My Dollywood Cinnamon Bread recipe is the easiest way to recreate that famous Grist Mill bread at home. Using frozen bread dough as the shortcut, this is a virtually foolproof recipe that even the most beginner baker can pull off. My teens took one bite and said it tasted exactly like the bread we had at Dollywood, and I have been making it ever since.

Copycat Dollywood Cinnamon Bread

My kids and I love visiting Dollywood, and every single time we go, there is one stop we never skip. The Grist Mill always has a line out the door, and once you get close enough, you understand exactly why. You can watch the bakers right inside, pulling golden loaves out of the oven one after another. The smell of warm bread and cinnamon comes wafting out and pulls you straight through the door before you even realize what is happening.

And then there’s the icing. You watch the bakers pour that creamy glaze right over the warm bread, and it soaks down into every crevice of the loaf. It is one of those things you have to see to believe, and once you taste it, you will be planning your next trip back just for the bread.

My recipe captures all of that at home. Using frozen bread dough as the base means no kneading and no complicated steps. You coat the dough in butter and cinnamon sugar, let it rise, bake it until golden, and then pour the icing on while it is still warm, just like they do at the Grist Mill. My kids took one bite and said it tasted exactly like the real thing.

Dollywood Bread ingredients

ingredients on white counter: cinnamon, sugar, frozen bread loaf, powdered sugar, water

Below is a list of the ingredients you’ll need to make this recipe. Scroll down to the full recipe card for the specific amounts.

For the Bread:

Vegetable oil cooking spray
Cinnamon
Granulated sugar
Frozen loaf bread dough
Butter

For the Glaze:

Powdered sugar, sifted
Water or fresh lemon juice

How to make Cinnamon Bread with Icing

Here are my step-by-step instructions so you can make this recipe with ease. For the full, printable recipe with amounts and temperatures, scroll down to the recipe card below.

Step One: Preparing the Bread

loaf of raw dough with four slits on top

Spray 8 1⁄2 by 4 1⁄2 by 2 1⁄2 -inch loaf pan with cooking spray and set aside. Line the pan with parchment paper so you can get the bread out easily.
In a small baking dish or shallow dish like pie plate, mix cinnamon and sugar. Set aside.
With a sharp knife make 4 deep slashes horizontally in the top of the bread dough. These crosswise slits make it a pull apart bread like the ones known for at Dollywood.

Using a pastry brush, brush the tops of the loaf with melted butter. Be generous with the butter, making sure the butter gets in all the crevices, deep cuts, sides and bottom of the bread. Dip it in the butter if that’s easier.
Roll the loaf in the cinnamon-sugar mixture so the cinnamon mixture gets into the crevices.
Place the loaf in the prepared loaf pan and set in a warm place and let the bread rise for 30 minutes.

Step Two: Bake the Bread

loaf pan lined with parchment and bread waiting to rise

Preheat the oven to 300 degrees F.
Bake the bread for 25-35 minutes or until the top is golden brown.

Step Three: Make the Glaze

In a small bowl combine the confectioners’ sugar and water until the mixture is smooth.

Step Four: Glazing the Bread

Remove cinnamon bread from the pan and let cool on wire rack. Drizzle with glaze while it’s warm. Add more glaze once it’s cooled.

Dollywood Cinnamon Bread Recipe tips

Be sure an allow proper time for the dough to rise. If you bake it too soon, the bread will be too dense and cakey.

For best results, allow a two-inch overhang of parchment paper on each end. This parchment overhang allows extra room for you to grab and lift the loaf out of the pan easily.

If you want to add even more cinnamon flavor, you can add a little ground cinnamon in the glaze. You can also use milk to thin out the powdered sugar, but if you do, you’ll want to store the bread in the fridge.

For really even baking, you may want to turn the loaf pan halfway through the baking time.

What to make with Copycat Dollywood Cinnamon Bread

Enjoy Copycat Dollywood Cinnamon Bread on its own as a delicious treat, or use it to make French toast for a decadent breakfast. You can also use it to make bread pudding.

How to store Dollywood Cinnamon Bread

To keep Dollywood Cinnamon Bread fresh, store it in an airtight container or resealable plastic bag at room temperature. It’s best consumed within a few days of baking for optimal freshness and flavor.

Does cinnamon bread need to be refrigerated?

No, cinnamon bread does not need to be refrigerated. Storing it at room temperature in an airtight container or bag is sufficient to maintain its freshness. Refrigeration can actually dry out the bread faster.

Dollywood’s Cinnamon Bread FAQs

Can I make this Dollywood Bread in mini loaves?

You sure can! Instead of making one large loaf, you can divide the dough into pieces and bake them in 3 5-inch loaf pans. Make sure each of the prepared pans are lined with parchment paper.

Some recipes also call for splitting the dough in half to make two loaves. You’ll get smaller portions, but just as good.

How many cinnamon breads does Dollywood sell?

Dollywood typically sells a large quantity of cinnamon bread daily, as it’s one of their popular and signature items. The exact number sold may vary depending on factors like seasonal demand and visitor traffic.

How much is a loaf of cinnamon bread at Dollywood?

The price of a loaf of cinnamon bread at Dollywood can vary slightly over time due to factors like inflation and changes in ingredient costs. It typically is priced around $8 per loaf. However, it’s always a good idea to check the current pricing at the park.

More Easy Breakfast Bread Recipes

Food

Easy Zucchini Bread

Dollywood Cinnamon Bread

Author Alicia

Course Breakfast

Cuisine American

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 35

Rise Time 30

Total Time 1 15

This easy Dollywood Cinnamon Bread uses frozen bread dough to recreate the famous Grist Mill loaf at home. No kneading required, beginner friendly, and finished with a creamy icing glaze that soaks right into the warm bread.

Ingredients

For the bread:

▢ 1/2 Tbsp cinnamon
▢ 1/2 cup granulated sugar
▢ 1 lb. frozen bread dough, thawed
▢ 4 Tbsp unsalted butter 1/2 stick, melted

For the glaze:

▢ 1 cup confectioner's sugar sifted
▢ 2 – 3 Tbsp water

Instructions

Spray 8 1⁄2 by 4 1⁄2 by 2 1⁄2 -inch loaf pan with cooking spray and set aside. Line the pan with parchment so you can get the bread out easily.
In a shallow dish, like a pie plate, mix the cinnamon and sugar. Set aside.
1/2 Tbsp cinnamon, 1/2 cup granulated sugar
Make 4 deep, horizontal slits in the top of the bread dough. This will give it if pull-part look it’s known for at Dollywood.
1 lb. frozen bread dough, thawed
Using a pastry brush, brush the tops of the loaf with melted butter. Be generous with the butter, making sure the butter gets in all the crevices, sides and bottom of the bread. Dip if in the butter if that’s easier.
4 Tbsp unsalted butter
Roll the loaf in the cinnamon mixture so the cinnamon sugar mixture gets into the crevices.
Place the loaf in the prepared loaf pan and set in a warm place and let rise for 30 minutes. Preheat the oven to 300 degrees F.
Bake the bread for 25-35 minutes or until the top is golden brown.
Make the glaze. In a small bowl combine the powdered sugar and water until the mixture is smooth.
1 cup confectioner's sugar, 2 – 3 Tbsp water
Remove cinnamon bread from the pan and let cool on wire rack. Drizzle with glaze while it’s warm. Add more glaze once it’s cooled.