Beards Raisin Wheat Bread Recipes

WHOLE-WHEAT CINNAMON-RAISIN BREAD

Steps:

• Make the dough.
• Measure out 1 1/4 cups very warm water and check the temperature; it should be 120 degrees F to 130 degrees F. Combine both flours, the dry milk, egg, canola oil, honey, salt, yeast and warm water in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the dough hook. Mix 3 minutes on the lowest setting, then increase to the next highest setting and mix 5 more minutes. The dough should be soft and sticky.
• Let it rise.
• Transfer the dough to a large bowl coated with cooking spray. Cover tightly with plastic wrap and let rise at room temperature until the dough has nearly doubled in size, about 1 hour, 30 minutes.
• Soak the raisins.
• Dry raisins will rob moisture from the bread, so soak them first in boiling water until plump, about 30 minutes. Drain and pat dry.
• Fold the dough.
• Transfer the dough to a floured work surface. Picture it as a loose square. Lift up one side of the dough and fold about one-third of it across; press down on the dough with spread fingers to remove any air bubbles. Repeat with the remaining 3 sides of the dough.
• Add the filling.
• Mist two 9-by-5-inch loaf pans with cooking spray. Divide the dough in half; roll out each half into an 8-inch square. Brush each square with canola oil, then sprinkle with the cinnamon (it's high in antioxidants!), brown sugar and raisins.
• Form the loaves.
• Roll up each square of dough into a tight cylinder; place seam-side down in the prepared pans. Cover tightly with plastic wrap and let rise at room temperature until the dough fills the pans and springs back when touched, about 1 hour, 30 minutes.
• Bake the bread.
• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Brush the loaves with canola oil and bake until golden brown, 25 to 30 minutes. Remove from the pans and transfer to a rack to cool completely.

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.

WORLD'S BEST CINNAMON RAISIN BREAD (NOT BREAD MACHINE)

Steps:

• Warm the milk in a small sauce pan on the stove until it just starts to bubble, stirring occasionally.
• Remove from heat.
• Let cool until lukewarm, about 120-125 degrees.
• Dissolve yeast in warm water and set aside until yeast is frothy, about 10 minutes or so (make sure your water is at the correct temperature or the yeast won't activate.) Then mix in eggs, sugar, butter salt and raisins (stir in the cooled milk slowly so you don't cook the eggs.) Add the flour gradually to make a stiff dough.
• Knead the dough on a lightly floured surface for a few minutes until smooth.
• Place in a large, buttered, mixing bowl and turn to grease the surface of the dough.
• Cover with a warm, damp cloth and let rise (I like to let my bread rise in the oven with the light on. It has just the right amount of heat and keeps the bread out of drafts.) Allow to rise until doubled, usually about 1 1/2 hours.
• Roll out on a lightly floured surface into a large rectangle 1/2 inch thick.
• Moisten the dough with 2 tablespoons milk and rub all over the dough with your hands.
• Mix together 1 cup of sugar and 3 tablespoons cinnamon and sprinkle mixture evenly on top of the moistened dough.
• Roll up tightly (the long way).
• The roll should be about 3 inches in diameter.
• Cut into thirds, and tuck under ends and pinch bottom together.
• Place loaves into well greased (you can use Crisco or butter for this) 9 x 5 inch pans and lightly grease tops of loaves.
• Let rise in warm place, uncovered, again for about an hour.
• Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes or until loaves are lightly browned and sound hollow when tapped.
• Remove from oven and let cool on rack.
• Take melted butter and spread over tops of loaves.
• After about 20 minutes, lay loaves on their sides and remove from pans.
• Allow to cool before slicing.

CINNAMON RAISIN SWIRL BREAD

Steps:

• 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 11/2 to 2 hours. Generously butter two 9-x-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 down dough with your hand to expel the air. Divide dough in half and roll one half into a 16-x-8-inch rectangle. Brush with some of the melted butter. Drain raisins and mix with sugar and cinnamon; scatter half of the mixture over the dough and, starting with the shorter side, roll up tightly into an 8-inch 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 400 degrees. Bake bread for 10 minutes, then reduce heat to 350 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 200 degrees. Remove loaves from pans and let cool on wire racks.

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.

WHOLE WHEAT RAISIN BREAD

Steps:

• Soak raisins beforehand in some warm water.
• In a large bowl, combine all the white flour, sugar, undissolved yeast, salt, and cinnamon.
• In another bowl, mix warm water and canola oil.
• Gradually add warm water mixture to flour mixture.
• Beat together, then stir in raisins and whole wheat flour. Stir until mixture is consistent.
• Knead on lightly floured surface until smooth and elastic, about 10 minutes. Cover; let rest 10 minutes.
• Divide into 3 balls and place in loaf pan. Cover; let rise in warm, place until doubled in size, about 1 to 1.5 hours.
• Bake at 350F for 30 to 35 minutes or until done.
• Remove from pans; cool on wire rack. Brush with melted butter.