This cinnamon-sugar focaccia bread recipe is fast and easy to make, proving it’s possible to have fresh, warm bread, even on short notice. It’s ready in one hour and made from ingredients I can nearly guarantee you have in your pantry. So I’m going to call the end result a success.
Cinnamon Focaccia Bread
This soft, fluffy bread tastes like a cinnamon roll but is much easier to make. The dough is airy with little holes, just like regular focaccia. Cinnamon sugar and butter melt into those holes while it bakes. A simple glaze on top makes it extra sweet. It is perfect for breakfast, brunch, or a snack with coffee.
The best part? You do not need to knead the dough for a long time. It comes together in one bowl and rises while you do other things. The smell while it bakes will fill your whole kitchen.
There is nothing quite like the smell of yeast as the dough rises, the wonderful aromas that fill the kitchen as the bread bakes and of course, getting to enjoy homemade bread, warm straight from the oven on a cold winter day.
Even though I am still a rookie when it comes to baking, I am slowly, but surely getting the hang of it, especially baking breads.
When I started this blog almost six years ago, I was intimidated by baking with yeast and the first bread I made using it was as hard as a rock.
I tossed many loaves into the garbage. I am happy to report that I’m now over my yeast fears!If you’ve never made bread before, this focaccia bread is a great way to start. Making the dough is easy and it comes together in minutes by hand and there’s no need to first dissolve the yeast in water. Basically, this is a dump-it-in-a-mixing bowl kind of recipe. My favorite kind!
I used RapidRise Yeast to make the dough. It’s the best and never lets me down. If you’re a novice bread maker, consider this yeast your insurance against goofs as it’s very forgiving. Since it’s an instant yeast, you don’t have to proof it, you simply add it with the other ingredients.
The dough is very sticky but very easy to manage, like playing with Play-dough for grownups. The shape of focaccia bread really isn’t important. I went with a classic rectangle, but you can roll it into an oval or circle if you prefer. I made a cinnamon-sugar topping instead of their savory Parmesan cheese and herb topping, but I will be trying that one next time.
There’s a sense of pride in sharing something you’ve baked from scratch. Baking with yeast this holiday season can be as easy as pre-heating the oven.
I made it for my kids after school snack and I wanted to make something we all would love. I am a huge focaccia fan and my kids and husband love cinnamon bread, so I combined my appreciation of focaccia with their love for cinnamon bread. The cinnamon-sugar adds a special touch to the focaccia. My kid's eyes lit up when they saw the bread on the table.
Ingredients You'll Need
The printable recipe card with exact amounts and step by step baking directions to make this cinnamon-sugar focaccia bread is below.
- Flour: You need all-purpose flour to make this bread recipe.
- Rapid Rise Yeast: I like to use instant yeast to bake, because it's easier if you are not an expert baker.
- Sugar: You need granulated sugar for the topping and the focaccia.
- Salt
- Water
- Olive oil
- Butter: Unsalted butter
- Ground cinnamon: For the topping.
Tips for Success
- The dough is sticky on purpose. Do not add extra flour, or the bread will be dense.
- Warm water helps the yeast work, but it should not be hot. Hot water can kill the yeast.
- For deeper cinnamon flavor, add an extra teaspoon of cinnamon to the sugar mix.
- This bread is best the day you bake it. Store leftovers in an airtight container for 1–2 days. Warm slices in the microwave for a few seconds.
- You can freeze extra squares. Thaw and reheat when you want a quick treat.
Serving Ideas
Serve warm pieces with coffee or tea. It also tastes great with a scoop of vanilla ice cream on the side. Kids love it plain, and adults often add a little extra glaze.
This cinnamon focaccia is simple enough for a weekday morning and special enough for a weekend brunch. Make it once and you will want it again.
How to Make Cinnamon-Sugar Focaccia Bread
- Combine flour, dry yeast, sugar and salt in a large mixing bowl and stir until blended.
- Combine water and 2 tablespoons olive oil in a 2 cup glass measuring cup or microwave-safe bowl. Microwave on HIGH in 15 second increments until very warm, but not hot to the touch (120° to 130°F).
- Add to flour mixture. Stir with a spoon until well mixed.
Spread into greased 13 x 9-inch pan . (Don’t worry if the dough isn’t even or filling the corners.) Cover with towel, let rise in warm place until doubled in size, about 30 minutes. Mix the sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl.
Using your lightly oiled finger, gently poke holes about every inch in the dough going nearly to the bottom of the dough.
Drizzle with melted butter; evenly sprinkle with half of the sugar and cinnamon mixture. Let rise, uncovered, an additional 15 minutes while oven preheats to 375°F.
Bake for 25 to 30 minutes or until golden brown. Cool slightly. Sprinkle the remaining cinnamon-sugar mixture. You may also serve with caramel sauce for extra goodness!
More Bread Recipes
Almojabanas (Colombian Cheese Bread)
Pan Aliñado (Colombian Seasoned Bread)
Cinnamon-Sugar Focaccia Bread Recipe
Ingredients
- 3 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 Rapid Rise Yeast
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 ½ cups water
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 4 tablespoons melted butter
- 4 tablespoons of sugar
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
Instructions
- Combine flour, dry yeast, sugar and salt in a large mixing bowl and stir until blended.
- Combine water and 2 tablespoons olive oil in a 2 cup glass measuring cup OR microwave-safe bowl. Microwave on HIGH in 15 second increments until very warm, but not hot to the touch (120° to 130°F).
- Add to flour mixture. Stir with a spoon until well mixed.
- Spread into greased 13 x 9-inch pan . (Don’t worry if the dough isn’t even or filling the corners.) Cover with towel, let rise in warm place until doubled in size, about 30 minutes. Mix the sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl.
- Using your lightly oiled finger, gently poke holes about every inch in the dough going nearly to the bottom of the dough. Drizzle with melted butter; evenly sprinkle with half of the sugar and cinnamon mixture. Let rise, uncovered, an additional 15 minutes while oven preheats to 375°F.
- Bake for 25 to 30 minutes or until golden brown. Cool slightly. Sprinkle the remaining cinnamon-sugar mixture. You may also serve with caramel sauce for extra goodness!