Maple Pecan Cinnamon Swirl & Share Bread

Indulge in the ultimate comfort food experience with this irresistible Maple Pecan Cinnamon Pull Apart Bread. Imagine soft, cloud-like layers of homemade brioche-style dough, generously coated in a sweet, aromatic blend of cinnamon sugar and crunchy pecans. Baked to golden perfection, each delightful piece is then crowned with a luscious drizzle of maple glaze, transforming this humble loaf into a truly spectacular treat. This isn’t just bread; it’s a culinary hug, designed for easy sharing and guaranteed to bring warmth and joy to any occasion. Every tender segment pulls away effortlessly, reminiscent of a warm, gooey cinnamon roll, but in an elegant and shareable bread form.

The harmonious blend of rich brown sugar, fragrant cinnamon, and sweet maple syrup creates an enchanting aroma that will lovingly fill your entire kitchen. This tender, fluffy texture makes every bite an absolute pleasure, making this recipe utterly irresistible. It’s truly the ultimate baking project for any holiday, ideal for a festive brunch, a special Christmas morning breakfast, or as a thoughtful homemade gift. Forget traditional monkey bread; this Cinnamon Pull Apart Bread is poised to become your new favorite holiday tradition and a cherished recipe in your baking repertoire.

For more delightful and cozy flavors that capture the essence of homemade comfort, explore these recipes: dive into our soft and fluffy brioche cinnamon rolls, savor a comforting cinnamon bread pudding, enjoy cute mini cinnamon rolls baked in muffin tins, or indulge in an exquisite eggnog bread pudding.

Why This Maple Pecan Cinnamon Pull Apart Bread Will Be Your New Favorite

This recipe isn’t just about baking; it’s about creating an experience. Here’s why this Maple Pecan Cinnamon Pull Apart Bread is destined to become a beloved staple:

• Incredibly Soft and Fluffy Layers: Each delicate slice pulls apart effortlessly, revealing a moist, gooey, cinnamon-infused interior. The texture is a delightful balance of tender dough with just the right amount of crunch from the toasted pecans, creating a truly satisfying bite every time. It’s like eating the best part of a cinnamon roll, multiplied and made even more shareable.
• Perfect for Sharing and Celebrations: This impressive loaf is a true show-stopper, making it ideal for serving a small crowd or making a grand statement at your holiday table. Simply place it on a board with plates and napkins, and watch as family and friends delight in pulling off their own warm, sticky pieces. It fosters a communal, joyful eating experience that everyone will remember.
• Conveniently Make-Ahead Friendly: Planning for a busy brunch or holiday gathering is made easier with this recipe. You can prepare and assemble the pull-apart bread the night before, refrigerate it, and then simply bake it fresh in the morning. Not only does it streamline your baking process, but leftovers (if there are any!) also reheat beautifully, maintaining their soft, delicious texture for days, ensuring you can enjoy this treat long after it’s baked.
• Fills Your Home with a Heavenly Aroma: As this bread bakes, the intoxicating scent of cinnamon, brown sugar, and maple will waft through your home, creating an atmosphere of pure comfort and festivity. It’s an instant mood-lifter and a perfect way to signal that something truly delicious is being created in your kitchen.
• Versatile for Any Occasion: While perfect for holidays, this pull-apart bread is equally suited for weekend breakfasts, casual brunches, or even as an indulgent dessert. Its unique texture and comforting flavors make it a versatile treat that can adapt to various settings and preferences.

Essential Ingredients for Your Pull Apart Bread

Crafting the perfect Maple Pecan Cinnamon Pull Apart Bread starts with high-quality ingredients. Here’s a breakdown of what you’ll need and why each component is crucial:

• All-Purpose Flour: The foundation of our light and fluffy dough. Standard all-purpose flour provides the ideal protein content for a tender yet structured bread that pulls apart beautifully without being too dense.
• Unsalted Butter: Butter plays a dual role here. Melted butter is incorporated into the dough for richness and tenderness, while additional melted butter is brushed onto each dough piece before adding the filling. This creates those coveted caramelized, buttery layers and prevents the dough from drying out.
• Large Egg: This acts as an enriching agent for the dough, contributing to its soft texture, beautiful golden color, and overall luxurious flavor. A room-temperature egg incorporates more smoothly into the dough.
• Instant Yeast (or Rapid Rise): Our leavening agent! Instant or rapid-rise yeast is incredibly convenient as it can be mixed directly with the other dry ingredients without prior activation, saving time and ensuring a consistent rise for a wonderfully airy bread.
• Sugars (Granulated, Brown, Powdered): We use a trio of sugars for optimal flavor and texture. Granulated sugar sweetens the dough, brown sugar in the filling provides a deep, molasses-rich sweetness and moisture, and powdered sugar forms the base of our smooth, pourable maple glaze.
• Ground Cinnamon: This spice is the heart of the “cinnamon” in our pull-apart bread. We use a generous amount in the filling to infuse every layer with its warm, comforting, and intensely aromatic flavor profile, making it truly cozy.
• Finely Chopped Pecans: These provide a crucial textural contrast, adding a delicate crunch and a warm, toasty, nutty flavor to every bite. Finely chopping them ensures they distribute evenly and don’t overpower the soft dough.
• Maple Syrup: The star of our glossy glaze, pure maple syrup ties all the autumnal flavors together. Its distinct, rich sweetness complements the cinnamon and pecans perfectly, adding an irresistible finish to the top of the bread. Choose a good quality, dark amber maple syrup for the best flavor.

Refer to the full recipe card below for precise ingredient quantities and detailed measurements.

Creative Substitutions and Delicious Variations

While the classic Maple Pecan Cinnamon Pull Apart Bread is phenomenal, feel free to get creative and adapt the recipe to your taste or what you have on hand. Here are some ideas:

• Alternative Nuts: Easily swap out pecans for other complementary nuts like finely chopped walnuts or almonds. For those with nut allergies or preferences, you can simply omit the nuts entirely; the bread will still be wonderfully spiced and buttery.
• Exciting Add-ins: Elevate the flavor profile by incorporating various additions into the cinnamon-sugar filling. Consider mini chocolate chips for a melty surprise, dried chopped cranberries for a tart counterpoint, or a hint of fresh orange zest for a bright, citrusy aroma that beautifully complements the cinnamon.
• Glaze Alternatives: If maple isn’t your preference, you have options! Use honey in place of maple syrup for a different kind of sweet, floral note. For a simpler finish, a basic powdered sugar glaze with just a splash of milk (or water) provides sweetness without additional flavor complexities. A cream cheese glaze (powdered sugar, cream cheese, milk, vanilla) also makes a fantastic, tangy addition.
• Overnight Preparation: Make your morning even easier! Assemble the dough, layer it in the pan, cover it tightly, and refrigerate it overnight. In the morning, remove the pan from the fridge and let it rest at room temperature for about 1 hour before baking. This slow rise enhances the flavor and makes holiday mornings stress-free.
• Different Spice Blends: Experiment with other warm spices. Add a pinch of nutmeg, cardamom, or allspice to your cinnamon sugar mixture for a more complex and unique flavor.
• Fruit Enhancements: Before rolling the dough, you could spread a thin layer of apple butter or a fruit jam (like apricot or fig) over the buttered dough before sprinkling the cinnamon sugar, adding another dimension of flavor and moisture.

Step One: Prepare the Dough. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the dough hook attachment, combine all the dough ingredients: warm milk, melted butter, egg, granulated sugar, instant yeast, all-purpose flour, and kosher salt. Mix on low speed until all the ingredients are just combined and the dough appears shaggy. This initial mix ensures everything is incorporated before kneading begins.

Step Two: Knead to Perfection. Increase the mixer speed slightly to medium-low and continue to knead the dough for 3-5 minutes. During this time, the dough will transform from shaggy to smooth, soft, and pliable, eventually pulling away cleanly from the sides of the mixing bowl. This kneading develops the gluten, crucial for that signature soft and airy texture.

Step Three: First Rise. Lightly grease a large mixing bowl with a touch of oil or butter. Transfer the kneaded dough ball into this greased bowl, turning it once to ensure it’s coated completely. Cover the bowl tightly with plastic wrap or a clean kitchen towel. Place it in a warm, draft-free spot (like a slightly warmed oven, turned off) and let it rise for about 1 hour, or until it has noticeably doubled in size.

Step Four: Prepare for Rolling. Once the dough has proudly doubled in size, gently punch it down to release the air. Lightly flour a clean countertop or a large pastry mat. Turn the dough out onto the prepared surface, ready for the next shaping stage.

Hot tip! After turning out the risen dough, gently pat it into a rough rectangular shape on your floured counter before you begin rolling. This little trick will significantly help you achieve the desired rectangular sheet more easily and efficiently!

Step Five: Roll the Dough. Using a floured rolling pin, roll the dough into a large rectangle, aiming for dimensions of approximately 12×20 inches. Don’t worry about achieving absolute perfection; a rustic shape is perfectly charming and will still yield beautiful layers.

Step Six: Butter It Up. Generously brush the entire surface of the rolled-out dough with melted unsalted butter. Ensure you reach all the way to the edges, as this butter layer is crucial for both flavor and creating distinct, caramelized layers in the final bread.

Step Seven: Add the Flavorful Filling. Evenly sprinkle the prepared cinnamon sugar mixture and finely chopped pecans over the entire buttered surface of the dough, making sure to spread it right to the edges. This coating will create the signature sweet and spiced layers.

Step Eight: Cut the Dough. Using a sharp knife or a pizza wheel, carefully cut the dough into 18 rectangular pieces. First, cut the dough into thirds along the shorter side, then into sixths along the longer side. Aim for relatively uniform pieces to ensure even baking.

Step Nine: Stack the Layers. Gently stack a few pieces of the dough on top of each other, ensuring that all the cinnamon-sugar-coated sides are facing upwards. This creates the beautiful “pull-apart” effect.

Step Ten: Arrange and Second Rise. Carefully nestle the stacked dough pieces upright into your prepared loaf pan, starting from one end and arranging them side-by-side. Sprinkle any leftover cinnamon sugar mixture from your counter directly onto the top. Cover the pan loosely with plastic wrap or a clean kitchen towel and let it rise again for about 30 minutes, or until the dough looks visibly puffy. This second rise is crucial for a light and airy texture. Then, bake until golden brown.

Step Eleven: Prepare the Maple Glaze. While the bread is cooling slightly, whisk together the powdered sugar, vanilla extract, and pure maple syrup in a small bowl until a smooth, relatively thick yet pourable glaze forms. If it’s too thick, add a tiny splash of water or milk; if too thin, add a bit more powdered sugar.

Step Twelve: Glaze and Serve. Generously pour the prepared maple glaze over the top of the warm, freshly baked bread. The warmth of the bread will allow the glaze to slightly melt and seep into the delicious layers. Serve immediately while it’s still warm and wonderfully gooey!

Expert Tips for the Best Pull Apart Bread

Achieving a perfectly soft, gooey, and flavorful pull-apart bread is easy with these insider tips:

• Mind the Ingredient Temperatures: This is paramount for yeast doughs. Your egg should be at room temperature to incorporate smoothly and prevent chilling the dough. Crucially, the milk needs to be very warm (around 110°F or 43°C) to properly activate the yeast without killing it. If the milk is too cold, the yeast won’t activate; if too hot, it will kill the yeast, leading to a flat bread.
• Select the Correct Loaf Pan Size: Using a 9×5 inch (23×13 cm) loaf pan is essential. A pan that is too small will cause the dough to overflow dramatically as it rises and bakes, creating a sticky mess and an unevenly cooked loaf. The recommended size allows for optimal rising and baking.
• Allow for a Full and Proper Dough Rise: Patience is a virtue when working with yeast! A dough that has fully risen (doubled in size) will result in the softest, lightest, and most tender final texture. If the dough doesn’t rise enough, your bread will be dense and chewy. Trust the process and give it adequate time in a warm environment.
• Utilize a Bench Scraper for Stacking: This simple tool is a game-changer when transferring and stacking your cut dough pieces. It helps you cleanly lift any pieces that might stick to your countertop, ensuring all that delicious cinnamon-sugar filling makes it into the pan and not onto your workspace. It also aids in keeping the layers neat.
• Don’t Over-Flour Your Workspace: While some flour is necessary for rolling, too much can make your dough stiff and difficult to work with, resulting in a drier finished product. Use just enough to prevent sticking.
• Preheat Your Oven Thoroughly: Always preheat your oven for at least 15-20 minutes longer than it takes to reach the set temperature. This ensures the oven cavity is uniformly hot, promoting an even rise and bake for your bread.

Behind the Scenes: My Testing Notes

• I initially attempted to bake this pull-apart bread in an 8×4 inch loaf pan. The dough proved to be too voluminous for the smaller pan, resulting in a significant overflow and a rather sticky mess in my oven! A 9×5 inch loaf pan is indeed the correct and necessary size for this recipe.
• A fair amount of the cinnamon sugar filling inevitably fell off the dough slices while I was stacking them. However, this didn’t negatively impact the gooeyness of the final product. I simply collected all the excess sugar from the counter and sprinkled it back over the top of the assembled dough in the pan, gently nudging some into the tops of the layers.
• During the final test, I completely forgot to include the parchment paper sling. Thankfully, the bread didn’t stick, but I would still strongly recommend using parchment paper. It makes removing the beautifully baked loaf from the pan incredibly easy and mess-free.
• I was genuinely surprised by how well this loaf maintained its freshness on the counter. I left it covered at room temperature for 5 days, and each time I grabbed another piece (with a quick 15-second reheat in the microwave), it was perfectly soft, moist, and utterly delicious.

Storage and Reheating Tips

Keeping your pull-apart bread fresh and delicious is simple with these storage guidelines:

Store the baked Maple Pecan Cinnamon Pull Apart Bread tightly covered at room temperature for up to 5 days. Thanks to the absence of dairy in our maple glaze, refrigeration is not necessary, which helps maintain the bread’s soft texture. To enjoy it at its best, simply pop a slice (or a few) into the microwave for a few seconds to gently reheat and restore its wonderfully soft, gooey consistency.

Freezer Storage: If you’re planning further ahead, you can freeze the baked bread (without the glaze). Once completely cooled, wrap the entire loaf tightly in plastic wrap, then again in aluminum foil. It will keep well in the freezer for up to two months. When ready to enjoy, thaw the loaf overnight in the refrigerator. Then, gently reheat it in a preheated oven (around 300°F/150°C) until warm, and prepare and add the fresh glaze before serving. This ensures it tastes just as delicious as when it was first baked.

More Sweet Breakfast and Brunch Recipes You’ll Adore

If you’ve fallen in love with the comforting flavors of this pull-apart bread, you’ll definitely want to explore these other delightful sweet breakfast recipes from our kitchen:

Important Notes When Cooking with The Cozy Plum

To ensure the best results and a consistent experience with our recipes, please keep the following in mind:

• All recipes featured are developed using Diamond Crystal kosher salt, which is known for being the least salty variety of kosher salt. If you are using Morton’s kosher salt, you will need to reduce the amount by half as it is approximately twice as salty. The same adjustment applies if you are using fine sea salt. Please avoid using table salt in our recipes, as its intense saltiness can drastically alter the intended flavor profile.
• For precision in baking, which is crucial for perfect outcomes, we highly recommend using a digital kitchen scale and baking by weight (metric measurements). You can easily switch between U.S. Customary (Cups) and Metric (grams) units using the convenient toggle button provided on the recipe card below. Baking by weight consistently produces the most accurate and reliable results.
• Should you wish to adjust the yield of the recipe, you can scale the ingredient quantities using the ‘1X’, ‘2X’, or ‘3X’ buttons found on the recipe card. Please note that while these buttons will automatically adjust ingredient amounts, they do not modify the baking or cooking times. You may need to manually adjust cooking times if you significantly alter the recipe’s scale.

Did you try this delightful recipe? We’d love to hear from you! Share your creations with us! Tag @thecozyplum onInstagram & Facebook and remember to leave a star rating ⭐️ below to let us know how it turned out! Your feedback truly brightens our day and helps others discover these cozy treats.

Maple Pecan Cinnamon Pull Apart Bread

Callan Wenner