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Skillet Cinnamon Buttermilk Bread with Vanilla Bean Strawberry Rhubarb Jam

Pillowy buttermilk yeast bread swirled and twisted with cinnamon and sugar, baked in a cast iron skillet. Great when enjoyed warm with jam.

Yield 1 braided loaf

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Ingredients

Dough

1/4 cup warm water (110-115°F)
1 1 (0.25oz) package (7g) or 2 1/4 teaspoons Red Star Active Dry Yeast
1 tablespoon granulated sugar
1/2 cup warm buttermilk (110-115°F)
1/2 tablespoons table salt
1/4 cup unsalted butter (melted and slightly cooled)
3 cups bread flour, divided (all-purpose flour works well too)

Filling

1/4 cup butter (room temperature)
2 tablespoons ground cinnamon
1/2 cup granulated sugar
Powder sugar for dusting

Jam

1/2 cup diced rhubarb
1 cup diced strawberries
1/4 cup granulated sugar
Juice of 1 lemon
1 vanilla bean pod (split lengthwise)
Additional buttermilk for brushing

Instructions

Make the bread

Add warm water, yeast and sugar to a small bowl. Stir and let sit for about 10 minutes, or until the yeast mixture starts to foam.
Using a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook attachment, add yeast mixture, warm buttermilk, salt, melted butter and 1 1/2 cups of the flour to mixer bowl.
Turn mixer to medium-low until ingredients are combined. Add in remaining flour, 1/4 cup at a time, and mix until the dough is just slightly sticky.
Turn mixer to medium, and knead the dough for about 3-5 minutes, or until it is elastic and smooth.
Turn dough out into a greased mixing bowl. Cover; let rise until doubled in size. This could take a couple of hours.
Prepare filling: In a small mixing bowl, mix together then filling ingredients.
Punch down dough, and turn out onto a lightly floured surface. Roll the dough out until it is about 1/8-inch thick rectangle.
Spread the filling mixture evenly over the dough. Roll the dough into a log, starting with the longer side (just like you would cinnamon rolls). Pinch seam to seal.
Cut the log lengthwise almost all the way to the top. Twist the two strands together and then form twist the into a circle. (See video below for shaping tutorial.)
Place into a well-seasoned, greased 8- or 10-inch cast iron skillet. Cover; let rise until double in size.
Preheat oven to 350°F.
Once the dough has risen, brush top with a bit of buttermilk. Bake for about 30 minutes or until it golden all over, and sounds hollow when you flick the top.
Sprinkle with powdered sugar before serving, optional.

Make the jam

Add the jam ingredients into a heavy bottomed sauce pot, simmer on low heat for about 30 minutes. Once the berries have broken down, remove from heat and serve warm over bread. To store leftover jam, place in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 2 weeks.

Notes

Recipe by Carrie Burrill.

Bernice Hager | 4/14/2023 Reply

In the video it looks like she rolled up the dough from the short side and in the recipe it says to roll from the long side. Does it really matter?

Red Star Yeast | 5/4/2023 Reply

Hi Bernice – Roll from the long side. I think the video perspective makes it look like the short side, but you should roll from the long side.
Happy baking!

Ruby Ali | 4/13/2023 Reply

Great recipe
But where is video

Red Star Yeast | 4/17/2023 Reply

Hi Ruby – You can find the video below the recipe, scroll down the page to see it.
Happy baking!

MaryJo | 3/24/2023 Reply

do I have to use a cast iron skillet? Can I just use around cake pan?

Red Star Yeast | 3/27/2023 Reply

Hi MaryJo – Yes you can use a cake pan. Keep an eye on the bread as it bakes, baking times may vary.
Happy baking!