Name: The Best Cowboy Bread Recipe
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 45 min
Total time: 60 min
Ingredients: 1/2 cup sugar (); 1/4 cup melted butter or neutral oil (light olive or avocado); 3/4 cup milk; 1 egg; 1 2/3 cups flour (); 2 teaspoons baking powder; 1 teaspoon cinnamon; pinch salt; 1/4 cup melted butter; 1/4 cup white sugar; 1/4 cup brown sugar; 1 teaspoon cinnamon

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This easy Cowboy Bread recipe is a cross between fluffy bread and sweet coffee cake. Prepare it in under an hour for a sweet bread recipe perfect for breakfasts, snacks, or desserts!

Up close photo of a square of the best cowboy bread with a fork.

What is Cowboy Bread, Anyway?

Also known as pan de campo, cowboy bread is a type of fairly flat, crumbly bread. Originally, it was eaten by cowboys who worked on ranches in Texas. They prepared it in small, portable ovens which contributed to its distinct taste and texture.

This version is a sweeter take on traditional recipes. Unlike the original version, which is often enjoyed with beans or soup, this is eaten more like coffee cake.

Ribbons of cinnamon and sugar running through a slice of cowboy bread.

What is Cowboy Bread Made Of?

This recipe comes together with just a few pantry staples to form a bread batter and a streusel-like topping. Here’s an overview of what you need:

Sugar – Granulated sugar sweetens the bread batter. Then, we use a combination of white sugar and brown sugar for the topping.
Butter – Adds a rich flavor, keeping the bread moist. Feel free to substitute a neutral oil like light olive oil or avocado oil if preferred!
Egg – Adds structure to the bread.
Milk – Whole milk will create the richest flavor and most tender texture, but any milk or non-dairy milk you like best will work.
Flour – We use regular all-purpose flour. However, you can substitute a 1:1 gluten-free all-purpose flour if you need this recipe to be gluten-free.
Baking Powder (aluminum free) – Make sure it’s fresh! Otherwise, your bread won’t rise.
Cinnamon – Adds a subtle sweetness and warm flavor.

A slice of cowboy bread showing the buttery cinnamon and sugar inside.

How to Make the Best Cowboy Bread Recipe

Before you begin, preheat your oven, and grease a square baking pan with cooking spray.

Whisk the wet ingredients. In a medium-sized bowl, whisk the sugar, melted butter, and egg until smooth. Then, add the milk, and whisk again to combine.
Mix the dry ingredients. In a separate large bowl, mix the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt.

Melted butter, milk and eggs whisked together in a glass mixing bowl.

Flour, baking soda and cinnamon whisked together in a glass mixing bowl.

Combine the wet and dry ingredients. Add the wet ingredients to the bowl of dry ingredients. Mix just until smooth, and pour the batter into the prepared pan.

Coffee cake batter in a glass mixing bowl with a white spatula.

A coffee cake batter in a greased 8x8 glass pan.

Create the topping. Whisk all the ingredients for the topping in a third bowl.

Melted butter, brown sugar and cinnamon in glass mixing bowl.

A whisk stirring cinnamon, sugar and butter in a glass bowl.

Top. Drop spoonfuls of the topping over the bread batter, making sure the bread batter still peaks through.
Bake. Transfer the dish to the oven. Bake until the bread is lightly golden and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Be careful not to overbake, or your bread will turn out dry!

Overhead photo of cowboy bread batter in a pan with cinnamon sugar batter on top.

Overhead photo of baked cowboy bread in a glass 8x8 pan.

How to Store

Allow the bread to cool completely, and store leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature for up to three days. Or, freeze it for up to three months.

Thaw the bread in the fridge overnight. Then, enjoy it at room temperature.

Or, warm it in the microwave for ten to 15 seconds. We love to add a pat of butter, too. It makes it extra decadent!

Up close photo of cinnamon and sugar cowboy bread on a fork.

More Sweet Bread Recipes to Try

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