Cinnamon pull apart bread

The “Cinnamon Pull Apart Bread”, also known as cinnamon and sugar bread, is a beloved leavened dessert made of many layers of leavened dough sprinkled with butter, sugar, and cinnamon, which can be “pulled apart” easily. It is similar to our babà in the layered baking method, but with the typical fragrances and flavors of cinnamon. Here’s how to make it with an Italian twist, perhaps by substituting the cinnamon with a bit of grated orange zest or vanilla, as an alternative.

Ingredients

• 500g of type 00 flour
• 1 packet of active dry yeast or 25g of fresh yeast
• 240ml of lukewarm milk
• 80g of granulated sugar, plus extra for the layer
• 75g of unsalted butter, melted and cooled, plus extra for brushing
• 2 large eggs
• 1 teaspoon of salt
• Ground cinnamon to taste
• Brown sugar to taste (if you prefer, you can also use caster sugar)

For the Italian variant, you might also add:

• Grated zest of 1 orange (optional)
• 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract (optional)

Preparation

1. In a large bowl, mix the lukewarm milk, yeast, and a teaspoon of sugar. Let it rest for about 5-10 minutes until the yeast is activated and foamy.
2. Add to the bowl with the yeast the flour, the remaining sugar, the melted butter, the eggs, and the salt (and, if using, the orange zest and vanilla extract). Start kneading until you get a soft and smooth dough.
3. Transfer the dough to a lightly floured surface and continue kneading for another 5-10 minutes.
4. Put the dough in an oiled bowl, cover it with plastic wrap or a damp cloth, and let it rise in a warm place for 1-2 hours or until it doubles in size.
5. After rising, deflate the dough and roll it into a rectangle on a floured surface.
6. Brush the rectangle with melted butter and generously sprinkle with sugar and cinnamon (or orange zest, if you prefer).
7. Cut the rectangle into squares of the same size and stack them in a previously buttered and floured loaf pan. Leave a small gap between the squares to allow them to grow.
8. Cover the mold and let it rise for another 30-45 minutes.
9. Preheat the oven to 180°C.
10. Bake the bread for about 30-40 minutes or until it is golden brown and a toothpick inserted comes out clean.
11. Let it cool for a few minutes before unmolding and serving.

Cinnamon Pull Apart Bread is delicious served warm. You can dust it with powdered sugar or serve it with a cream cheese glaze for an even more indulgent touch. Remember that spiced sweets like this are typical in some Italian areas, especially during the Christmas period, so don’t hesitate to make your own regional variation!