Cinnamon Raisin Swirl Bread

Cinnamon Raisin Swirl Bread

(Makes 2 Loaves)

If you want a loaf of truly excellent white bread, you’re probably going to have to bake it yourself. Happily it is one of the most forgiving, straightforward breads to make at home. 

Ingredients

For the dough:

2 1/4 teaspoons active dry yeast 

1 1/2 cups lukewarm milk

1/3 cup sugar

1 tablespoon kosher salt

3 tablespoons butter, melted, more for greasing bowl and pans

2 eggs

5 to 6 cups all-purpose flour

For the filling:

1/3 cup dry sherry or apple cider

1 1/2 cups raisins

4 tablespoons butter, melted

1/2 cup dark brown sugar

1 tablespoon cinnamon

Cinnamon sugar, for dusting(optional)

Method

Make the dough: In a large electric mixer bowl, dissolve yeast in 1/4 cup warm milk. Add the remaining warm milk, the sugar, the salt, the butter and the eggs. Add 5 cups flour and mix with paddle attachment until smooth, about 2 minutes. Switch to hook attachment and knead on low speed, adding more flour if necessary until dough is stiff and slightly tacky, about 10 minutes.

Grease a large bowl with butter and turn dough out into the bowl. Flip dough over so greased side is up, cover with plastic wrap or a kitchen towel and set in a warm, draft-free spot until doubled in size, about 1 1/2 to 2 hours. Generously butter two 9-by-5 loaf pans.

Meanwhile, make the filling: In a small pot, bring sherry to a low boil and simmer until reduced by half, about 8 to 10 minutes. Add raisins, cover and let sit until needed for filling.

When dough has doubled in size, turn dough out onto floured surface and knead for 3 minutes. Return to greased bowl, cover and let rise again for 30 minutes.

Press dough with your hand to expel the air. Divide in half and roll one half into a 40-by-20cm rectangle. Brush with some of the melted butter. Drain raisins and mix with sugar and cinnamon; scatter half the mixture over dough and, starting with the shorter side, roll up tightly into an 20cm log, tucking the ends under. Place roll seam-side down in a loaf pan and brush top with melted butter; dust with cinnamon sugar if desired. Repeat with second dough half.

Cover and let rise until dough is just above the tops of pans, 45 minutes to 1 hour.

Meanwhile, heat oven to 200 degrees. Bake bread for 10 minutes, then reduce heat to 180 degrees and bake for an additional 20 to 30 minutes, or until loaves sound hollow when tapped, the tops are brown and the internal temperatures are 90 degrees. 

Remove loaves from pans and let cool on wire racks.

The New York Times