Super Raisin Bread - Cinnamon Swirl

Dough Ingredients:

1 ½ cup    milk

¼ cup       sugar

2 tsp.        salt

½ cup       butter

½ cup       warm water

2 pkgs.      dry yeast (5 tsp.)

1 cup         unseasoned mashed potatoes

4 ½ cups    all-purpose flour

1 cup         raisins

Filling/Topping ingredients:

½ cup      sugar

2 tsp.       Cinnamon

¼ cup butter/margarine (optional)

 

Procedure dough making:

1. Place raisins in a bowl, cover with water and let soak for about ½ hour. Prior to mixing into dough drain thoroughly.
2. In a saucepan, heat the milk until bubbles start forming around the pan edges. Remove from heat and add the butter, stirring occasionally until melted. In a mixer (Kitchen Aide) place the warm milk/butter, mashed potatoes, sugar and salt. Mix until totally mixed, then let this mixture cool until lukewarm.
3.  Mix the yeast into the ½ cup of warm water and proof.
4. Mix the proofed yeast mixture into the milk, potato mixture in item 2 above.
5. With a dough hook on speed #2 blend in 3 ½ cups of all-purpose flour. Continue mixing and adding more flour until the dough leaves the side of the pan. If mixer is not available this can be done by hand.
6. Transfer dough onto floured surface, spread out the dough and slowly add the raisins, kneading all the time until all the raisins are incorporated. Knead for about 10 min. Oil/butter a large bowl, form a ball with the dough and place into bowl, rotate to make sure dough ball is coated with oil. Cover with plastic wrap or damp cloth and let rise in a warm place until doubled in volume.

Filling:

Combine ½ cup of sugar with the cinnamon and set aside.

Prep and Bake:

1. After dough has doubled in size transfer to a floured surface and punch down to deflate.
2. Divide dough into two equal portions.
3. Roll out half of the dough into a rectangle, sprinkle with ½ of the sugar-cinnamon mixture.
4. Roll up jelly roll fashion, pinching edges together and tuck ends under.
5. Place seam-side down in a 9x5 inch pan and brush with 1 Tbs. cool melted butter.
6. Repeat with second portion of dough.
7. Cover and let rise again until doubled, about 1 hr.
8. Bake in a preheated oven at 375 deg. F for 35-40 min. or until top is browned and bread sounds hollow when tapped (about 190-200 deg. F internal temp).
9. Remove from oven when done and cool on racks.

Enjoy, I’m sure you will be unable to have just one slice!  

Credits: Modified/rearranged from recipe on Cooks.com