I have a big week coming up! I will fully admit that I get beyond nervous about the most ridiculous things. And what do I do when I get nervous? I bake. Usually something rich and bad for me with tons of cinnamon and butter and this recipe fits the requirements. So before I get to the recipe that helped me feel calm and happy, I’ll tell you I’ll be heading back to Michigan later this week to do some tastings with caterers and to go wedding dress shopping.
When I got engaged, I seriously could not wait to buy my dress, but now that my appointments are getting closer I am starting to get really nervous. My ability to make decisions varies day by day and I’ve been known to just throw my hands up and refuse to decide on things. However, I have a group of ladies helping me including my mom, my soon to be mom-in-law and two of my best friends Andrea and Tiff. I’ve been friends with Tiff since the second grade and Andrea since the fourth grade. I don’t even want to admit how many years it’s been, but these girls know me sometimes better than I know myself. Andrea has the same Type A personality that I have and I know she just gets me and Tiff is always who I go to when I need to hear, “Calm down, who cares, this is going to be awesome!” My friend Melia can’t make it this weekend, but I can’t help but include her in this as she always makes me laugh. No matter how uncomfortable the situation, and sometimes BECAUSE the situation is uncomfortable, she and I can crack each other up and even the worst situations become really funny memories. I started thinking about my friends while I was baking this bread and I realized that I have nothing to be nervous about. I get to have a few of my favorite women in the same room for the first time in the 9 years Ben and I have been dating and it is going to be fun. Even if I need Tiff to shake me a little and make me enjoy myself, that’s why she’s my friend, right?!
So anyway, I’ll be doing some BIG wedding stuff later this week, but for now I want to share this amazing coffee cake bread with you! I hope at some point it calms you down and makes you think happy thoughts like it did for me!
Cinnamon Swirl Coffee Cake Bread Recipe:
2 cups all-purpose flour
1-1/4 cups sugar – divided
3 teaspoons baking powder
4 teaspoons cinnamon – divided
1-1/4 teaspoons salt
2 teaspoons instant espresso
2 eggs
1 cup buttermilk
1/3 cup vegetable oil
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
3 Tablespoons melted butter
Topping
1/3 cup sugar
1/3 cup light brown sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon instant espresso
1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 stick unsalted butter – melted
Pre-heat your oven to 350-degrees.
In a small bowl, stir together 1/4 cup of your sugar and 2-1/2 teaspoons of your cinnamon, set aside.
In a large bowl, whisk together your flour, remaining 1 cup of the sugar, salt, espresso powder, and 1-1/2 teaspoons of the remaining cinnamon. Set this aside as well.
Next, in your mixer bowl you’ll add your eggs, oil and buttermilk. Mix on low until combined.
Slowly add in your dry ingredients, still mixing on low, just until everything everything come together.
Now, pour half of your batter in a greased 9×5 loaf pan.
Add 3 Tablespoons of melted butter to your cinnamon sugar mixture. Pour over the top of your batter and use a knife to swirl it into the batter.
Pour the rest of your batter over the top.
Now, time for the topping! In a small bowl , melt your unsalted butter. Add your sugar, light brown sugar, cinnamon, espresso and flour. Mix with a fork until it forms small crumbs.
Sprinkle the topping over the bread and press lightly with your hand so the topping sticks to the batter.
Bake at 350-degrees for 55-65 minutes. Insert a toothpick into the center to be sure it comes out clean and you’ll know it’s done!
Let it cool for 10-15 minutes and then remove it from the loaf pan and set on a rack to cool.
Slice it up and if you’re feeling saucy like me, slap some butter on it while it’s still slightly warm.
I’ll be sure to let you know how dress shopping goes. Fingers crossed, y’all!
