Cinnamon Sunrise

Cinnamon and brown sugar swirled through a buttery bread machine loaf studded with chopped pecans. This is the kind of bread that fills the house with that warm, bakery-morning smell while the machine does all the work.

The recipe includes measurements for both a regular and a large loaf, so you can match it to your bread machine’s capacity. Both versions use the same ratio of ingredients, just scaled up.

Brown sugar gives the crumb a deeper, more caramelized sweetness than white sugar would, and the cinnamon is generous enough to flavor every slice without being overwhelming. The pecans add crunch throughout.

Dry milk powder enriches the bread without adding liquid. It gives the crust a deeper golden color and the crumb a softer, more tender texture.

Kitchen Tips

• Add ingredients in the order your bread machine recommends. Most machines want liquids first, then dry ingredients, with yeast on top.
• Cut the butter into small pieces so it incorporates evenly during kneading. Large chunks leave greasy pockets.
• Use fast-rise or active dry yeast as specified. They aren’t always interchangeable in bread machines without adjusting amounts.
• This bread toasts beautifully. The cinnamon and brown sugar caramelize on the surface under the toaster’s heat.

Variations

• Raisin cinnamon: Add raisins during the add-in cycle for a classic cinnamon-raisin bread.
• Apple cinnamon: Fold in small dried apple pieces for a fruity fall version.