In my years of being a mother of two, there are few baked goods that I have relied on to fill the bellies of my family quite as often as cinnamon bread. A craving throughout my second pregnancy, cinnamon bread is equal parts breakfast and dessert. It’s a perfect bite of sugar and spice that feels appropriate to enjoy nearly any time of day. Over time, it became a staple in our home, and various boules and braids and knots of dough would show up on the plates of delighted babies who devoured their crusty edges and spiced, swirled centers. The various forms of cinnamon bread that I prepared quickly became a treat the entire family anticipated with excitement every night—and each morning felt cozier when a few nibbles of that fluffy bread were involved.
When I think about the years to come and the traditions that will take root and blossom in our home, I remember the cinnamon bread. I see little floured hands poking at dough and sneaking licks of sweetened glaze. I envision my children, slightly older, picking bits of bread off lofty loaves while sitting cross-legged on the counter. This recipe, while perhaps ordinary to most, has slowly woven itself into the smells and tastes that will forever tie my little ones to their childhood and our home; and as a mother, it warms my heart to know my time invested in the kitchen was actually invested in my babies’ memories.
