How To: Make a homemade cinnamon swirl bread loaf

Don't you just love cinnamon swirl bread? Especially the kind with raisins? Well, you don't have to buy it at the grocery store anymore, always worrying about that freshness date, you can make it yourself, right in your own home! This video recipe will show you both the regular cinnamon swirl bread and the cinnamon raisin swirl bread.

This recipe starts with a basic white bread dough demonstrated by King Arthur Flour chef Susan Reid. Then she adds the cinnamon and that's when we start thinking about breakfast. Susan's tips, hints, and humor make us believe we can make bread. Baked with or without raisins, and served simply or made into French Toast, this one has Fantastic Breakfast written all over it.

INGREDIENTS:

Makes 1 loaf

* 1 cup + 2 tbsp warm water (plus additional water if necessary)
* 2½ tsp instant yeast
* 2 tbsp honey
* 3½ cups all-purpose flour (plus more for dusting work area)
* 1½ tsp salt
* ¼ cup dry milk powder
* 2 tbsp unsalted butter, room temperature, cut into pieces
* non-stick cooking spray
* 1 cup raisins (optional)
* ¼ cup sugar
* 1½ tsp cinnamon
* 2 tsp flour
* 1 egg beaten with 1 tbsp water (or ¼ cup egg substitute)

Special Equipment

* dough whisk
* bowl scraper
* 9" x 5" loaf pan
* plastic wrap
* pastry brush
* foil
* instant-read thermometer