Sweet Orange Cinnamon Pull-Apart Bread
User Reviews
5
Sweet Orange Cinnamon Pull-Apart Bread
Description
This bread combines the comforting richness of a sweet yeast dough with the bright, fragrant flavor of fresh orange zest and warming cinnamon. The dough dough includes ingredients like milk, vanilla, eggs, and butter, enriched with orange zest for a citrus twist. After rising, the dough is rolled into a rectangle and layered with a filling of melted butter, sugar, cinnamon, and orange zest, which creates visible sweet and spiced layers once baked.
The pull-apart style makes it easy to share and enjoy the distinct layers individually. The bread’s texture is tender and moist, with a soft crumb from the enriched dough balanced by the sticky, sweet cinnamon-orange filling. The final touch is a smooth orange glaze made of powdered sugar, fresh orange juice, and vanilla, poured over the cooled bread to add extra moisture and flavor.
This bread works well for breakfast or as a sweet snack alongside coffee or tea. It can be sliced and served or pulled apart by hand for casual eating. The recipe notes identify it as adapted from another source but retain the careful balance of citrus and cinnamon flavors in the final loaf.
Ingredients
- unsalted butter filling; 6 Tbsp butter, 1/2 cup sugar, 1.5 tsp cinnamon, 3 Tbsp freshly grated orange zest
- sugar
- cinnamon
- orange zest
- powdered sugar orange icing with listed amounts
- orange juice
- orange zest
- vanilla extract
bread
- 2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 tsp sugar
- 2 1/4 tsp active dry yeast
- 1/3 cup milk whole or 2%
- 1/4 cup butter unsalted
- 1/4 cup water
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 2 egg large
- 2 tbsp orange zest freshly grated
filling
- 6 tbsp butter unsalted
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1.5 tsp cinnamon
- 3 tbsp orange zest freshly grated
orange icing
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 1/4 cup orange juice fresh
- 1 tbsp orange zest
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- In the bowl of your electric mixer, stir together 2 cups of the flour, sugar and yeast.
- Place the milk and butter in a small saucepan and heat over low heat just until the butter melts. Remove from the stovetop and let sit for 2 to 3 minutes, then stir in the water and vanilla extract. With the dough hook attached to your mixer, stir in the milk and butter mixture until combined. Add the salt and the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in the orange zest. The dough will be very sticky! Add the remaining 3/4 cup flour gradually, beating for another 2 to 3 minutes until the dough comes together again. It should still be stick. Place it in a well oil bowl and cover with a towel. Let it rise in a warm place for 1 hour.
- After one hour, punch the dough down and turn it out on a floured surface. Roll it into a large rectangle, about 12×20 inches if possible. Add the filling: brush the dough with the melted butter, cover with the sugar, cinnamon and orange zest. Use a pizza cutter to slice the dough into 5 strips from top to bottom – lengthwise. Stack the 5 strips together, then cut them into 6 sets of squares.
- Brush a 9×5 loaf pan liberally with melted butter. Place the dough, cut side down, into the loaf pan, pressing it together. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise in a warm place again for 45 minutes.
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Place the pan in the oven and bake the bread for 35 to 40 minutes, until the top is golden brown and set. Remove and let cool for 10 minutes, then gently turn the bread out onto a flat surface. Cover with the orange icing and serve immediately!
orange icing
- Whisk all ingredients together until smooth and a glaze forms. If it’s too thick, add more orange juice 1 teaspoon at a time. If it’s too thin, whisk in more sugar a few tablespoons at a time until desired consistency is reached.
Notes
- The dough is sticky; handle it with floured hands and surfaces when shaping.
- Freshly grated orange zest in both dough and filling adds natural citrus flavor.
- The bread is best served after cooling and icing for the glaze to set properly.
- Use unsalted butter in the filling for controlled salt level.
User Reviews
Overall Rating
5
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