Kalács (Hungarian Cinnamon Swirl Bread)

Recipe View Prepare your workspace: Lightly grease a large bowl and two 9x5 inch loaf pans. Set aside. (5 minutes)

Recipe View Combine dry ingredients: In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the dough hook attachment, add flour, white sugar, salt, and yeast. (2 minutes)

Recipe View In a separate bowl, whisk together warm milk, egg, 1/4 cup melted butter, and vanilla extract until well combined. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients. (3 minutes)

Recipe View Mix the dough: Mix on low speed until the flour is moistened and a dough forms. Increase the speed to medium and knead until the dough is smooth and elastic (about 4-5 minutes). (5 minutes)

Recipe View First rise: Place the dough in the prepared bowl, cover it, and let it rise in a warm place until doubled in bulk (about 1 hour 30 minutes). (90 minutes)

Recipe View Shape the loaves: Punch down the dough. Turn it out onto a lightly floured work surface and divide it into 2 equal pieces. Roll each piece into a 1/3-inch-thick rectangle. (10 minutes)

Recipe View Add the cinnamon swirl: Brush each rectangle with melted butter. In a small bowl, mix together brown sugar and cinnamon until well combined. Sprinkle the mixture evenly over the buttered rectangles. (5 minutes)

Recipe View Form the loaves: Roll each rectangle tightly into a log, pinching the ends closed and tucking them underneath. Place each log into the prepared loaf pans. (10 minutes)

Recipe View Second rise: Cover the loaf pans and let the dough rise in a warm place until doubled in bulk (about 45 minutes). (45 minutes)

Recipe View Preheat the oven: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). (10 minutes)

Recipe View Bake: Brush the tops of the loaves with melted butter. Bake in the preheated oven until the loaves are golden brown and sound hollow when tapped (about 30 minutes). (30 minutes)

Recipe View Cool: Let the loaves cool in the pans for 10 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.