Recipe Overview
Why you’ll love it: So much cinnamon sugar goodness is baked into snickerdoodle bread! And if that isn’t enough cinnamon for you, the bread is topped with a cinnamon sugar crust!
How long it takes: 15 minutes to prep, 45 minutes to bake
Equipment you’ll need: loaf pan, a couple of mixing bowls
Servings: 10 slices

The Best Snickerdoodle Bread
So much cinnamon! You’ll find layer upon layer of cinnamon sugar swirled through this quick bread. It’s so delicious! Soft and sweet, with loads of cinnamon flavor, snickerdoodle bread is perfect with a hot beverage or a glass of milk. For a special treat, serve it with a cinnamon dolce latte. So good!
Similar to the cookies (but easier to make!) Hopefully you’ve had the opportunity to try snickerdoodles, the popular sugar cookie that’s rolled in cinnamon sugar. It’s one of the most requested recipes on my site, along with snickerdoodle bars. Snickerdoodle bread is easier to make than cookies because you don’t have to roll out dough balls or bake multiple batches.
Signature flavor. Besides lots of cinnamon, snickerdoodles are known for having a slightly bitter tang coming from the addition of cream of tartar. The tangy flavor is enhanced with buttermilk in snickerdoodle bread.
Snickerwhat?
I was wondering where in the world the name snickerdoodle comes from. It’s kind of a funny word. When a person snickers, it’s a sort of a suppressed laugh, and doodle is what you do when you’re bored. What’s that got to do with cookies?!
According to Wikipedia, snickerdoodles likely have a German origin. The etymology of snickerdoodle is uncertain although it may come from the German “schneckennudle” or cinnamon roll. Literally translated, it means snail noodle which sounds sort of gross and doesn’t really have anything to do with these cookies. At least I hope not.
Sorry about that segue into word land. I know what you really want to hear is how to make this really delicious cinnamon bread.
How To Make Snickerdoodle Bread
This recipe is easy, like most quick breads. Look for the complete printable recipe near the end of this post for complete instructions, measurements, and nutrition information.
Make the cinnamon sugar mixture. Begin by making an easy mixture of cinnamon and sugar for the filling and the topping.
Make the batter.
Layer it the loaf pan. Put a layer of batter in the loaf pan, sprinkle it with cinnamon sugar, and repeat three more times, ending with cinnamon sugar.
You don’t have to be too fussy about the layers because once the bread bakes, everything will look beautiful. Trust me!
Cooking Tip
Line your loaf pan with parchment paper, making “wings” on each side to lift the bread out. The bread tends to stick in the pan otherwise because the cinnamon sugar layers caramelize a bit on the edges. Parchment paper solves that little problem.
Ingredient Notes
- Cinnamon and Sugar – You’ll find lots of cinnamon and sugar in this bread, and even more on top! Use good quality cinnamon. I’ve found that some store brands aren’t as flavorful as name brand spices.
- Flour – I use all purpose but feel free to substitute whole wheat, or white whole wheat. A combination of flours is fine, too.
- Baking Soda – Added as leavening (to make the bread rise), baking soda is essential to quick breads.
- Cream of Tartar – This white powder is slightly bitter and it’s the signature flavor of snickerdoodles. Look for it in the baking aisle near the spices and seasonings.
- Buttermilk – The tangy flavor of buttermilk enhances the tang of cream of tartar.
- Eggs – It’s best if the eggs are at room temperature but don’t sweat it if you forget.
- Vegetable Oil – Use any type of mildly-flavored oil that you prefer.
- Pure Vanilla Extract – Don’t use artificial because it has, well, you know, an artificial taste.
Easy Recipe Variations
- Shortcut version: Don’t want to mess with a swirl loaf? Simply stir the cinnamon sugar into the batter mixture, reserving one tablespoon to sprinkle on top.
- Make it whole wheat. Substitute whole wheat flour for up to half of the flour for a heartier loaf.
- Snickerdoodle muffins: Divide half the batter between 12 to 14 muffin cups, sprinkle each with cinnamon sugar (use about half of it), top with the rest of the batter, and sprinkle the remaining cinnamon sugar on top. Bake at in a preheated oven at 400°F for 15 to 17 minutes.
- More cinnamon bread recipes: If you’re looking for a yeast bread with cinnamon, try my cinnamon swirl bread recipe. Another favorite is cinnamon sugar pretzel bites. Cinnamon sugar pull apart bread is an easy recipe that starts with canned biscuits.
Room temperature/refrigerate: Cool bread completely before wrapping well. Bread can be stored at room temperature for two to three days or in the fridge for up to a week.
Freeze: The bread freezes well, too. Wrap and label it to freeze for up to 3 months. If desired, slice the bread before freezing and wrap individually so you can enjoy a slice whenever you like, or pop one into a lunchbox.
More Quick Bread Recipes
Snickerdoodle Bread – Triple Cinnamon Swirl!
Ingredients
Swirls/Topping
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
Batter
- 2 large eggs
- 1 cup buttermilk (see note)
- ½ cup vegetable oil (any mild flavored oil is fine)
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- 2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 1 ½ teaspoons baking soda
- 1 teaspoon cream of tartar
- ½ teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Prepare a 9"x5" loaf pan by spraying lightly with with nonstick cooking spray, lining with parchment paper, leaving overhang on sides, then spraying again.
- In a small bowl, combine the sugar and cinnamon for the swirls and topping; set it aside.¼ cup granulated sugar, 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the eggs, buttermilk, oil and vanilla until well blended.2 large eggs, 1 cup buttermilk, ½ cup vegetable oil, 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- Measure and add flour, sugar, baking soda, cream of tartar and salt on top of the wet ingredients. Use your fingertips to lightly blend the dry ingredients, then stir them into the wet ingredients until just combined.2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour, ½ cup granulated sugar, 1 ½ teaspoons baking soda, 1 teaspoon cream of tartar, ½ teaspoon salt
- Spoon approximately a fourth of the batter into the prepared pan and smooth to an even layer. Sprinkle 1 tablespoon of cinnamon sugar over the batter. Add another thin layer of batter, smoothing it into an even layer and sprinkle 1 tablespoon of cinnamon sugar over that layer. Add another thin layer of batter, top with 1 tablespoon of cinnamon sugar, and repeat one more time, for a total of 4 layers. Layers will be somewhat messy, just smooth them out as much as possible.
- Bake until a toothpick inserted in the middle of the loaf comes out clean, about 45 minutes.
- Cool the bread for 10 minutes before lifting it out, using the parchment paper wings, onto a cooling rack. For best results, cool to room temperature before slicing.
Notes
- Buttermilk substitute: Put 1 tablespoon white vinegar in measuring cup and add milk to make to 1 cup. Stir well and set it aside for 5 minutes before using. It will look curdled but that’s fine. This substitute won’t have exactly the same flavor as buttermilk but will work in a pinch.
- Make it whole wheat: If desired, replace 1 cup of the all-purpose flour with 1 cup whole wheat flour.
- Storage: Once the bread has cooled completely, wrap well and store on the counter for 2 to 3 days, in the fridge for a week, or in the freezer for one month.
Video
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.