I have a love-hate relationship with bread.  Sometimes there is nothing more relaxing than making bread.  Then there are other times when nothing goes right and it ruins your entire day.  Yeasted breads can be quite temperamental and fickle:  If the water is too hot, it’ll kill the yeast.  If the room is too cold, the dough won’t rise.  If you overwork the dough, it becomes too tough and way too elastic.

Its no wonder many people are deathly afraid of working with yeast.  I was too, until I bought myself a kitchen thermometer.  It makes a world of difference.  Plus, watching America’s Test Kitchen on PBS and reading Cook’s Illustrated magazine gives you a better understand of how yeast in bread dough works.

I hate buying bread at the market.  I’m one of those people that dig back in the shelf looking for the loaf with the latest “best by” or “expiration date”.  This bread is quite similar to Sun Maid Raisin Bread, but better, because its fresh and made without preservatives.

The dough for bread is fairly easy to make.  However, I have to admit, this was the most time consuming cinnamon raisin bread I’ve ever encountered.  After the third hour of proofing and resting the dough, I was beginning to lose hope and wonder if I’ll ever finish.

This is a fantastic bread to make when you have plenty of time on your hands, like a lazy Sunday morning.  Or in my case, this lovely day I have off.  It’s well worth the time and effort.  There is nothing quite as rewarding as the satisfaction of making your own bread.

You get two loaves of delicious aromatic cinnamon bread with this recipe. Be sure to slice your bread with a serrated knife to keep from crushing the loaf.  Bread should be cut at room temperature with a gentle sawing motion.

I love eating toasted cinnamon raisin bread with a slather of peanut butter, some slices of banana and a drizzle of honey.  But just think about all the other things you can make with this bread– cinnamon raisin french toast, rum raisin bread pudding, or even an ice cream sandwich!

Braided Cinnamon Raisin Bread, adapted from Cook’s Illustrated March/April 2012
makes 2 loafs

Ingredients
Dough


1 Tbsp + 1 tsp active dry yeast

1 1/2 cups ( 12 oz) warm water, about 95-110 degrees F

1/8 tsp granulated sugar

1/2 cup (8 Tbsp) unsalted butter, room temperature

3 3/4 cup (20 2/3 oz) bread flour

3/4 cup (2 3/4 oz) nonfat dry milk powder

1/3 cup (2 1/3 oz) granulated sugar

1 large egg, room temp and lightly beaten

1 1/2 tsp salt

1 1/2 cups (7 1/2 oz) raisins

Filling


1 cup (4 oz) confectioners’ sugar

3 rounded Tablespoons ground cinnamon

1 tsp vanilla extract

1/2 tsp salt

Egg wash


1 large egg, room temp and lightly beaten

pinch of salt

1 tsp water

Method


1.  In a small bowl, combine active dry yeast, warm water and 1/8 tsp of sugar.  Mix together and let stand for 5-10 minutes until yeast has dissolved and mixture looks creamy.

2.  Cut butter into 32 pieces and toss with 1 tablespoon of flour.  Set aside.

3.  In the bowl of stand mixer fitted with a hook attachment, whisk together flour, milk powder, and sugar.  Add yeast solution and egg.  Min on medium low speed for about 2-4 minutes until dough forms into a cohesive mass.  Cover bowl with plastic wrap and let sit for 20 minutes.

4.  Place a cake pan on the bottom rack of the oven.  Boil 4 cups of water.

5.  Remove plastic wrap from bowl.  Add salt and continue to mix on medium low speed until dough is smooth and elastic.  It should also clear sides of the bowl.  With the mixer running, add the butter, a couple pieces at a time.  Continue to knead until butter is fully incorporated and dough is smooth and clears the sides of the bowl.  Add raisins and mix until distributed.  Transfer dough to a large, lightly greased bowl.  Fold dough over itself by lifting and folding edge of dough toward the center.  Turn bowl 90 degrees and fold again.  Continue to turn bowl and fold dough for a total of 8 times.  Cover bowl tightly with plastic wrap and place in the middle of the oven.

6.  Pour the boiling water into the cake pan in the oven.  Close door.  Keep door closed for 45 minutes to allow dough to rise.  You’ll be tempted to open the door to peek at the dough, but please keep it closed!  Turn on the oven light to have a look inside.  You want to keep as much steam inside the oven.

7.  Remove dough from oven and punch dough down.  Repeat the 8 folds from step 5.  Cover bowl and return to oven until dough has doubled in volume.  This should take 30-45 minutes.

8. Meanwhile, make the filling.  In a medium bowl, whisk together confectioners’ sugar, cinnamon, vanilla, and salt.  Set aside.

9. Grease two 9”x5” loft pans.  Transfer dough to a lightly floured surface and divide dough into two equal pieces.  Working with one piece of dough, roll out dough to 7”x18” rectangle with an even 1/4 inch thickness.  Using a spray bottle, spray the dough lightly with water.  Sprinkle half of the filling mixture over the dough, leaving a 1/4 inch border along the sides.  Spray filling lightly with water.