Raisin Bread for Raisin Lovers

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The Raisin Bread for Raisin Lovers is chewy and has a hearty outer crust with a dense, soft, and moist interior. It’s excellent toasted with butter and sprinkling of cinnamon-sugar.

Raisin Bread

I know there are people who don’t like raisins. I happen to think that’s crazy.

But that just means more raisins for those of us who do.

This bread is for raisin lovers and for those of us who can appreciate the sweet, wrinkly, dried fruit. I said I wasn’t going to make bread from scratch in Aruba because I don’t have a stand mixer here, it’s humid here and damp air and bread dough aren’t friends, and because well, bread takes time and effort. But I was going through a hardcore case of yeast withdrawals after making four bread recipes in November and just had to make bread.

I missed the yeasty smell of bread dough, the feeling of warm soft dough in my hands, and the satisfaction that comes from turning out a homemade loaf. Most of all, I missed the taste of homemade bread so I got to work.

Raisin Bread

To make the bread, combine half a stick of melted and slightly cooled butter, warmed milk, a beaten egg, a tiny bit of sugar, cinnamon, and optional salt with one packet of instant dry yeast and two cups of bread flour in one big bowl.

The milk can be warmed in a heat-safe glass measuring cup or small bowl in the microwave for about 30 to 45 seconds. I aim for 125F because I use Platinum Red Star Yeast. I brought some with me in my suitcase because I strongly believe in the results and had a feeling I’d want to make bread and came prepared. Milk for most other instant dry yeast should likely be in the 95 to 105F range, but always reference the packaging recommendations.

Mix everything together with a spoon or just get in there with your hands for the fun known as hand-kneading. No stand mixer, no dough hooks, no bread machines, just elbow grease. You don’t need the gym if you knead your own dough. It’s a workout, but a much more enjoyable one than the lat pulldown machine.

Raisin Bread

Knead the dough for five to eight minutes or until it combines into a soft, smooth, supple ball. If you’re a turbo-kneader, five minutes will probably do the trick, but I’m not. I’m a little pokey, and it took about eight minutes before I called it a day.

When kneading, add up to one-third of a cup of additional flour, for 2 and 1/3 cups total (12 ounces by weight), in order for the dough to become smooth. Add only as much flour as necessary because the more flour that’s added, the denser the dough and finished loaf becomes. Generally with bread-making, the least amount of flour you can get away with adding, the better.

I used bread flour rather than all-purpose because the slightly higher gluten content provides extra structural integrity and the dough will rise better and be more forgiving in case my kneading wasn’t prefect.

Shape the dough into a ball, place it back into the mixing bowl, cover with plasticwrap, and allow it to rise in a warm and draft-free place until doubled in size, about two to three hours. Rising times are variable and will, among other things, depend on room temperature. I went to the pool while the dough was rising and came back two and a half hours later and it had puffed nicely.

Raisin Bread

  Punch the dough down, turn it out onto the counter, sprinkle one cup raisins on top of it, and knead them in. Knead for about two minutes and the raisins will try to sneak out, but just poke them back in. Flatten and stretch the dough into a large rectangle about 8-by-12-inches; no rolling pin necessary. Starting with a short side, roll up the dough into a log, place it seam side down into a sprayed 9-by-5-inch loaf pan, and allow it to rise until almost doubled in size. I went for a run, took a shower, and about two hours later, it had almost doubled in size.

I baked the bread for 26 minutes at 375F but my oven runs hot and it’s uneven. Baking times will vary, but anywhere from 25 to 35 minutes are my estimates. When the bread is done, it’ll  be golden on top and when removed from the loaf pan, and tapped sharply on the top and bottom, it should sound hollow. As tempting as it is to cut into bread when it’s still warm, don’t. Bread isn’t considered done until it’s fully cooled because the carryover heat continues to cook the bread while it’s cooling on a rack so just be patient. Easier said than done with the intoxicating smell of freshly baked bread and sweet raisins perfuming your house.

Raisin Bread

The bread is hearty and chewy, with a thicker outer crust that peels away to reveal a softer and very moist interior. The raisins and their moisture serve to tenderize the soft and dense crumb. The bread is excellent toasted and I like it with plenty of butter and a sprinkle of cinnamon-sugar.

There’s raisins, and plenty of them, in every bite. There’s nothing worse than raisin bread with like five raisins in the whole slice, which isn’t a problem here. Calling all raisin lovers, this bread is for you.

Raisin Bread

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4.67 from 12 votes

Raisin Bread for Raisin Lovers

By Averie Sunshine
Calling all Raisin Lovers, this bread is for you. There's nothing worse than raisin bread that is skimpy on the raisins and this version is anything but and is chock full of raisins in every bite. The bread is chewy and has a hearty outer crust with a dense, soft, and moist interior. It's excellent toasted with butter and sprinkling of cinnamon-sugar. Bread can be made entirely by hand, no stand mixer required. Time investment is approximately 5 hours from start to finish, with very little active work time. This includes 10 minutes to make the dough, 2 to 3 hours for first rise, 2 hours for second rise, and 30 minutes to bake.
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Inactive Time: 4 hours 20 minutes
Total Time: 5 hours
Servings: 12
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Ingredients  

  • 1 large egg, lightly beaten
  • cup milk, 5 ounces, warmed to 95 to 125F (see instructions below)
  • ¼ cup unsalted butter, melted and cooled slightly (half of one stick)
  • 2 ¼ teaspoons one one-ounce packet instant dry yeast (I use Red Star Platinum
  • 2 teaspoons granulated sugar
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • ½ teaspoon salt, optional and to taste
  • 2 cups + up to 1/3 cup bread flour, 12 ounces
  • 1 heaping cup raisins

Instructions 

  • In a large mixing bowl, beat the egg; set aside. In a microwave-safe measuring cup or bowl, warm the milk to temperature, about 30 to 45 seconds. Based on the type of yeast used, temperatures will vary. Red Star Platinum yeast calls for warmer temperatures than most, 120 to 130F; other brands and yeast call for much lower temperatures, about 95 to 105F. Warm the milk according to the yeast manufacturer's recommendations on the packaging. Taking the temperature with a digital thermometer is recommended, but if you're not, make sure the milk is warm, not hot. Err on the cooler rather than hotter side so you don't kill the yeast. Add warmed milk to the egg.
  • Add melted butter, yeast, sugar, cinnamon, optional salt, and stir to combine. Add 2 cups bread flour and using a spoon and then your hands, form the dough. Turn dough out onto a floured work-surface or Silpat Non-Stick Baking Mat and knead for 5 to 8 minutes, or until smooth and supple. Kneading may be done in a stand mixer using the dough hook attachment (knead for 5 to 8 minutes), but I kneaded by hand. If necessary, add up to one-third cup additional flour, for 2 and 1/3 cups total (12 ounces total by weight), in order for the dough to combine and become smooth. The more flour that’s added, the denser and heavier the bread will be; so add it only as necessary.
  • Mound the dough into a ball. Spray mixing bowl (the same one used to make the dough is fine) with cooking spray or lightly grease it, and place dough into bowl.Cover bowl with plasticwarp and place in a warm, draft-free place until doubled in size, about two to three hours. Punch dough down, remove it from bowl, and place on Silpat or floured work surface. Sprinkle raisins over the dough and knead them in, for about 2 to 3 minutes. Raisins may have a tendency to come out of dough but just poke them back in.
  • Flatten the dough into a large rectangle, about 8-inches-by-12-inches. I used my hands and just stretched it and finger-massaged it into the rectangle shape, but use a rolling pin if preferred. Starting with a short side, roll dough up into a log. Pinch off ends and place dough log into a sprayed or greased 9-by-5-inch loaf pan, seam side down. Cover pan with plasticwarp and place in a warm, draft-free place until almost doubled in size, about two hours.
  • In the final minutes of the second rise, preheat oven to 375F. Bake for 25 to 35 minutes, or until golden on top. When bread is removed from loaf pan and tapped sharply on the top and bottom, it should sound hollow. Place bread on a wire rack to finish cooling completely before slicing and serving. I wrap bread in plasticwrap, then place it in a large ziptop plastic food storage bag, where it stays fresh for about 5 days. Bread freezes very well and can be made from start to finish, cooled, and placed in a freezer-safe airtight container or a ziplock for up to 3 months. I prefer this bread toasted and with butter and a sprinkle of cinnamon-sugar or Cinnamon-Sugar Butter

Nutrition

Serving: 1, Calories: 105kcal, Carbohydrates: 15g, Protein: 2g, Fat: 5g, Saturated Fat: 3g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g, Cholesterol: 27mg, Sodium: 104mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 8g

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

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Do you like raisins?

 Feel free to link your favorite raisin recipes or any great bread recipes you have.

About the Author

Welcome to AverieCooks! Here you’ll find fast and easy recipes that taste amazing and are geared for real life. Nothing fussy or complicated, just awesome tasting dishes everyone loves!

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Please note: I have only made the recipe as written, and cannot give advice or predict what will happen if you change something. If you have a question regarding changing, altering, or making substitutions to the recipe, please check out the FAQ page for more info.

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Comments

  1. I imagine toasting this and making buttering a slice up with some nice cinnamon honey butter. Yummo!

  2. I happen to love raisins, and this is totally calling to me. I have been craving to bake some bread but haven’t found the time (or energy!) with the new little guy. But now, after seeing this, that is going to have to change!!

  3. Holy perfect raisin bread! I am in love with the 4th photo! I could seriously lick the screen there, thank you very much! I have wonderful memories of toasted raisin bread with butter melting on it for an evening snack and sometimes breakfast, too. We would toast like 6 pieces each and spread the butter on liberally. Oh man…so good! I think it is simply awesome that you made homemade bread while you are on vacation due to yeast bread withdrawl! When you have had the best, the best is what satisfies! I can’t wait to make this. YUM! :-)

  4. This looks incredible, Averie! I’m definitely a raisin fan, my mom and I just tried this awesome raisin sourdough bread today. Whenever I bake bread I rarely use my stand mixer, I guess I just enjoy doing all the work on my own! I agree, more entertaining than lat pull downs, ha.

    1. That’s too funny you had raisin sourdough! And yes, hand-kneading sure beats the lat pulldown machine :)

  5. I am weird and have a love.hate relationship with raisins, and right now I am LOVING the idea of this raisin-overload bread! It looks like it’d be amazzzzzing with some honey butter shmeared all over each toasted piece :)

    1. You went into my spam folder…weird! You’re out now :)

      And yes it’s total raisin OVERLOAD. And honey butter overload makes it even better :)

  6. Yes the more raisins the better! Raisin bread always takes me back to when I was young, eating it with my Granny I have to admit that I slice bread when it’s still a little warm. There’s nothing quite like warm homemade bread fresh from the oven.

    1. I actually just wrote that as a disclaimer about the warm bread & slicing. I don’t actually always follow my own advice :)

  7. Really? Are there people who don’t like raisins? Not me, I actually love any dried fruits, especially without sugar added. That’s most of the time what we have as a snack plus nuts. I keep a few bowls of dried fruits and a bowl of nut (usually walnuts) on the counter and refill it almost daily. The hardest part is to find unsweetened raisins and other dried fruits. I often have my tea with a handful of raisins or dried apricots (TJ’s has the best selection). I just don’t get it why do they add sugar to dried fruits? I think it spoils it’s flavor…

    1. I don’t know if sugar is always added to dried fruit (I know yes it sometimes is) but sometimes in removing the water, the sugars that are naturally in the fruit become concentrated and intensified. This happens to me when I dehydrate bananas. They turn into candy :) Which is awesome for me!

  8. Doh! I literally just walked in the door from the store, where I purchased, yes, you got it…raisin bread!

    This is a message to me. Make it myself.

    1. Well if you get around to it, this is an easy one to make and it will save you $$ STorebought tends to be so pricey for even just a small loaf of raisin bread!

  9. I’m not big big big on raisins, but heaaaaaavens to my FACE I would eat all of that. I hope you had a very Merry Christmas, Averie!

  10. Do I like raisins??? That’s like asking me if I like cookies. Or running. :) Raisins seem to jump into more things I bake than chocolate chips do. I LOVE them. Ants on a log – cream cheese, raisins, and celery is still one of my favorite snacks. :) Averie, I’m so glad you went through some yeast withdrawal in Aruba. Gosh knows that I can relate to you! I baked yeasted rolls the second I returned to Maryland from my holiday trip home. And what a bread to make!! It’s beautiful and I love raisins in my bread, bagels, and english muffins. It looks os soft, doughy (in a good way), and fluffy. And the shots are beautiful – I know you stress about some Aruba shots but what you did here – it worked. Love the overhead shot 3rd down from the top. mmm… bread. :)

    1. I have never made ant on a log with cream cheese – only with PB! What am I thinking! Although I love PB the cream cheese sounds perfect for a rainy day and variety!

      And I was in such withdrawals for bread-making and now I know you can relate – too funny you got to work right when you came home from your trip!

      And the photos – girl. It.was.an.ordeal. The lighting here is just so iffy and it changes and goes from shadows to blinding bright to nothing to glare and it’s not a pretty blue light; it’s a golden light and it doesnt work and gah! such drama. Every shoot is a gamble! So thanks for saying that :) FG took it…straight to page 2.

  11. Way to get to work without a mixer! This bread looks lovingly handmade and I feel like I can smell its yeasty goodness through the computer screen!

  12. you got this raisin lovers attention! That bread looks delicious. Raisin bread, coffee, and the morning paper. I think I know how I’m going to spend tomorrow morning!

    1. Okay well if you try it, please LMK how it goes! Will be interesting to see if someone is a vastly!! different climate than Aruba has similar results (and I grew up in rural MN so I know what you’re going thru this time of year!)