With St. Patrick’s Day coming up tomorrow, I have been thinking about all the things we chalk up to luck: things like the weather, a catch made by our favorite team, or even a good hair day. Over the years, I’ve given luck a whole bunch of credit to luck without really considering if there was more at play. Is the goodness in my life really just an accident, something that happened by chance? Or is it possible that all of the “luck” in my life is actually a gift offered intentionally for me at the very moment I need it? Before we dive into this cinnamon streusel bread, let’s talk about favor.
Favor
A friend of mine from church introduced the concept of favor to me a few years ago. She didn’t throw it on me or force me to accept her version of things as truth; instead she offered up her perspective for my consideration. The idea, basically, is this: God loves us. He wants good things for us. And He’s always at work on our behalf. Could it be possible that every good thing in our life is not just luck or a result of our own actions but, instead, a little sign of love from God? What if that open parking space, the dollar bill in the back of old jeans, or various other happy coincidences are really just nuggets of favor lavished on you by a loving Father? My mind was blown.
The following week, I saw evidence of it all around me. It seemed that the more I looked out for the good things in my life, the more I found them. Perfect weather at a picnic I planned for friends? A last-minute opening at a restaurant I’ve been dying to go to? Even a single afternoon in my home where everyone is content and joyful and kind to one another. I began to look at each one of those things as a gift and the end result was a whole lot of love and gratitude.
Now, I’m all in. At times, I forget to look for signs of grace and love at work in my life, but the second I open my eyes again, it’s all around me. My kids, new opportunities, the magnolia tree blooming outside of my room, or even just a wildly pink streak of clouds in a dusky sunset- it’s all favor, all love. Anyways.. just for for thought. 🙂
Cinnamon Streusel Bread
Now, onto the main event: cinnamon streusel brad. I’ve continued my venture to bake more breakfast items, and this cinnamon streusel bread is serious. Honestly guys, I love it so much. Soft cakey insides, a swirl of brown sugar and cinnamon throughout, and a crumbly topping. It’s truly so delicious and the perfect thing to enjoy for breakfast (or dessert??) this weekend. Let me tell you how to make it.
First we start with the batter. Butter, oil, and two kinds of sugar come together with eggs and vanilla. Flour and leavening come next with a splash of buttermilk. Next comes the topping. Flour, brown sugar, salt, and melted butter stir together until dry clumps form. We layer the batter in a prepared pan and swirl in the cinnamon sugar filling. Finish it off with the crumble and bake for an hour or until a clean toothpick comes out. Voila!
Give this cinnamon streusel bread a try and lmk what you think! Happy Thursday, Happy St. Patty’s and Happy Baking!
If you like this cinnamon streusel bread you should try:
Coffee Cake Muffins
Banana Bread Cake
Banana Zucchini Bread
Mom’s Homemade Bread
Whole Wheat Chocolate Chip Muffins
Cinnamon Streusel Bread
This cinnamon streusel bread is a fluffy coffee cake swirled with a cinnamon sugar filling and topped with brown sugar crumble!
- Prep Time: 15
- Cook Time: 60
- Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
- Yield: 1 Loaf
- Category: Breakfast Bread
Ingredients
For the batter:
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
- 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 1/2 cup sugar
- ½ cup brown sugar, packed
- 2 large eggs, room temperature
- 2 teaspoons vanilla
- 2 cups cups all-purpose flour
- 1 ¼ teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 2/3 cup full-fat buttermilk
For the filling:
- ½ cup brown sugar, packed
- 1–1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
For the streusel:
- ½ cup all-purpose flour
- ¼ cup light brown sugar packed
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease a 9×5” loaf pan and set aside.
- In a large bowl or the bowl of a stand mixer, cream together the butter, oil, sugar, and brown sugar on medium speed until smooth, about one minute. Add the eggs and vanilla and beat to combine. Add 1 cup of the flour, the baking powder, baking soda, and salt and beat on low just until almost combined. Add the buttermilk, stir, and then mix in the remaining flour. Beat on low until the batter is smooth and uniform, but do not over-mix. Combine the brown sugar and cinnamon for the filling in a small bowl. Spoon half of the batter into the prepared pan and smooth. Top with the streusel. Add the remaining batter and smooth. Finally, prepare the streusel. Combine the flour, brown sugar, cinnamon and salt in a small bowl. Stir in the melted butter, just until clumps form. Sprinkle on top. Bake in the pre-heated oven about 50-60 minutes or until the top is domed and a toothpick inserted comes out clean.
