Cinnamon Bread (Amish)

This Amish cinnamon bread tastes like it came from a specialty shop. No one needs to know how incredibly easy it was to make. This quick bread is similar in flavour to a cinnamon coffee cake. It has a wonderful spice with just the right amount of sweetness. It would make a lovely housewarming gift for friends. Everyone loves homemade sweet bread and this one is a winner.

Batter:
1 cup butter, softened
2 cups sugar
2 eggs
2 cups buttermilk
4 cups all-purpose flour, unbleached
2 tsp. baking soda

Cinnamon Sugar:
⅔ cups sugar
2 tsp. ground cinnamon

Preheat an oven to 350°F (180°C/160°C fan, Gas Mark 4). Grease 2 loaf pans.

Cream together butter, 2 cups of sugar, and eggs. Add milk, flour, and baking soda. Put ½ of batter (or a little less) into prepared loaf pans (¼ in each pan). Mix in separate bowl the ⅔ cup sugar and cinnamon.

Sprinkle ¾ of cinnamon mixture on top of the ½ batter in each pan. Add remaining batter to pans; sprinkle with last of the cinnamon topping. Swirl with a knife.

Bake for 45-50 minutes or until toothpick tester comes out clean. Cool in the pan for 20 minutes before removing to a rack.

Makes 2 loaves.

Cook's Notes: If you don't have buttermilk on hand, you can make your own with 2 cups milk + 2 Tbsp. vinegar or lemon juice, freshly squeezed.