’s a dense yeast bread by design and visitors look forward to buying a freshly baked loaf and enjoy pulling it apart in chunks to eat while walking around in the park. It’s sweet, sticky and worth every calorie!

Checkout this quick list of key ingredients you’ll need to make Dollywood Cinnamon Bread with Icing Recipe: (Scroll down for full printable recipe card.)

• Flour – Bread flour gives the bread a dense texture.
• Yeast – Active dry yeast gives rise to the dough.
• Sugar – Granulated sugar for sweetness.
• Salt – Salt balances the flavor.
• Butter – Slted butter or unsalted butter for richness.
• Liquid – Lukewarm water to bloom the yeast.
• Cinnamon-Sugar – Ground cinnamon and white sugar to make the sweet coating.
• Butter – Melted butter mixed with light corn syrup to adhere the cinnamon-sugar coating.
• Glaze – Powdered sugar, butter and salt plus heavy cream or fresh lemon juice for the glaze.

How to Make Dollywood’s Famous Cinnamon Bread Recipe

• Bloom the Yeast – Combine the warm water, yeast and pinch of granulated sugar. Allow the mixture to sit until foamy.
• Sift the Flour Mixture – In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, sift together bread flour, sugar, salt and melted butter. Add the yeast mixture.
• Knead the Dough – Switch to the dough hook and knead on medium speed until the dough is smooth and elastic.
• Let Rise – Transfer the dough ball to a greased bowl. Cover with plastic wrap and let it rise until doubled.
• Release Air – Gently punch down then turn dough out onto a lightly floured work surface and knead a few times. Cut dough in half and shape into two 3×6-inch loaves.
• Second Rise – Let rise until puffy.
• Make the Cinnamon Sugar Mixture – Whisk together white sugar, brown sugar and cinnamon.
• Butter Mixture – In a separate small baking dish stir together melted butter and corn syrup.
• Prepare the Loaf Pans – Line two 8×4-inch loaf pans with parchment paper leaving an overhang.
• Crosswise Slits – Uncover bread dough and use a sharp knife to cut four crosswise slits across the top of each loaf.
• Coat with Butter and Sugar Mixture – Dip each loaf in the butter mixture then coat the cinnamon mixture.
• Pans – Place into prepared loaf pans. Pour any remaining butter and sprinkle remaining cinnamon sugar on top.
• Oven – Bake according to the recipe until golden brown.
• Glaze – Make the confectioners’ sugar glaze per the recipe and drizzle on top after baking.

Kitchen Equipment to Make Dollywood’s Cinnamon Bread with Icing

• A stand mixer fitted with the dough hook attachment. You can make this bread by hand, if you don’t have a stand mixer with a dough hook. It will take some elbow grease but the rule of thumb is to knead the dough until it’s smooth and elastic.
• Large bowl, medium bowl and small bowl.
• Measuring cups and spoons.
• Balloon whisk.
• Parchment paper and two 8×4-inch loaf pans.
• Cooking spray and cooling rack.
• Two small baking dishes and a sharp knife to cut crosswise slits in the bread.

Recipe Variations, Tips and Substitutions

• Use Fresh Yeast – Check the date on the yeast and make sure it’s fresh before you begin the bread making. If the yeast mixture doesn’t foam up and proof, throw it out and start again.
• Utilize Parchment Paper for Easy Release – The coating for this bread is sugary and sticky. Due to this don’t skip lining the loaf pans with parchment paper, it’s imperative for getting it out of the pans once baked.
• Double the Recipe – This recipe makes two smaller loaves. Feel free to double the recipe for more servings!
• Dough Shortcut – Can I use frozen bread to make Dolly’s cinnamon bread? You could! You’ll need one 1 pound loaf of frozen bread dough, if time doesn’t allow making the bread dough from scratch.
• Please Note – This bread doesn’t puff up like a typical loaf of yeast bread. In fact, it’s a rather flatter type of bread. If yours doesn’t puff up, it doesn’t mean anything is wrong, it’s the nature of this recipe.
• Dense Texture – Due to the protein in bread flour, this is a more dense type of homemade cinnamon bread and not a fluffy, light and airy bread.
• Original Technique – Dolly’s recipe doesn’t call for rise time just before baking. Once dipped in the butter-corn syrup mixture and coating with cinnamon and sugar, you put it into the loaf pans and bake it immediately. It’s at this point that you can cover and let rise for 45-60 minutes, if desired.
• Use a Sharp Knife – When cutting the slashes into the top of the bread, use a super sharp knife and cut deep but not all the way through to the bottom. Try not to use a sawing motion instead make quick slashes. The bread will deflate.

Storage and Leftovers

• Leftovers – Dollywood Cinnamon Bread is best made and eaten while warm. Should you have any left over (you won’t!) wrap tightly in foil or store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days.
• Reheating – Reheat in the microwave in single servings.
• Freezer – You can freeze leftovers for up to 2 months. Thaw in the fridge and reheat just before serving.

More Easy Bread Recipes to Make

• This Cheesy Garlic and Herb Bread doesn’t require any bread making at all.
• Serve this Dutch Oven Artisan Bread with soups and stews or for sandwiches.
• Easy Irish Soda Bread is a must make for St. Patrick’s Day.
• Cinnamon Roll Bread drizzled with a vanilla cream glaze.
• Ooey gooey Praline Pecan Monkey Bread is a party favorite.
• No yeast is required to make my easy Beer Bread Recipe.
• Sweet Praline Apple Bread is simply delicious.
• Cloud Bread from Wonky Wonderful.

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Helpful Kitchen Items:

• Loaf Pans
• Measuring Set
• Mixing Bowls
• Cooling Rack