The Most Comforting Cinnamon Swirl Raisin Bread

Imagine a loaf of bread, filled with swirls of cinnamon and plump raisins, fresh out of the oven and waiting to be devoured.

In this piece, we'll dive into the delicious world of cinnamon swirl raisin bread and learn how to create this mouthwatering treat right in your own kitchen.

From the perfect combination of spices to the art of creating a swirl, we'll cover all the essential steps to crafting a ridiculously good homemade loaf.

My mother in law loves Cinnamon Swirl Raisin Bread. So, I have experimented with a few recipes through the years to make her a special treat.

This one, adapted from The Cook's Illustrated Cookbook (affiliate link), works beautifully for me. The hardest part is waiting for it to cool enough to cut into it.

Tricks for making Cinnamon Swirl Raisin Bread

Keys to this recipe:

• As with any bread recipe, only add enough flour to be able to knead it without it sticking to your hands. A stand mixer with dough hook is ideal for this recipe.
• Do not add the raisins until you are done kneading the dough or they will rip apart (especially if using a stand mixer).
• Let the cinnamon swirl soak up the milk for a bit before rolling. This will help the bread stick together when rising.
• Do not undercook it, it will look done at least 10 minutes before it actually is baked through. Cover it with foil if it looks like it is over baking on top.
• Consider making 2 loaves because this disappears quickly! 😉

Recipe

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Ingredients

 

bread

• 2 large eggs
• ½ cup milk
• ¼ cup water
• 3 tablespoons butter (melted and cooled to room temperature)
• 3+ cups flour
• 3 tablespoons sugar
• 1 package rapid rise yeast (2 ¼ teaspoons)
• 1 teaspoon salt
• ½ cup raisins

filling

• ¼ cup sugar
• 4 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 2 tablespoons milk

Instructions

 

• In a small bowl, beat two eggs until yellow. Remove 1 tablespoon and set aside for the final egg wash. 
• In a 2 cup measuring cup, combine milk, water eggs and butter. 
• In a stand mixer equipped with a dough hook, add 2 ½ cups flour, 3 tablespoons sugar, yeast and salt. Mix for a minute or so until combined. 
• With mixer running slowly add in liquid. Once incorporated the dough should not stick to the bowl. If it does add additional flour a few tablespoons at a time.
• Knead dough for 10 minutes. Add raisins and mix just until the raisins are spread throughout. 
• Put dough in a greased bowl, cover with plastic wrap and let rise in a warm place until doubled in volume, about 2 hours. My favorite place is in the oven with light on.
• Punch down dough and press out into a 16 by 8 rectangle. Don't stress the dimensions too much, the short end should be as wide as your bread pan.
• Brush the top of the dough liberally with milk, saving about 1-2 teaspoons for the final egg wash. 
• In a small bowl, combine sugar and cinnamon. Spread on top of the milk. For best results, let the cinnamon sugar mixture absorb the liquid so it is not still dry. This helps make a gummy layer that will make your swirl bake in, but not separate the bread.
• Roll up the dough, pinching the bottom closed. Put in a greased 8.5 by 4.5 inch loaf pan with the seam side down. Let rise until dough is about 1 inch over the top of the loaf pan, 60-90 minutes.
• Move oven rack to the position just below the middle one. Preheat oven to 350℉
• Combine the reserved tablespoon of beaten egg with a teaspoon or two of milk. Brush on the top of the bread.
• Bake for 30-35 minutes, until top is dark golden brown and thermometer inserted in the center of the loaf registers 195℉. Note, the loaf will look done 5-10 minutes before it is actually baked through. If you are worried about the top of the bread getting too brown, cover loosely with foil. 
• Let loaf cool for 5 minutes on a wire rack. Remove from pan and then allow to cool completely. 

Notes

adapted from The Cook's Illustrated Cookbook (affiliate link)

makes one 8.5 by 4.5 inch loaf 

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