Cinnamon Honey Butter Sourdough Bread Recipe

If you’re someone who loves the comforting aroma of baked bread paired with a sweet, spiced spread, then you are absolutely going to adore this Cinnamon Honey Butter Sourdough Bread Recipe. This dish is a perfect union of tangy sourdough with the warm flavors of cinnamon and the gentle sweetness of honey butter, making every bite irresistibly delightful. Whether you are baking for breakfast, brunch, or a cozy afternoon treat, this recipe brings a taste of homemade love and artisan charm right to your kitchen.

Ingredients You’ll Need

The magic behind this Cinnamon Honey Butter Sourdough Bread Recipe lies in its simple yet carefully chosen ingredients. Each plays a vital role in creating a loaf that is tender, flavorful, and beautifully textured. From the lively sourdough starter to the sugary sweetness of the cinnamon honey butter, every component harmonizes perfectly.

• Bread flour: The foundation of your bread, providing structure and chewiness for that classic sourdough texture.
• Water: Essential for hydrating the flour and activating the fermentation process.
• Active sourdough starter: Adds natural leavening and that signature tangy flavor only sourdough can bring.
• Sugar: Enhances browning and adds a touch of sweetness, balancing the tang of the starter.
• Salt: Brings out depth in flavor and controls yeast activity for an even rise.
• Butter: Adds richness and moisture, essential in the cinnamon honey butter mix.
• Honey: Provides natural sweetness and a beautiful sticky texture in the butter spread.
• Powdered sugar: Blends smoothly into the butter, ensuring a creamy spread without graininess.
• Cinnamon: The star spice, giving the butter that warm, comforting aroma and taste.
• Flour: Used in the cinnamon honey butter to help bind and keep its perfect texture.

How to Make Cinnamon Honey Butter Sourdough Bread Recipe

Step 1: Mix and Rest the Dough

Begin by combining your bread flour, water, active sourdough starter, sugar, and salt in a large bowl. Stir everything until it forms a shaggy dough that looks a little rough and sticky. This initial mixing is crucial because it kickstarts the gluten development. Cover the bowl and allow it to sit at room temperature—this rest period gives the flour time to absorb the water fully, setting the stage for a beautifully elastic dough.

Step 2: Perform Stretch and Folds

After 30 minutes of resting, it’s time for some gentle attention. Using wet hands, stretch and fold the dough in the bowl to help build strength without kneading. Repeat this once or twice every half hour to strengthen the dough’s structure, essential for that perfect rise and crumb.

Step 3: Bulk Fermentation

Leave your dough to rise for 10 to 14 hours until it has expanded by about 75 percent. This slow fermentation is what gives sourdough its incredible flavor complexity and airy texture. You’ll notice the dough becomes puffy and full of life, ready for the magic layer of cinnamon honey butter waiting ahead.

Step 4: Prepare the Cinnamon Honey Butter

While the dough is fermenting, mix together your butter, honey, powdered sugar, cinnamon, and flour. This luscious cinnamon honey butter is the heart of this recipe, adding sweetness, spice, and buttery richness that transforms ordinary bread into something spectacular.

Step 5: Shape and Layer the Dough

Turn your dough out onto a lightly floured surface and gently shape it into a rectangle. Spread half of the cinnamon honey butter evenly across the top, then fold and roll the dough tightly like a jelly roll. This layering creates swirls of buttery cinnamon goodness inside the bread. Place the shaped dough into a proofing basket, seam-side up, for the next chill phase.

Step 6: Second Proof in the Refrigerator

Pop the dough into the fridge for at least 8 hours. This cold fermentation develops flavor further and makes the dough easier to score and bake, resulting in a gorgeous crust and tender crumb.

Step 7: Preheat the Oven and Dutch Oven

When you’re ready to bake, preheat your oven and Dutch oven to 450 degrees Fahrenheit. This high heat is perfect for starting the baking process, locking in moisture, and giving you that golden, crisp crust sourdough fans crave.

Step 8: Bake the Bread

Place your dough carefully into the hot Dutch oven and cover it with the lid. Bake covered for 25 minutes to capture steam, then remove the lid and continue baking for another 10 to 15 minutes until the crust is deeply golden and inviting.

Step 9: Cool Before Serving

Once baked, transfer the bread to a wire rack to cool completely. This cooling step is vital for the crumb to set properly, so be patient—it’s worth the wait.

How to Serve Cinnamon Honey Butter Sourdough Bread Recipe

Garnishes

Enhance the experience by topping your slices with an extra dollop of cinnamon honey butter or a drizzle of fresh honey. A sprinkle of flaky sea salt can heighten the sweet notes wonderfully, or add a light dusting of cinnamon sugar for extra sparkle.

Side Dishes

This bread pairs beautifully with fresh fruit like sliced pears or apples, a bowl of creamy yogurt, or even alongside a savory cheese platter. The sweet-spiced element balances well against sharp cheeses such as cheddar or tangy goat cheese, creating mind-blowing flavor contrasts.

Creative Ways to Present

Try serving this bread as part of a brunch spread by arranging thick slices with small bowls of honey and cinnamon butter for self-serving. Alternatively, toast slices lightly and build an open-faced sandwich with ricotta, figs, and pistachios for an elegant twist. It also shines simply buttered alongside a warm mug of chai tea or coffee.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

Keep your leftover Cinnamon Honey Butter Sourdough Bread wrapped tightly in parchment paper followed by aluminum foil, or sealed in a bread bag, to maintain freshness. Stored this way, it will stay soft and flavorful for up to three days at room temperature.

Freezing

If you want to enjoy this bread later, wrap it well in plastic wrap and place it inside a freezer-safe bag. It can keep in the freezer for up to three months without losing flavor or texture. When frozen sliced, you can easily toast individual pieces straight from the freezer.

Reheating

To refresh your Cinnamon Honey Butter Sourdough Bread, pop slices into a toaster or warm them in a 350-degree oven for 5 to 8 minutes. This revives the crust’s crispness and melts the cinnamon honey butter center to perfection.

FAQs

Can I use regular yeast instead of sourdough starter?

While you could substitute commercial yeast, the unique tang and depth of flavor in this Cinnamon Honey Butter Sourdough Bread Recipe come specifically from the natural fermentation of the sourdough starter. Using yeast will change the taste and texture significantly.

Is it necessary to refrigerate the dough overnight?

The overnight refrigeration is important for slow fermentation, which enhances flavor and dough handling. Skipping this step can yield bread that is less flavorful and harder to shape.

Can I use a stand mixer for this recipe?

Absolutely! A stand mixer with a dough hook can mix and perform stretch and folds, but be gentle to avoid overworking the dough. Hands-on folding during bulk fermentation is still a nice way to develop gluten gradually.

What if I don’t have a Dutch oven?

You can bake the bread on a preheated baking stone or sheet and create steam by throwing water into a hot pan placed in the oven. The steam helps develop the crisp crust but might not replicate the exact effect of a Dutch oven.

Why is there flour in the cinnamon honey butter?

The small amount of flour helps to give the butter mixture a spreadable yet stable texture that holds up well during baking without melting away, allowing those signature swirls to form inside the bread.

Final Thoughts

If you are eager to fill your home with heavenly aromas and enjoy every bite of a beautifully baked loaf, give this Cinnamon Honey Butter Sourdough Bread Recipe a try. It takes some time and care, but the results—a rich, tender bread bursting with cinnamon and honey sweetness—are absolutely worth it. Trust me, once you make this, it might just become one of your favorite homemade treats to share with friends and family!

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