Classic Raisin Bread Recipes

RAISIN BREAD PUDDING

Steps:

• Place bread cubes in a greased 3-qt. slow cooker. In a large bowl, beat eggs and milk; stir in the sugar, butter, raisins and cinnamon. Pour over bread; stir. , Cover and cook on high for 1 hour. Reduce heat to low; cook for 3-4 hours or until a thermometer reads 160°., For sauce, melt butter in a small saucepan. Stir in flour until smooth. Gradually add water, sugar and vanilla. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened. Serve with warm bread pudding.

CINNAMON RAISIN BREAD I

Steps:

• Warm the milk in a small saucepan until it bubbles, then remove from heat. Let cool until lukewarm.
• Dissolve yeast in warm water, and set aside until yeast is frothy. Mix in eggs, sugar, butter or margarine, salt, and raisins. Stir in cooled milk. Add the flour gradually to make a stiff dough.
• Knead dough on a lightly floured surface for a few minutes. Place in a large, greased, mixing bowl, and turn to grease the surface of the dough. Cover with a damp cloth. Allow to rise until doubled.
• Roll out on a lightly floured surface into a large rectangle 1/2 inch thick. Moisten dough with 2 tablespoons milk. Mix together 3/4 cup sugar and 2 tablespoons cinnamon, and sprinkle mixture on top of the moistened dough. Roll up tightly; the roll should be about 3 inches in diameter. Cut into thirds, and tuck under ends. Place loaves into well greased 9 x 5 inch pans. Lightly grease tops of loaves. Let rise again for 1 hour.
• Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 45 minutes, or until loaves are lightly browned and sound hollow when knocked. Remove loaves from pans, and brush with melted butter or margarine. Let cool before slicing.

RAISIN BREAD I

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease one 9x5x3 inch loaf pan.
• In large bowl measure flour, sugar, baking powder, soda, salt, cinnamon, and raisins. Stir thoroughly. Make a well in center.
• In small bowl beat egg until frothy. Mix in melted butter and milk. Pour into well. Stir just enough to moisten. Scrape into greased 9x5x3 inch loaf pan.
• Bake in 350 degree F (175 degree C) oven for 1 hour. Serve plain or toasted with butter.

OLD-FASHIONED RAISIN BREAD

Steps:

• Assemble and measure out all ingredients before beginning.
• In medium-sized saucepan, over medium-high heat, bring milk to the scalding point (180°F), stirring frequently to prevent milk from scorching. Do not boil the milk. Remove from heat and stir in the warm water, molasses, brown sugar, butter, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Stir until sugar has dissolved and butter has melted. Let mixture cool to about 110°F then whisk in the lightly beaten egg.
• While the milk mixture is cooling, place ½ cup warm water (110°F) in large 2-cup measuring cup or bowl. Stir 1 tsp sugar into the warm water until sugar is dissolved. Sprinkle yeast over the water and quickly, but gently, stir in the yeast. Let yeast stand, undisturbed with no stirring, for about 10-12 minutes, or until yeast is foamy and bubbly. Stir down yeast.
• In bowl of stand mixer fitted with dough hook, combine the liquid ingredients with the yeast along with 2 cups of the flour gradually added, one cup at a time. Beat on slow speed to blend ingredients then increase speed to medium (e.g., the "6" setting on KitchenAid Classic mixer) and beat for 1 minute. Scrape the bowl to ensure all ingredients are incorporated. Add the raisins. Again, with mixer on slow speed, gradually add 2 more cups of flour, about a cup at a time. Increase speed to medium and beat mixture for 1 minute. Transfer mixture to a lightly floured surface, using some of the remaining flour to flour the work surface. With hands greased with a small amount of vegetable oil, begin kneading the dough by hand, continuing to add more of the flour called for in the recipe until the dough is smooth, elastic, and pliable, about 8-10 minutes. Periodically re-grease hands with the oil as necessary to prevent them from sticking to the dough. (Note: If you have a very large mixer, the dough could be completely kneaded by mixer; however, if you have a standard-sized stand mixer, it will be difficult to get the dough perfectly kneaded by mixer with the quantity of flour called for in this recipe).
• Grease a bowl large enough to allow the dough to double in size. Grease all sides of dough with vegetable oil to prevent it from drying out and transfer dough to prepared bowl. Cover the top of the bowl loosely with plastic wrap that has been sprayed with cooking oil. Cover bowl completely with a towel or lightweight blanket and place in warm, draft-free location to rise until dough doubles in size, about 1¼ - 1¾ hours.
• Prepare two 9"x5"x3" loaf pans by greasing all sides of pans.
• Using vegetable oil, grease the work surface. Punch down dough in bowl with fist and turn dough out onto greased surface. Divide dough into two equal portions.
• Shape each portion of dough into an oval loaf shape and place in prepared pans.
• Cover loaves loosely with a tea towel and place in warm, draft-free location to rise again for between 45 and 60 minutes.
• About 20 minutes before bread is expected to be ready to be baked, preheat oven to 350°F. Transfer bread to oven and bake for 30-35 minutes, or until bread is nicely browned on top and loaves sound hollow when tapped. Immediately transfer bread from pans to wire racks to cool. If desired, gently grease tops of the hot bread with butter. Cool bread completely before cutting and serving.

BASIC HOMEMADE BREAD

Steps:

• In a large bowl, dissolve yeast and 1/2 teaspoon sugar in warm water; let stand until bubbles form on surface. Whisk together remaining 3 tablespoons sugar, salt and 3 cups flour. Stir oil into yeast mixture; pour into flour mixture and beat until smooth. Stir in enough remaining flour, 1/2 cup at a time, to form a soft dough. , Turn onto a floured surface; knead until smooth and elastic, 8-10 minutes. Place in a greased bowl, turning once to grease the top. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, 1-1/2 to 2 hours., Punch dough down. Turn onto a lightly floured surface; divide dough in half. Shape each into a loaf. Place in 2 greased 9x5-in. loaf pans. Cover and let rise until doubled, 1 to 1-1/2 hours., Bake at 375° until golden brown and bread sounds hollow when tapped or has reached an internal temperature of 200°, 30-35 minutes. Remove from pans to wire racks to cool.

CLASSIC RAISIN BREAD

Steps:

• Scald the milk: Heat the milk in a small saucepan on the stove-top until it reaches 181F. (If you don't have a thermometer, this will be when the milk starts to steam and small bubbles form around the edges. Pour milk back into the measuring cup and let stand until cooled to lukewarm or about 105F.
• **If using active dry yeast, add the yeast to the lukewarm milk. Stir in and let stand 5 minutes.
• In a large bowl or the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the kneading hook, add 2 cups of the flour, the instant yeast, the white sugar and salt. Mix briefly to combine.
• Plump the raisins: Add the raisins to a small bowl. Cover them with very hot water and let stand until needed.
• To the flour mixture, add the lukewarm milk (or milk/yeast mixture if you used active dry yeast). Add the melted butter (*be sure it is cooled so it doesn't cook the egg you will be adding next :). Add the egg. Knead to combine well. Start adding more flour, in small increments, until the dough wraps around the hook and cleans the bowl.
• Drain the raisins and toss in a little flour. Add to the dough in the mixer or bowl and mix to combine. Add a bit more flour, if needed.
• Grease an 8x4-inch loaf pan and set aside.
• Remove the dough to a floured surface and knead briefly (1-2 minutes), until smooth. Form into a ball.
• Place dough into a greased bowl, cover and let rise until doubled, about 1 hour.
• Remove dough to a lightly floured surface and pat into a rectangle about 9 inches long and 5 inches wide. Bring the edges along the long side in towards the centre and pinch together. Flip the loaf over. Push any exposed raisins back into the dough, so they don't burn. Place into prepared loaf pan. Cover and let rise until doubled, about 45 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 350F.
• When loaf is ready, bake in preheated oven for about 35 minutes or until it reaches an internal temperature of 190F. **Check loaf after 25 minutes of baking. If it is dark enough, lay a sheet of aluminum foil over-top to prevent further browning. Continue baking until done.
• Remove from oven and immediately remove from the loaf pan to a cooling rack. While the loaf is still hot, mix up the sugar/water glaze and brush the top of the loaf. Allow to cool before slicing.

CLASSIC BREAD PUDDING

Steps:

• Butter a 9-by-13-inch baking dish; set aside. Put bread in a large bowl; set aside. Heat milk and cream in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat until just about to simmer; remove from heat.
• Whisk eggs, yolk, sugar, salt, vanilla, cinnamon, and nutmeg in a medium bowl. Whisking constantly, pour cream mixture in a slow, steady stream into egg mixture. Pour over bread; fold to combine. Let stand 30 minutes, tossing and pressing occasionally to submerge bread.
• Meanwhile, soak raisins in 1 cup boiling water for 30 minutes.
• Drain; stir raisins into bread mixture. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. With a slotted spoon, transfer bread to buttered dish; pour liquid in bowl over top. Using spoon, turn top layer of bread crust side up.
• Set dish in a roasting pan; transfer to oven. Pour boiling water into pan to reach about halfway up sides of dish. Bake until golden brown, about 50 minutes. Let dish cool on a rack 10 to 20 minutes.

CLASSIC CRANBERRY NUT BREAD

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350ºF. Grease a 9 x 5-inch loaf pan.

CLASSIC MOIST DATE NUT BREAD

Steps:

• Gather the ingredients.
• Heat the oven to 350 F. Grease a 9 x 5 x 3-inch loaf pan.
• In a medium bowl, pour the boiling water over the chopped dates. Add the butter and set aside.
• In a large bowl, beat the sugar, brown sugar, and egg with a mixer until light.
• In a separate bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, and salt.
• Add the flour mixture to the sugar mixture, alternating with the date and water mixture.
• Stir in the chopped nuts with a spoon.
• Pour into the loaf pan.
• Bake in the preheated oven for 45 to 55 minutes, or until a wooden pick inserted in the center comes out clean.

EASY NO KNEAD CINNAMON ARTISAN BREAD

Steps:

• Add the flours, raisins, yeast, salt, cinnamon, and brown sugar to a large bowl. Be sure to add the yeast and the salt to separate sides of the bowl.
• Stir the dry ingredients together well.
• Add the water and stir until a thick, rough dough forms. Add 1-2 more tablespoons of water or flour if needed.
• Flour your hands and shape the dough into a ball, placing it into the bottom of the bowl and covering the bowl with plastic wrap.
• Place in a warm spot in your kitchen and let rise for 12-18 hours. When I make this bread, I prepare the dough in the evening and bake the next morning. For quick rise instructions, see the Recipe Notes below.
• After the rising time, preheat your oven to 450 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Place an oven-safe Dutch Oven pot in the cold oven and let it preheat with the oven.
• Flour your hands well and shape the dough into a round ball and set it on a piece of parchment paper on the counter dusted with flour.
• Dust the top of the dough ball with flour and cover with a clean kitchen towel, letting it rise for 25 minutes.
• After the dough has risen remove the Dutch Oven pot from the oven and using the parchment paper, pick up the dough and place it carefully in the bottom of the Dutch Oven. Make two very shallow slices in the top of the risen loaf in the shape of an X.
• Replace the lid of the Dutch Oven, place it back into the hot oven, and bake for 30 minutes.
• After 30 minutes of baking time, remove the lid from the Dutch Oven and continue baking for an additional 10 minutes uncovered.
• After the baking time, remove the pot from the oven and transfer the loaf to a cooling rack using the parchment paper.
• Cool completely before slicing.

CINNAMON RAISIN BREAD

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Prepare a 9x5 loaf pan with a non-stick baking spray. PRO TIP: Line the bottom with parchment paper and spray the paper for easier removal.
• Add the raisins and vanilla extract to a small bowl. Fill with boiling water with 1/2 inch of water over the top of the raisins. Soak the raisins for 15 minutes, then drain them and set them on a towel to dry.
• In another small bowl, mix together the light brown sugar and cinnamon. Take a spoonful of the brown sugar mixture and stir it together with the raisins. Set aside. The rest of the sugar mixture will be used in the bread.
• In a medium sized bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Set aside.
• In a large bowl (or bowl of a standing mixer), beat together the sugar and butter until it's light and fluffy.
• Add in the egg and mix again, just until combined.
• Slowly add in the flour mixture, alternating with the milk, and mix just until everything is combined, do not over mix.
• Fold in the raisins.
• Spread half of the batter along the bottom of the prepared loaf pan. Sprinkle half of the brown sugar mixture on top of the batter.
• Spoon the remaining batter on top and spread to the edge. Sprinkle the remaining brown sugar mixture all over the top.
• Bake for 60 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.
• Cool for 10 minutes before moving the bread to a cooling rack. Cool for about an hour before icing and cutting.

RAISIN BREAD ROLLS

Steps:

• Proof the yeast by dissolving the yeast, and the two teaspoons of sugar in the warm milk stir well and set aside for about 5 minutes.
• In another large bowl, combine the flour, salt, Cinnamon, and sugar. Make a well at the center and add the proofed yeast, eggs, melted butter, and raisins. Mix until a soft and sticky dough is formed.
• Cover the dough and leave to rest for 15 minutes
• Transfer the dough to a lightly floured surface and knead for about 5 minutes until a soft, smooth, and elastic dough is formed.
• Divide the dough into twelve pieces. Use your fingers to flatten it out and roll it up tightly (as you would roll up a mat and place the rolls on a parchment-lined baking tray.
• Cover the rolls with a clean kitchen towel and leave them to rise in a warm place for 1 hr to 1 hr 15 minutes till doubled in size.
• To make the egg wash, crack one egg, and whisk with a tablespoon of water.
• Brush the bread rolls with the egg wash and place in a preheated oven, and bake at 350F for 15 to 20 minutes or till golden brown.

TRADITIONAL NEWFOUNDLAND SWEET MOLASSES RAISIN BREAD

Steps:

• Prep time: 10 minutes, mixing time: 10 minutes, rising time: 2 x 1/2 hour, baking time 30 minutes Method: 1 - Combine in large bowl: 8 cups flour, 1/2 cup brown sugar, sea salt, raisins, cinnamon and ground cloves, mix together. 2 - In another bowl, add dry fast rising or traditional yeast with 1 cup warm water and 1/2 tbsp white sugar, let rise for a five minutes. 3 - In another bowl add 1 cup of warm water and 3/4 cup molasses mix together, then melt 1/4 cup butter in a glass bowl. 4 - When yeast is ready pour over flour mixture in bowl then start adding the warm water, butter, molasses and vanilla mixing all ingredients together with a spoon or kitchen aid until it thickens then keep adding flour to work dough together, add more water if need at this stage ONLY" this will be done with your hand. 5 - Knead dough, add more flour if necessary until dough is smooth , elastic and no longer sticky and you can hear cracking sounds of the dough when folding dough inward, keep working dough into a ball. 6 - When completed sprinkle some flour over the top. I always draw the sign of a cross a few times on top then cut the top of the dough like a cross then cover with parchment paper and big towel. "Crossing your bread is optional". 7 - Let rise in a warm place on your counter top until dough rises for 30 minutes then knead it down for a couple of minutes. 8 - Repeat this step letting the dough rise again for another 30 minutes. 9 - After your dough rises " DON'T DEFLATE DOUGH" and cut in pieces forming it inwards into a ball, placing dough in bread pans, place three buns in each pan. 10 - Makes 3 loafs of bread keep covered and in a warm place until bread rises half the size you started with or just 30 minutes. Pre-heat oven at 350 degrees F, bake bread for 30 to 40 minutes or until golden brown or depending on your oven, when bread is baked take out of your pans and place them out on a cooling rack. BAKING TIPS: Sweet bread don't rise the same as white bread and it's a little heavier but ever so good. Grease bread with butter then cover with parchment paper and towel to soften tops. Don't deflate the dough on its last rising because you need the air to stay in dough when folding them into balls. Sweet Molasses & Raisin Bread (One Loaf only) Recipe: Ingredients: 2 3/4 Cups White or Wheat flour. 1 1/2 Tsp yeast 1 1/2 Tsp melted butter, or Margarine Pinch Sea salt 1/4 Cup Brown Sugar 1 Cup warm water. 1/4 Cup molasses and pinch oil in bowl 1/4 Tsp vanilla 1 Tsp cinnamon 1/4 Tsp Ground Cloves 1/2 cup raisins ( more if liked ) 1/2 Tsp White Sugar Method: 1 - Combine in large bowl: 2 1/2 cups flour, brown sugar and salt and raisins, cinnamon, cloves,salt toss together. ( keep 1/4 cup flour to work the dough ) 2 - In another bowl, add dry fast rising yeast with 1/2 cup warm water and 1/2 tsp white sugar, stir together, Let rise for a five minutes. 3 - In another bowl add pinch oil then molasses, in another bowl add butter then melt. 4 - Pour yeast mixture over flour mixture in bowl then start adding the warm water and butter, molasses and vanilla mixing all ingredients together with a spoon or your hand until it thickens then keep adding flour to work dough together,add more water if need. This will be done with your hand. 5 - Knead dough, add more flour if necessary until dough is smooth , elastic and no longer sticky and you can hear cracking of the dough when folding dough. Keep working dough into a ball. 6 - When completed sprinkle some flour over the top. I always draw the sign of a cross a few times on top then cut the top of the dough like a cross then cover with wax paper or parchment paper and a towel. Crossing your bread is optional. 7 - Let rise in a warm place until dough rises for half an hour then knead it down. 8 - Repeat this step letting the dough rise again for another 1/2 hour. 9 - After your dough rises cut in pieces forming it inwards into a ball, then put in your bread pan. Make one loaf. 10 - Makes 1 loaf of bread keep covered and in a warm place until bread rises half the size you started with. FOLLOW BAKING TIME AT THE TIME.