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Easy and Fast Cinnamon Twist Loaf

4.43 from 7 votes
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Course: Breakfast, brunch, Dessert
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 1 1/2 Cups Warm water
  • 1 Tablespoon Dry active yeast I prefer SAF yeast
  • 2 Tablespoons Granulated Sugar
  • 3 1/2 Cups All purpose flour
  • 1 Teaspoon salt
Filling
  • 2 Tablespoons Salted Butter Melted
  • 1/2 Cup Packed brown sugar
  • 2 Teaspoons Cinnamon
Topping option 1: Buttery glaze (lighter than frosting)
  • 1 Cup Powdered sugar
  • 4 Tablespoons Room temperature butter
  • 3-4 Tablespoons Heavy cream
Topping option 2: Cream Cheese Frosting
  • 2 Ounces Cream Cheese Softened
  • 4 Tablespoons Salted butter Room temp
  • 2/3 Cup Powdered Sugar
  • 1/2 Teaspoon Vanilla extract
Topping option 3: Warm Vanilla Frosting
  • 2 Cups Powdered sugar
  • 2 Tablespoons Salted butter Room Temp
  • 2 Teaspoons Vanilla extract
  • 2-4 Tablespoons Milk or Heavy Cream

Method
 

  1. Prepare dough in a mixer. Combine warm water with yeast and sugar. Mix and allow to proof (activate and bloom) for about 5 minutes or until foamy.
    Add 1 teaspoon salt and 3 1/2 cups flour. Let mix on medium speed until well combined. Dough should be smooth and elastic. Turn dough onto a floured counter. Allow to rise covered with a tea towel for about 10 minutes.
    Sprinkle flour on top if the dough is sticky. Roll dough into a rectangle about 10x12. Brush rectangle with melted butter. Sprinkle and spread cinnamon and sugar mixture to cover the dough.
    Roll dough lengthwise like you’re making cinnamon rolls.
    *Add roll to a baking sheet with parchment for easy clean up.
    With a pastry knife or sharp knife make a slice down the center of the roll leaving about a 1/2 inch attached at one end. Cut side up, twist dough ropes and tuck ends under.
    Allow to rise (covered with a tea towel) for 20 minutes. This will really help it form into a beautiful shape. I like to preheat my oven while the twist rises.
    Bake at 375° for 20-23 minutes or until lightly golden. Allow to cool slightly before adding your topping of choice:
Buttery Glaze or Warm Vanilla Frosting Options:
  1. For either of these topping options, mix ingredients together and add to twist after it has cooled 10-15 minutes. The glaze will melt onto the twist and create a sweet and delicious topping to compliment the filling!
Cream Cheese Frosting
  1. For a thicker cream cheese frosting option, mix:
    2 Ounces Cream cheese softened 4 Tablespoons (2 oz) Salted butter softened 2/3 Cup Powdered sugar 1/2 Teaspoon vanilla extract
    Mix room temperature butter and cream cheese. Add vanilla and powdered sugar and whip until you have a smooth, creamy frosting! Add to the twist once it is warm, not hot.

Notes

*TIP the tighter you roll up your dough the more layers your twist will have once cut. I like to roll the dough tight so it creates a beautiful texture once I form the twist. You have to be careful not to pull the dough as you twist it or you will make the dough too thin and the twist too long. 
You can cut the twist in half and place it into bread pans if you'd like. The baking time will stay the same.
You can use kitchen scissors to trim any dough that needs cut or to fix any parts of the twists where the knife may have not cut all the way through.
This recipe makes one very large twist. It can be sliced into up to 12 slices to share.