Description
Cinnamon Raisin Bread is a sweet and spiced homemade bread featuring soft, fluffy dough intertwined with warm cinnamon swirls and juicy raisins. Perfect as a comforting breakfast, snack, or dessert, this bread offers a tender crumb with bursts of natural sweetness, enriched by butter, milk, and egg. Easy to customize and loved by the whole family, it’s the ultimate cozy treat.
Ingredients
Scale
Dough Ingredients
- 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 1 packet active dry yeast (2 1/4 teaspoons)
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
- 1 cup warm milk (about 110°F / 43°C)
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup raisins
Instructions
- Prepare the Dough: Begin by activating the yeast in warm milk with a pinch of sugar, allowing it to foam and prove. Then, mix in the flour, sugar, melted butter, egg, salt, and cinnamon. Knead the dough until it is smooth and elastic, about 8 to 10 minutes.
- Add the Raisins: Gently fold in the raisins after kneading to ensure they are evenly distributed throughout the dough, providing juicy bursts in every slice.
- First Rise: Place the dough in a lightly greased bowl and cover it with a damp cloth or plastic wrap. Let it rise in a warm spot until doubled in size, typically 1 to 1.5 hours.
- Shape the Loaf: Punch down the risen dough and roll it into a rectangle. Optionally, sprinkle extra cinnamon and sugar over the dough, then roll it up tightly and place it into a greased loaf pan.
- Final Rise: Cover the shaped loaf and let it rise again until it reaches the top of the pan, around 45 minutes, ensuring a light and airy texture once baked.
- Bake: Bake the bread in a preheated oven at 350°F (175°C) for 30 to 40 minutes until golden brown and hollow-sounding when tapped.
- Cool and Enjoy: Allow the bread to cool in the pan for 10 minutes before transferring to a wire rack. Slice and serve warm or at room temperature, plain or with butter.
Notes
- Use fresh, active yeast for best results to ensure a good rise and fluffy texture.
- Do not overknead the dough; knead just until smooth to keep the bread tender.
- Soak raisins in warm water or rum for 10 minutes before adding to keep them plump and juicy.
- Monitor rising times carefully to avoid over-proofing which can cause collapse.
- Mix cinnamon thoroughly or add cinnamon-sugar swirls evenly to ensure consistent flavor.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Breakfast
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice (about 60g)
- Calories: 180
- Sugar: 8g
- Sodium: 150mg
- Fat: 4g
- Saturated Fat: 2.5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 1g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 33g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 4g
- Cholesterol: 35mg