I’m so proud of myself!! I made bread with yeast and it actually came out as a loaf of successful, delicious bread.
I’ve been scared of yeast since I started cooking years ago. I mean, yes I’ve made pizza dough and homemade pretzels. But bread? Doesn’t bread take finesse and superior culinary skillz and… well, SRC: Whole Wheat Cinnamon Raisin Swirl Breadturns out it really just takes yeast. It’s not a scary ingredient after all, and doesn’t require any more cooking knowledge than reading a recipe. Wahoo!
This month, for Secret Recipe Club, I was assigned Renee’s blog Kudos Kitchen. I was in awe over Renee’s bread recipes. She has a TON of them, but some of my favorites were the Rustic Olive Bread and Poppy & Sesame Seed Challah Bread. I’ve been eating a ton of cinnamon raisin English muffins lately, so I was totally inspired by her Buttermilk Cinnamon Sugar Raisin Bread.
Members of the Secret Recipe Club are assigned a blog each month. Who has who is a secret until reveal day (today!). The mission is to choose a recipe from the assigned blog, make it, and share it!
Renee is a wife, mom to 2 sons and 4 furbabies, and based on looking through her blog– an awesome cook! She also likes art and her blog is super cute and colorful. I couldn’t wait to try her bread recipe!
Whole Wheat Cinnamon Raisin Swirl Bread
(adapted from Kudos Kitchen)
for the bread:
- 2 packages active dry yeast (4 1/2 teaspoons)
- 1 tbsp granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup warm water (110-115 degrees)
- 3 tbsp melted butter, cooled
- 1 tbsp honey
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 2 cups whole wheat flour
- 2 cups all purpose flour
- 1 tsp salt
for the filling:
- 1 tbsp melted butter
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 2 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1 cup raisins
In a large bowl, dissolve the yeast in the warm water. Stir in the sugar and allow the yeast to sit 10 minutes, until foamy.
Stir the cooled melted butter, honey, vanilla extract and buttermilk into the yeast mixture.
Add the flour and salt to the bowl of a stand mixer with the dough hook attached (or in a large bowl with a wooden spoon).
Slowly, on a low speed, add the yeast mixture into the flour and continue to mix (or knead by hand) until a soft smooth, non-sticky dough forms (you may need to add additional flour depending on your weather conditions). Continue mixing or kneading for about 7 minutes.
Place the dough in a well oiled bowl, cover and allow to rise 1 hour in a warm place. (I preheated the oven to 150 degrees, then turned it off, waited 10 minutes, and put the bowl in.)
Once risen, roll the dough out on a floured surface to form a 16 x 9-inch rectangle. Brush melted butter on the dough. Sprinkle sugar, cinnamon and raisins evenly over the dough.
Starting at the narrow end, carefully roll the dough to form a tight log. Place the log in a buttered loaf pan (seam-side down) and let rise an additional hour in the pan.
Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
Bake for approximately 35-40 minutes or until it is nicely golden brown and sounds hollow when tapped.
Cool on a wire rack for about 15 minutes then remove the loaf from the pan to cool completely before slicing.
The bread came out great and has inspired me to try some other yeast breads too. I always thought you needed a breadmaker or something fancy… but nope. Just an oven! Thanks, Renee!
April @ Angels Homestead says
February 24, 2014 at 12:00 amI LOVE homemade bread, it’s one of the few things I miss since discovering I’m gluten intolerant and had to give it up. I still make it for the rest of my family, talk about torture!
Your bread turned out beautifully, cinnamon raisin was a favorite of my mom’s for breakfast.
JJ - 84thand3rd says
February 24, 2014 at 2:56 amGreat job! Love cinnamon raisin anything, can’t wait to see what you try next ;D
Emily @ Life on Food says
February 24, 2014 at 3:23 amYea for bread! Congratulations! Your cinnamon raisin bread looks amazing.
Dorothy at Shockingly Delicious says
February 24, 2014 at 5:13 amWell done on your inaugural loaf of yeast bread! First I want a big slice with butter, and then I want your aqua plate, too! Too much to ask for?
jessfuel says
February 24, 2014 at 3:25 pmI love that plate!! It’s my favorite! 🙂
Renee - Kudos Kitchen says
February 24, 2014 at 6:34 amI’m so glad I inspired to you try your hand at yeast bread. From the looks of your loaf, you’re a natural!!! I’ll bet you’re as hooked as I am now! LOL You did my recipe proud. Thanks, and happy reveal day!!!
SallyBR says
February 24, 2014 at 6:37 amYou did wonderful! Now I am sure you exorcize all your bread and yeast demons!
great looking bread!
Rebekah @ Making Miracles says
February 24, 2014 at 7:41 amThat looks so GOOD!! I have been wanting to bake a loaf of cinnamon raisin swirl bread forever and just haven’t done it yet. I really must give it a try – happy SRC Reveal Day!!
Lynn H @ Turnips 2 Tangerines says
February 24, 2014 at 8:51 amI can bet this bread smelled fantastic while baking!! Great SRC pick~ Once you make a loaf of bread, you get bitten by the “bread bug” as I call it:) Happy Reveal Day~ Lynn @ Turnips 2 Tangerines
Army Amy says
February 24, 2014 at 9:45 amI always love the SRC posts! It’s always neat to see what kinds of recipes you get from other people and how they turn out.
I’ve never made bread before. Like you, I’m intimidated! My parents had a bread machine when I was younger, but I always thought it was stupid. (And loud, really loud.) Now I think it’d be kind of fun to have one.
Tara says
February 24, 2014 at 12:29 pmLooks beautiful. Glad you are getting more comfortable with yeast! Making bread is one of my favorite things.
Karen @ Karen's Kitchen Stories says
February 24, 2014 at 12:39 pmCongratulations on your first real loaf of bread!! I love baking bread. I find it so therapeutic. Your loaf looks amazing.
Melissa says
February 24, 2014 at 3:26 pmThere is nothing quite like a toasted slice of homemade cinnamon raisin bread! This looks delicious. Great pick this month 🙂
amy @ fearless homemaker says
February 24, 2014 at 5:16 pmThis looks SO amazing! I’d love a slice for breakfast tomorrow with a big ol pat of butter. YUM!
Erin @ The Spiffy Cookie says
February 24, 2014 at 5:44 pmThat looks so good! I have yet to try making a swirl bread before.
Asiya @ Chocolate and Chillies says
February 24, 2014 at 6:55 pmI once was terrified of yeast as well. Every time I made something with it it always failed. But I was on a mission…I wanted to make my boys homemade pizza for lunch the way my mom used to make for me and my brother. I finally figured out my problem was water temperature and since then I’ve overcome my fear 🙂
I’ve tried a 100% Whole Wheat Cinnamon Bread before but it was blah…this sounds like it would be way better with the addition of all purpose. Look forward to giving it a try! Great SRC pick!
kirstin says
February 24, 2014 at 8:15 pmYummy! Great choice.
The Wimpy Vegetarian says
March 1, 2014 at 6:35 pmYour bread came out beautiful!!! And there’s nothing better than homemade yeasted breads. It took a long time for me to overcome my fear of yeasted breads too. But it was so worth it. Pinning this right now 🙂