How to skip the line for Dollywood’s famous cinnamon bread
Enjoy a warm loaf sooner, and perhaps more than once, with this tip.
Key Takeaways
- Dollywood's Grist Mill Cinnamon Bread is a unique park staple, known for its intensely spiced and buttery texture, often enjoyed with vanilla icing or apple butter.
- To avoid long lines in the park, you can purchase the cinnamon bread at Dollywood's resorts, DreamMore and HeartSong, in their grab-and-go cafes.
- Resort guests have the added convenience of ordering the cinnamon bread directly to their room.
If you’ve been to Dollywood, you know all about its iconic Grist Mill Cinnamon Bread. Even if you’ve never tasted it, the warm and spicy aroma is like the park's signature scent. One whiff, and you'll want to make a beeline for the Grist Mill, where you’ll most definitely find people in wrap-around-the-block lines. (The cinnamon bread also available for purchase at the park’s Spotlight Bakery, but you can expect to wait for a while there as well.)
When my son and I visited Dollywood, we took one look at the queue and then at each other. Was it worth the wait? Did we want a loaf pan full of warm, buttery bread, or another ride on Thunderhead? It was a tough decision. After a few rounds of rock-paper-scissors, Thunderhead won. But thankfully, we were still able to experience the cinnamon bread thanks to a little inside information.
What Is Dollywood’s Grist Mill Cinnamon Bread?
Baked in a loaf pan, it’s kind of like a cross between a pull-apart bread and a cinnamon roll. The tender bread is intensely spiced—each layer is thoroughly coated—and extremely buttery. It’s served warm with a choice of vanilla icing or apple butter on the side. Part of its appeal is the messiness—no serving tools here, just reach right into the pan and pull yourself off a chunk.
What Makes This Cinnamon Bread Special?
The bread is special because it’s unique to the park, but also because of the way it is made. The Dollywood Grist Mill is a fully operational, water-powered mill that was built in the early 1980s just as it would have been made a hundred years ago to grind grains. Inside the building, you’ll get to see bakers churning out the loaves.
How To Get The Cinnamon Bread Without A Long Wait
Yes, you can try to replicate it at home, but there’s an even easier way. The bread is available for purchase at both of Dollywood’s resorts, DreamMore and HeartSong, which are located right near the park. Both resorts have grab-and-go cafes (DM Pantry at DreamMore, and Songbird Market at HeartSong), where anyone can buy the cinnamon bread. Grab a loaf and a cup of coffee, and enjoy it in the beautiful lobby.
And if you’re a resort guest, it gets even better—you can order the cinnamon bread delivered straight to your room. There’s no finer way to kick off a day at Dollywood.
What Other Can't-Miss Foods Does Dollywood Have?
While the aroma of the cinnamon bread is sure to lure you straight to the grist mill, there are other bits and bites that are worthy of a stop. Some of Dolly's favorite foods include Southern specialties like the pinto beans from Granny Ogle's and fried green tomatoes and Mason Jar Banana Pudding from Front Porch Cafe. If Dolly herself likes them, they deserve some recognition. Other popular foods at the park include the fried chicken at Miss Lillian's Mill House and the Kettle Korn at Country Cookers. Wash it all down with Dolly's lemonade, a sweet-tart pink sipper.
