This is a unique cinnamon bread because it has dried strawberries inside! Soft and delicious, it can be frozen and makes amazing toast.
A cinnamon bread dough with oats and whole wheat flour that is filled with strawberry bits, and baked until golden brown. Sweet, soft, and very delicious!
Dried strawberries
I have been taking advantage of fresh berries the whole summer with berry pancakes, a raspberry almond cake, a dark chocolate raspberry tart, a chocolate ice cream with cherry sauce. I stocked my freezer with them to get me through the colder months.
So today, I decided to try an ingredient I was curious about, dried strawberries.
I'm usually very suspicious about dried and candied fruit that I don't make at home. But drying strawberries is not on my horizon.
They are sweet and nice to chew on, like a little soft candy. I even took a picture where all the seeds can be seen, fossil style. At least I'm confident they are real strawberries that have been dried out.
And what better companion than cinnamon? A swirl of cinnamon and strawberries to brighten up the morning toast. Perfect.
The strawberry flavor comes across subtly. Imagine you have a piece of cinnamon bread, slather it with strawberry jam, but then decide you want it plain, so you scrape it off.
This bread is made to be toasted. And with a knob of butter melting on top, it becomes a splendid breakfast.
Related recipes you might like:
Let me know in the comments below if you made this recipe and loved it and if you had issues so we can troubleshoot together. I love to hear what you think, always. Thanks for being here. It's much appreciated.
You might also consider subscribing to our FREE email series 'Baking the Best' and our regular newsletter. Or connect via Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest.
Strawberry Cinnamon Swirl Bread
Ingredients
For the bread:
- 2 cups warm water
- 1 tablespoon dry yeast
- 1 cup whole wheat flour, superfine or very finely milled
- ½ cup instant oats
- 4 cups bread flour, more or less
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 1 tablespoon salt
For the cinnamon filling:
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- 3 tablespoons butter, melted
- 1 cup dried strawberries
Instructions
For the bread:
- In a small bowl, mix ½ cup of water with 1 tablespoon dry yeast. Let stand a few minutes until foamy.
- Mix 1 cup whole wheat flour, ½ cup instant oats, 1 cup of the bread flour, and 1 tablespoon salt in a stand mixer or a large bowl if made by hand.
- Make a well in the center, add 2 tablespoons honey, remaining water, and yeast mixture. Stir with a wooden or silicone spoon or spatula until very well combined.
- With the dough hook, start mixing the dough at medium speed, adding the rest of the bread flour, ½ cup at a time, until the dough comes together.
- Knead for 6 or 7 minutes, adding extra tablespoons of bread flour if needed. The dough needs to remain somewhat sticky but not wet; it will never be a tight ball.
- Transfer to an oiled bowl, cover with plastic wrap and let rise until doubled in size, about 1 hour. Transfer the dough to a lightly floured work surface.
- Roll the dough into a rectangle, with a rolling pin, or stretch it with your hands. Flour the surface as needed, but as little as possible.
- Brush the cinnamon filling over the entire surface of the dough. Scatter 1 cup dried strawberries on top of the dough.
- Roll as if you were making cinnamon rolls, then cut them into two equal pieces.
- Place each piece in an oiled loaf pan, cover with plastic and let rise until doubled, about 1 hour.
- About 20 minutes before baking, preheat the oven to 400ºF (200ºC).
- Bake bread for 25 minutes, lower the oven to 350ºF / 180ºC and keep on baking for 10 to 15 more minutes until golden brown and the bottom sounds hollow when tapped.
- Cool completely on a wire rack before slicing.
- It can be kept for a month in the freezer, well wrapped.
For the cinnamon filling:
- Mix 3 tablespoons butter, melted, 2 tablespoons sugar and 1 teaspoon cinnamon in a small bowl.
Notes
Adapted from How to Bake, by Nick Malgieri
plasterers bristol says
Wow this looks amazing.
Tanu says
loving your bread Paula. it looks delicious !
Annamaria @ Bakewell Junction says
Paula,
I found your post on the #twelveloaves linky party. I love cinnamon bread and with dried strawberries, it must be wonderful.
Annamaria
Cocoa and Lavender says
Reading your posts in reverse, I now understand why you said what you did in your cherry Bundt post. I have found some amazing dried fruits at our market, strawberries included. Love this bread - and the cinnamon? Mmmmmmm...
mividaenundulce says
me encanta est tipo de panes, porque es como encontrar una sorpresa dentro cuando lo partes. Maravillosa receta, muchas gracias.
Natalie G says
Oh wow this looks delicious! Love the added berry in this!
Laura Dembowski says
I love cinnamon bread! Adding dried strawberries is so creative and such a welcome addition, Paula! I can't believe you make your own dried fruit. I always buy mine. I can imagine homemade would be quite tasty.
Abbe@This is How I Cook says
Paula, this looks great. To be honest I like dried strawberries better than fresh. It seems like they have a more intense flavor. They are great in salads.
Marissa | Pinch and Swirl says
I bet this bread smells incredible as it bakes. Your breads always have such a perfect looking texture...it's a gift!