Top 35 Best Sweet Bread Recipes (2024)

These are the best sweet bread recipes to bake when you want a soft and pillowy bite of deliciousness. From classic sweet bread recipes with yeast to easy quick breads that are closer to sweetened bread cakes, you'll find them all here.

Whether it's for Christmas, Easter, Halloween, or 'just because,' I have all the recipes you need. And if you're new to baking, read about baking with yeast in my guide first, which will come in handy with this list of sweet bread recipes below.

Best Sweet Bread Recipes

1. Cinnamon Rolls with Apple Pie Filling

Everyone loves a doughy, pull-apart cinnamon roll, and these are elevated higher with an apple pie filling. I take you through the enriched dough step by step to make this tasty sweet bread recipe so that even beginner bakers can do it.

2. French Brioche Bread

Brioche is a French sweet bread, although it isn't oversweet and can actually be used in both sweet and savory recipes. The dough is super buttery and rich, which contributes to its soft and tender texture. Whilst it does take some time to make it perfectly (with a second, cold ferment in the fridge overnight) this fluffy sweet bread recipe with yeast is undeniably worth the effort! Check out some of my other French pastries.

3. Banana Bread

This classic sweet bread exploded in popularity a few years ago and shows no signs of slowing down. What's more, this is a sweet bread recipe without yeast, so it is super quick and easy to make. You can use up over-ripe bananas and make a delicious breakfast, dessert, or afternoon snack.

4. Walnut Babka

Babka is a Jewish pastry, made from an enriched, yeasted dough full of eggs and butter. Traditionally, it is twisted or braided around fillings, and my walnut version has the most irresistible nuttiness to every bite. It's soft and pillowy, yet crunchy, and the nuts cut through the rich taste to make it the perfect sweet bread recipe to enjoy with coffee.

5. Brioche Donuts

You've made brioche; now make brioche donuts! These rich and tasty sweet breads are full of buttery flavor and dipped in sugar for a crunchy, sweet aftertaste. Brioche donuts are super tender and rich, with the most incredible texture. And what's more, you don't have to share! Everyone can have their own donut.

6. Cinnamon Apple Babka

Cinnamon babka is the traditional version, and I twist it up a notch by adding a delicious apple filling, too. Whilst it might seem too daunting to make the twist, I show you exactly how it's done. So the pretty braided sweet bread can be yours, too!

7. Chocolate Chip Brioche

Gooey chocolate chips come with every bite of this brioche bread. And when brioche is this rich and tasty, only chocolate can make it better! I give you all my expert tips for making the best brioche, and soon you'll be able to add this sweet bread recipe to your own baking repertoire.

Chocolate desserts are certainly one of my personal favorites, and this chocolate brioche is no exception.

8. Bavarian Cream Donuts

If you love a rich and decadent dessert, you will certainly love these sweet bread donuts. Brioche dough is made into a soft and buttery donut and then filled with a vanilla Creme Bavarois. This French cream has a base made of crème pâtissière, so it is unbelievably creamy and tastes so fancy. But don't be daunted; it is a lot easier to make than you might think.

9. Nutella Babka

Imagine swirls of rich and nutty chocolate spread winding its way through every bite of babka. That's what you get with this tasty sweet bread recipe. It simply has to be seen to be believed!

Also, did you know you can make your own homemade Nutella? It certainly makes these Nutella desserts even tastier.

10. Cranberry Orange Bread

Cranberry and orange are a flavor combination made in heaven. This sweet bread loaf is perfect for the holiday season and stuffed full of citrus flavor as well as tart cranberries. Why not enjoy this cranberry bread recipe on Christmas morning?

11. Chocolate Brioche

If you love brioche, try stuffing it full of chocolate flavor! A soft and buttery dough with that rich chocolatey taste is surely irresistible. Whilst making homemade brioche is a sweet bread recipe that takes a bit longer, it is always worth it for the taste and texture.

12. Pumpkin Bread With Cream Cheese Frosting

If you love the Starbucks pumpkin bread recipe, trust me, this sweetbread recipe is even better. Cream cheese frosting perfectly compliments the flavors, and pumpkin gives an incredibly moist and naturally sweet taste. I love baking with pumpkin in the Fall season, and if you do too, try these pumpkin desserts.

13. Lussekatter

Swedish Saffron Buns, or Lassekatter, is a traditional European dessert that looks as good as it tastes! The buns are crazy moist and delicious and also really fun to make. You'll have to be patient, as there are several steps, and the dough needs to proven, but the end result is saffron-infused buttery, pillowy brioche buns.

14. Sweet Potato Bread

Have you ever baked with sweet potato? They are an unbelievably versatile ingredient that brings taste, sweetness, and moisture to a bake. So, it makes perfect sense to use sweet potatoes to make sweet bread recipes! But no one will be able to tell the secret ingredient, trust me. The only giveaway is the beautiful color on this classic Fall coffee cake.

15. Cinnamon Raisin Bread

On the face of it, this is a sweet and fragrant bread spiced with cinnamon and loaded with raisins. But what you might not realize is that it tastes just as good with aturkey sandwich filling as it does slathered in icing. The recipe is also much easier to make than you might think. In fact, the hardest bit of this recipe is not eating the entire loaf in one sitting. Try it and see!

16. Zucchini Bread

Have you baked with zucchini before? They give unbelievable moisture to baked goods, as well as taste and nutrition. It can be made sweet or savory, but in this super moist and easy sweet bread recipe, it is topped with a tasty cinnamon streusel topping.

17. Easy Glazed Strawberry Bread

You don't need a mixer for this easy sweet bread cake, and believe me, you'll want to make it! The strawberry bread has a cake-like crumb and is filled with delicious authentic strawberry flavor from juicy berries. The loaf bread is glazed with vanilla icing that perfectly sets off the strawberry taste.

Try some of these other strawberry desserts if you love the taste of this fresh summer berry!

18. Banana Bread Cinnamon Rolls

Love banana bread? Love cinnamon rolls? Then you'll love this easy, sweet bread dessert. Combining the best bits of two types of sweet bread, they're soft and fluffy, and every bite just melts in the mouth. What's more, there's a maple cream cheese frosting on the top that will make your heart flutter.

19. Pecan Bread

This Banana Pecan Bread Recipe is something between a coffee cake and a quick sweet bread loaf. Super soft and moist bread packed with bananas and pecans.

Enjoy this pecan sweet bread with coffee, or even take it as a potluck dessert. I guarantee it will certainly be popular!

20. Lemon Blueberry Bread

Here's a delicious quick bread recipe loaded with fresh blueberries and zesty lemon. It's simple, sweet, and delicious, and it takes just 10 minutes for the batter to come together. Furthermore, it has the most irresistible 2-ingredient lemon glaze on top. I love this lemon bread; it might be one of my favorite new lemon desserts!

21. Chocolate Zucchini Bread

Rich and fudgy chocolate zucchini bread is the sweet treat you never knew you needed. This recipe takes all the best parts of moist zucchini bread but adds chocolate and chocolate chips to it. Every bite is loaded with rich and fudgy chocolate goodness; surely, it's too good to resist.

22. Apple Cinnamon Swirl Bread

Whilst this sweet apple cinnamon bread is super moist on the inside with a lovely cinnamon sugar swirl, the crispy crust on top brings all the texture! Enjoy this as a cozy Fall dessert with a hot cup of coffee, or take it to a friend's house to slice up and enjoy together. Apple cinnamon quick bread is surely one of those apple desserts you have to try.

23. Lemon Poppy Seed French Yogurt Loaf

Making sweet bread recipes with yogurt gives an incredible moisture kick as well as some vital acidity that really lifts the flavors. Poppy seed bread has a subtle taste and a hint of crunch, and the lemon works well with it. Soft and bouncy, you won't be able to stop after one slice!

24. Italian Easter Sweet Bread

Surprisingly, there are only eight ingredients in this delicious sweet bread recipe, and one of them is a russet potato!But you would never guess, and instead, it's full of citrus flavor and has a super tender texture. Try baking this orange-flavored braided sweet bread and experience the fluffiest, sweetest taste and texture.

25. Pineapple Bread

You won't believe how moist this pineapple sweet bread recipe is; it could almost be described as juicy! There are one and a half cups of real pineapple chunks and pineapple juice in this bread, though, so perhaps it shouldn't come as a surprise. It is certainly one of the moistest quick breads you’ll ever make.

26. Dutch Apple Bread

Enjoy this super sweet bread with a cup of strong black coffee; it's the perfect flavor pairing! The soft, thick, and sweet bread is super buttery and stuffed full of apples, not to mention the cinnamon and brown sugar streusel topping and vanilla glaze.

27. Carrot Cake Babka

With brown sugar, butter, walnuts, cinnamon, and carrots, this babka is everything you love about carrot cake, but in babka form. And the cardamom cream cheese drizzle icing elevates it to the next level entirely! This is certainly one of the more unusual sweet bread recipes, but it really pays off.

28. Meyer Lemon Sweet Rolls

Here's a fresh citrus twist on classic cinnamon rolls! Sweet lemon bread dough is wrapped around a tangy lemon filling, baked, and covered in a zesty frosting. What's not to love? Certainly, you'll want to make enough for a crowd because no one will just eat one of these.

29. Lincolnshire Plum Bread

This traditional Lincolnshire plum loaf is an enriched yeasted bread dough stuffed with raisins, sultanas, and currants. And it tastes just as delicious toasted with butter as it does with a chunk of cheese! The traditional English tea loaf has been around since the 1900s, and it isn't hard to see why it's been so popular!

30. Sweet Bread Recipe

Plenty of butter and egg yolks keep this basic sweet bread recipe amazingly soft and very similar to Challah. Use the dough to make one large braid or two smaller braids of sweet yeast bread. Sprinkle with seeds and brush with an egg wash for that signature deep golden brown glossy finish and crunchy crust.

31. Braided Cardamom Brioche Bread

The cardamom flavor in this braided brioche sweet bread is perfectly balanced; you can definitely taste it, but it isn't too strong. And the texture is deliciously dense but not at all heavy. One could certainly say it's the best of both worlds!

32. Kanellängd: Swedish Cinnamon Bread

Whilst you might traditionally enjoy this Swedish Christmas bread during the festive season, there's no reason why you can't make it at any time of year. It's a flavorful cinnamon bread glazed in sieved marmalade, orange icing, and a sprinkle of fresh clementine zest. If you're looking for the prettiest cinnamon swirl quick bread recipes, make this one.

33. Sticky Caramel-Pecan Babka Loaves

Consider this recipe as an irresistible mix of sticky buns and sliceable loaf bread. It takes the traditional babka one step further — into much deeper, gooey, and sticky territory. Trust me, you'll be hooked!

If you love the sound of this, check out these other pecan desserts, too.

34. Mini Gingerbread Loaf

Do you have some mini loaf pans and want to make a cute snack or breakfast? Try this tasty gingerbread loaf. Especially delicious during the holidays when festive flavors are in the air and the family is coming together.

35. Moist Orange Bread

The zestiest, stickiest sweet orange bread soaked with orange syrup and sprinkled with candied orange slices. This tastes like summer on a plate! But, equally, a sharp citrus loaf cake can taste delicious in winter, too. So this is really one of those sweet bread recipes for all seasons.

Related Sweet Bread Recipes

Have you tried these recipes?

Please leave a 5-star ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating on the recipe card and consider leaving a comment as well! I would love to hear about how your desserts turned out, and your feedback also helps other Readers!