Winter Market Cinnamon Drift (Print Version)
A warmly spiced loaf featuring cinnamon and brown sugar with a tender gluten-free crumb.
# List of Ingredients:
→ Dry Ingredients
01 - 2 cups gluten-free all-purpose flour blend
02 - 1 ½ teaspoons ground cinnamon
03 - 1 teaspoon baking powder
04 - ½ teaspoon baking soda
05 - ¼ teaspoon fine sea salt
→ Wet Ingredients
06 - ½ cup neutral oil (sunflower or canola)
07 - 1 cup light brown sugar, packed
08 - 2 large eggs, room temperature
09 - ¾ cup unsweetened applesauce
10 - 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
→ Cinnamon Swirl
11 - ⅓ cup light brown sugar
12 - 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
→ Optional Topping
13 - 2 tablespoons chopped pecans or walnuts
14 - Powdered sugar for dusting
# Step-by-step Instructions:
01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a 9x5-inch loaf pan and line with parchment paper.
02 - In a medium bowl, whisk together gluten-free flour, cinnamon, baking powder, baking soda, and salt until well blended.
03 - In a large bowl, beat oil and brown sugar until combined. Add eggs one at a time, mixing well after each. Stir in applesauce and vanilla extract.
04 - Gradually add dry ingredients to wet mixture, mixing until just combined. Do not overmix.
05 - In a small bowl, combine ⅓ cup brown sugar and 1 tablespoon cinnamon.
06 - Pour half the batter into the prepared pan. Sprinkle with half the cinnamon mixture. Add remaining batter, then top with remaining cinnamon mixture. Use a knife to gently swirl through batter for marbled effect.
07 - Sprinkle chopped nuts over the top if using.
08 - Bake for 40 to 50 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
09 - Cool in pan for 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. Dust with powdered sugar before slicing if desired.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- The cinnamon swirl creates these gorgeous ribbons throughout every slice that make people forget its gluten-free
- It stays incredibly moist for days thanks to the applesauce, making it perfect for holiday gift giving or having something ready for unexpected visitors
02 -
- Gluten-free flour needs time to hydrate. Letting the batter sit for 10 minutes before baking improves the texture dramatically
- The toothpick test might show some moist crumbs from the swirl, but that's different from raw batter. Look for moist but set
03 -
- Room temperature ingredients make a huge difference in texture. Pull everything out an hour before baking
- For extra swirl definition, chill the assembled loaf for 15 minutes before baking. This helps the cinnamon layer stay distinct