Cinnamon & Raisin Bread

Call me a granny, but this stuff is amazing! You can make it without a bread machine. 

YOU NEED:

2 cups warm water

2 1/2 teaspoons active dry yeast

5 3/4 cups bread flour, plus more for dusting

2 tablespoons milk

4 teaspoons sugar, plus more for sprinkling

1 tablespoon salt

3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted and cooled

2 cups raisins

3/4 cup sugar

7 teaspoons cinnamon

1 large egg, beaten

4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted and cooled

1 large egg white, beaten

TO MAKE: 

In the bowl of an electric mixer, combine 1/4 cup warm water and yeast. Let sit until yeast is foamy, about 10 minutes. Add flour, powdered milk, sugar, salt, 3 tablespoons melted butter, and 1 3/4 cups warm water. 

Mix, using the paddle on a kitchen aid, for 10 minutes,  or knead by hand, 15 or 20 minutes. 

Add raisins, and mix on medium-low speed until dough is firm.

Transfer to a lightly floured surface, and knead by hand into a ball. Place dough, smooth side up, in a large, lightly oiled bowl. 

Cover with plastic wrap; let rise in a warm place for about 1 1/2 hours.

Butter two 9-by-5-inch loaf pans generously, and set aside. 

In a small bowl, combine sugar and cinnamon, and set aside. 

Transfer dough to a lightly floured surface, and cut in half. Cover one piece of dough loosely with lightly oiled plastic wrap.

Press the other piece of dough into a 10-by-12-inch rectangle. Brush with half of the beaten egg, sprinkle with half the cinnamon sugar, and drizzle with half the melted butter.

 Rub the surface with the back of a spoon to blend butter and cinnamon sugar. Starting at a short end, roll up dough tightly, and pinch together along crease. Roll the dough back and forth to make it cylindrical, and pinch the ends together.

 Transfer to a loaf pan, seam side down, and cover with lightly oiled plastic wrap.

Repeat process with second piece of dough. Let loaves rise in a warm place, 45 minutes to 1 hour. Heat oven to 425 degrees.

Brush tops of loaves with egg white, and sprinkle each loaf with 1 1/2 teaspoons sugar. Bake 15 minutes; lower oven to 400 degrees, and bake 15 minutes more. 

Remove from oven; cool on a wire rack for at least 30 minutes before slicing.

YUM!

Toast, and serve with cream cheese for breakfast!