Cinnamon Raisin Bread

This homemade cinnamon raisin bread recipe is dear to my heart, it is my mom’s recipe. When I was a teenager I used to make several small loaves of this cinnamon raisin bread, and then my mom would take them to her work and sell them for me.

I used that money that I earned to buy Christmas presents. This recipe is really easy to make, if I can do it, you can do it. Let’s get baking!

If you love cinnamon then you have got to try these homemade cinnamon rolls.

Step 1: Gather tools and ingredients

In order to make this yummy cinnamon raisin bread, we need several ingredients and a few tools. You will need the following:

Dough

• Bread Flour – You can also use all-purpose or plain flour for this but it will turn out a little better if you use bread flour.
• Butter – everything is better with butter
• White granulated sugar – we want this bread to be slightly sweet, but you can adjust the amount of sugar according to your taste.
• Salt – the salt will enhance the flavor and give the dough structure.
• Egg – the egg helps to create a softer texture.
• Milk – for a more rich tasting bread use whole milk but you can use whatever kind of milk that you want.
• Active dry yeast – you may also use rapid rise or instant yeast.
• Raisins – you have got to have raisins in cinnamon raisin bread. 🙂 You could add other dried fruits if you like.

Toppings

You will need additional ingredients to go on top of the dough before it is rolled up as well as to go on top of the bread to help give it a nice color.

• White granulated sugar
• Cinnamon – again you need cinnamon for this type of bread, it is all in the name! 🙂 For an even more cinnamon taste add additional cinnamon to the dough.
• Egg Whites – these beaten egg whites will be basted on top of the unbaked loaf right before going into the oven.

Tools

• Wooden spoon
• Fork
• Bowls
• 2 – 4×8″ bread pans
• Canola oil
• Damp cloth
• Basting brush
• Rolling pin

Step 2: Start the yeast

First proof/activate your yeast. Take your milk and heat it up in the microwave for 35 to 45 seconds. You want the temperature to be between 105 and 115 degrees F (40 to 44 C).

Then add your yeast. Next, add about a teaspoon of your sugar to the yeast. Now stir the mixture, then let it sit for 5 to 10 minutes until it gets nice and foamy.

Step 3: Melt butter and add sugar and other ingredients

Now melt your butter, I do it in the microwave for 30 to 40 seconds. Then add it to a large mixing bowl. Next, add your sugar to the butter, and give it a good stir.

After that add the egg, again stirring after. Add the yeast mixture, then stir.

Step 4: Flour, Salt and Raisins

Next, we start to add our flour about a fourth of it at a time. Then stir with a wooden spoon. After about half of the flour has been added, we add our salt. Then add some more flour, then our raisins.

Keep adding flour until we have about a half of a cup to a fourth of a cup left. Save that to add while kneading.

Step 5: Knead the cinnamon raisin bread dough

Next, we take the dough to a clean countertop. Pour out the remaining flour and use it for kneading.

To knead the dough, pull the dough towards you and fold it over, then push down with your palm and push out, stretching the dough a little, then give it a half of a turn and repeat the process. Knead the dough for 8 to 10 minutes.

Step 6: Let the cinnamon raisin bread dough rise

Now take another bowl and add a little bit of canola or vegetable oil to it, then coat the sides with it. Add the dough and move it around in the bowl so it gets a light coating of the oil. This will help it to not dry out.

Place a damp cloth on top, again helping it to not dry out. Let the dough rise for 1 hr to 1.5 hrs. or until doubled. You may also use a dough proofer if you like I use mine all the time and love it! If you want to see a video review of it you can find it here.

Step 7: Divide and roll out bread dough

Once the dough has risen, divide it into equal parts, depending on how many bread-pans you have. This recipe makes one really large loaf, or two medium 4×8 size loaves, or about 4 small bread pan loaves. Add a bit of flour to the counter.

Now we roll out the dough on a lighted floured counter. Then we add our cinnamon and sugar mixture. 2 tablespoons of each. Just shake it on the top, then roll up the dough. Once done rolling, curl the ends down.

Step 8: Let cinnamon raisin bread dough rise then baste and bake

Place the dough, seam side down into the bread pan, cover, and let it rise for another 30 minutes. Now take an egg and separate it from the yolk. Take a fork or whisk and beat the egg white until frothy.

Next, baste the tops of your bread loaves with the egg whites. Then bake it at 375 degrees F for 30 to 40 minutes until it is nice and golden brown on top, and it sounds hollow when you thump it with your finger.

Check them after 25 minutes if they are getting too brown on top you can add a bit of aluminum foil over each loaf as a guard.

Step 9: Enjoy!

You are done! These cinnamon raisin bread loaves make great Holiday gifts, or as a year-round treat! Nothing beats the smell of freshly baked bread…mmm well except maybe sizzling bacon.

Do you like homemade sandwich bread? Check out my favorite white bread recipe click here.

Cinnamon Raisin Bread Video Tutorial

Now watch those steps in action by checking out the video tutorial.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

4.92 from 12 votes

Homemade Cinnamon Raisin Bread

I love homemade bread especially this cinnamon raisin bread. It is perfect to have around the holidays or any time of the year. Slightly sweet with a burst of cinnamon flavor, happiness with every bite. I used to make this bread as a teenager and my mom would sell them for me at her work. It was a great way for me to earn money around the Holidays.

Prep Time25 minutes mins

Cook Time40 minutes mins

Rising Time2 hours hrs

Total Time3 hours hrs 5 minutes mins

Course: Breakfast, Side Dish, Snack

Cuisine: American

Keyword: basic, cinnamon, dough

Servings: 20 slices

Calories: 192kcal

Equipment

• Wooden spoon
• Fork
• Bowls
• 2 – 4×8″ bread pans
• canola oil
• Damp cloth
• baster brush
• rolling pin

Ingredients

Dough

• 4 cups of Bread Flour or all-purpose flour 508 g
• 1/2 cup of butter, melted 113 g
• 1/2 cup of granulated sugar 100 g
• 1/2 tsp of salt 2.8 g
• 1 large egg
• 1 1/2 cup of milk 360 ml
• 2 1/4 active dry yeast 6.4 g
• 1 cup of raisins 150 g

Toppings

• 2 Tbsp of sugar 25 g
• 2 Tbsp of cinnamon 15 g
• 1 egg white

Instructions

• First activate your yeast. Heat up milk in the microwave for 35 to 45 seconds. The temperature should be between 105 and 115 degrees F. Then we add your yeast and a tsp. of sugar. Stir the mixture, then let it set for 5 to 10 minutes until it gets nice and foamy.
• Now melt the butter, I do it in the microwave for 30 to 40 seconds. Then add it to a large mixing bowl.
• Next add the sugar to the butter, and give it a good stir. Then add the egg, again stirring after. Next add the yeast mixture, then stir.
• Now add the flour a little at a time stirring it in. After about adding half of the flour, we add the salt. Then add some more flour, then the raisins. Keep adding flour until you have about a half of a cup to a fourth of a cup left. Save that to add while kneading.
• To knead the dough, pull the dough towards you and fold it over, then push down and out with your palm stretching the dough slightly, then give it a half of a turn and repeat the process. Knead the dough for 8 to 10 minutes.
• Add the dough to another bowl which has been coated with oil or kitchen spray. Cover it and let it rise for 1 to 1.5 hours or until doubled.
• Once the dough has risen, divide it into equal parts, depending on how many bread pans you have. This recipe makes one really large loaf, or two medium 4×8 size loafs, or about 4 small bread pan loafs. Add a bit of flour to the counter.
• Now roll out the dough on a lightly floured counter. Then add the cinnamon and sugar mixture. 2 tablespoons of each. Just shake it on the top, then roll up the dough. Once done rolling, curl the ends down and place the loafs into the bread pans. Cover and let rise for another 30 minutes.
• After the dough has risen a second time take an egg and separate it from the yolk. Take a fork or whisk and beat the egg white until frothy. Next baste the tops of your loafs with the egg whites. Then bake it at 375 Degrees F for 30 to 40 minutes until it is nice and golden brown on top, and it sounds hollow when you thump it with your finger. Check them after 25 minutes, if they are getting to brown add aluminum foil over the tops. Let the loafs cool and enjoy! 🙂

Notes

Note this is based on 20 total slices 10 slices per medium loaf. 

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Nutrition

Calories: 192kcal

Do you like the recipe? Please give it a rating and comment down below, I really appreciate it. 🙂 If you make it tag me on Instagram @inthekitchenwithmatt. Also, sign up for the newsletter so you won’t miss out on any of my new posts and recipes.

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