If you’ve ever visited the Dollywood theme park in Tennessee, you already know that their legendary cinnamon bread is more than just a snack — it’s an experience. The smell alone pulls guests down the walkways, through the grist mill doors, and straight into a warm, cinnamon-scented cloud. Soft, buttery, warm, and generously coated in cinnamon sugar, Dollywood’s cinnamon bread is the kind of treat that makes people plan vacations around it.

But you don’t need a theme park ticket to enjoy that magic. This easy Dollywood-style cinnamon bread recipe brings the iconic flavor, texture, and aroma straight into your kitchen — without special equipment, complex dough, or long kneading sessions. In fact, this simplified version uses store-bought pizza dough to recreate the signature pull-apart texture faster and more easily than the original.

It’s warm. It’s gooey. It’s buttery. It’s covered in cinnamon sugar from corner to corner. And once you brush on the homemade vanilla glaze, you’ll understand exactly why people line up for it at Dollywood.

What Makes Dollywood’s Cinnamon Bread So Special?

1. The Pull-Apart Texture

Instead of traditional rolled cinnamon swirl bread, Dollywood cuts the dough into thick strips, coats them in butter and cinnamon sugar, then bakes them in a loaf pan. The result is a tender, layered loaf that naturally pulls apart into irresistible buttery pieces.

2. The Generous Cinnamon-Sugar Coating

No subtlety here — the bread is coated all over, edges included. Every bite is golden, caramelized, and sweet.

3. The Butter. The Butter. The Butter.

Butter is slathered on before coating, creating a rich flavor and allowing the cinnamon sugar to stick perfectly.

4. The Vanilla Glaze

A simple glaze drizzled on top elevates the bread from delicious to unforgettable.

5. It’s Comfort Food at Its Finest

Homemade tradition meets theme-park indulgence. Like a warm hug in bread form.

Why This Easy Version Works

Traditional cinnamon bread recipes require kneading, proofing, shaping, rolling, and multiple steps. But this version captures Dollywood’s flavor while eliminating all the hassle.

Fast — 10 minutes of prep

Because pizza dough is already made, you skip mixing and rising.

Beginner-friendly

No bread-making experience required.

Authentic flavor with minimal work

Technique and coating replicate the real thing, even if the dough preparation is simplified.

Versatile

Make it breakfast, dessert, or a sweet snack.

Ingredients

• 1 lb refrigerated pizza dough
• 1/2 cup melted butter
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1 tbsp ground cinnamon
• 1 tsp vanilla extract (optional but recommended)

For Vanilla Glaze:

• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 2–3 tbsp milk or cream
• 1 tsp vanilla extract

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
   Grease a loaf pan generously with butter.
2. Prepare the cinnamon sugar mixture.
   In a shallow bowl, combine the sugar and cinnamon.
3. Roll out the dough.
   Lightly flour your surface and roll the pizza dough into a rectangle.
4. Cut into strips.
   Use a sharp knife or pizza cutter to slice the dough into 5–6 long strips.
5. Brush with melted butter.
   Coat the dough strips generously.
6. Coat in cinnamon sugar.
   Press each buttered strip fully into the cinnamon-sugar mixture.
7. Layer in the loaf pan.
   Crisscross or layer the coated strips in the prepared loaf pan. It’s okay if they overlap — it makes the bread pull-apart style.
8. Brush the top with more butter.
   No such thing as too much here.
9. Bake.
   Bake for 28–35 minutes, until the bread is golden, puffed, and cooked through the center.
10. Make the glaze.
    Combine powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla until smooth and pourable.
11. Drizzle and serve warm.
    Pour glaze over the warm bread and serve immediately for the full Dollywood effect.

Easy Dollywood-Style Cinnamon Bread

A simplified, quick version of Dollywood’s famous cinnamon bread, made with pizza dough, buttery layers, cinnamon sugar, and a warm vanilla glaze.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 35 minutes mins

Total Time 45 minutes mins

Servings: 8 slices

Course: Breakfast, Dessert, Snack

Cuisine: American, Southern

Calories: 310

Ingredients

  

Cinnamon Bread

• 1 lb refrigerated pizza dough
• 0.5 cup melted butter
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1 tbsp ground cinnamon
• 1 tsp vanilla extract optional

Vanilla Glaze

• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 2-3 tbsp milk or cream
• 1 tsp vanilla extract

Equipment

• Mixing bowls
• Rolling Pin
• Loaf pan
• Whisk
• Pastry brush

Method

 

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease a loaf pan.
2. Mix cinnamon and sugar in a shallow bowl.
3. Roll pizza dough into a rectangle on a lightly floured surface.
4. Cut the dough into long strips.
5. Brush strips generously with melted butter.
6. Coat each strip thoroughly in cinnamon sugar.
7. Layer coated strips into the loaf pan.
8. Brush top with more butter and bake 28–35 minutes.
9. Whisk glaze ingredients together until smooth.
10. Drizzle glaze over warm bread before serving.

Notes

Layer dough loosely for best pull-apart texture. Add apples or cream cheese for variations.

Tips for Perfect Dollywood-Style Cinnamon Bread

Don’t skimp on butter

It’s essential for both flavor and coating.

Use plenty of cinnamon sugar

Any excess falls off — so coat each piece heavily.

Check halfway through baking

If the top browns too fast, tent with foil.

Let it cool 5 minutes before removing

This prevents tearing but keeps it hot and gooey.

Serve warm

Cold cinnamon bread is fine — warm cinnamon bread is unforgettable.

Variations

Apple Cinnamon Bread

Add thin apple slices between the dough strips.

Cream Cheese Cinnamon Bread

Spread softened cream cheese on strips before coating in cinnamon sugar.

Chocolate Cinnamon Bread

Add mini chocolate chips between layers.

Maple Glaze Version

Swap vanilla for maple extract.

Caramel Drizzle

Top with warm caramel sauce for dessert-level richness.

Serving Suggestions

• Serve warm with coffee or tea
• Pair with vanilla ice cream
• Enjoy at brunch with fruit and eggs
• Slice and toast leftovers with extra butter
• Wrap and give as holiday gifts

Storage & Reheating

Storage:

Up to 3 days at room temperature, wrapped tightly.

Reheat:

15–20 seconds in microwave; 5–7 minutes in oven at 300°F.

Freezing:

Freeze unglazed loaf up to 2 months.
Thaw → warm → glaze.