Cinnamon Swirl Bread

The longer I spend as a Wife and Mommy, the more love I have for all things home-making. I have been experimenting with bread making lately and have fallen in love with the smell of yeast and the feeling of kneading dough by hand! It may seem daunting but trust me, it's the simplest way to do it and so much more satisfying than paying $4+ for a loaf! Until recently, I don't think it had ever occurred to me that you could make bread without a bread machine. Now I would never want one - it would take all the enjoyment out of bread making for me! Part of my journey to simplicity includes realizing that not everything marketed as making our lives easier actually does. For one, bread machines cost money I don't have. Two, I hardly have enough kitchen storage for all the gadgets I already own. Three, who needs more appliances to clean!? When I'm done baking bread I have a bowl to wash and a counter to wipe and then it's on to more enjoyable things! Like sharing this recipe with you!

This bread is delicious warm out of the oven or toasted. We made ours into French Toast right away and it was ammaaazing!!

CINNAMON SWIRL BREAD

Yield: 1 loaf

Prep Time: 2 hours including rising time

Cook Time: 45 min

Ingredients:
DOUGH:
1 tbsp butter
1/2 cup milk
2 tbsp white sugar
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp cinnamon
2 1/4 tsp active dry yeast
3/4 cup warm-hot water
3 cups all-purpose flour, divided
SWIRL:
2 tbsp butter, softened
2 tbsp white sugar
1 tbsp brown sugar
1 tbsp cinnamon

Raisins-optional*

Directions:
1. In a microwavable bowl, heat butter and milk until butter is melted.

2. In a large bowl or mixer, stir sugar, salt and cinnamon. Pour warm butter/milk mixture into the bowl; stir until well combined.

3. In a small bowl, mix yeast and warm water until yeast is dissolved; add to the bowl of ingredients and stir.

4. Mix in 2 1/2 cups flour. Turn out dough onto a floured board (dough will be sticky). Sprinkle remaining 1/2 cup of flour onto the dough and knead until the dough is soft and smooth (4 to 5 minutes). Add additional sprinkles of flour, if needed. (If using dough hook in mixer, knead on setting '2' for 4 to 5 minutes and then turn out onto floured board to knead until dough is no longer sticky- a minute or so).

5. Put dough into a greased bowl; turn the dough over so the top of the dough is greased too. Cover with a clean dish towel and let rise in a warm place for about 60 minutes, or until doubled in size (A good warm place is in the oven - turn to 400 F for one minute then turn off and place bowl of dough on middle rack, leaving oven light OFF.)

6. Punch down the dough in the bowl with your fist. Turn dough onto a floured surface and knead for about 1 minute, adding flour as needed to reduce stickiness. Roll dough out into a rectangle.

7. Spread 2 tablespoons softened butter on the surface of the rolled out dough. In a small bowl, mix white sugar, brown sugar and cinnamon. Sprinkle this mixture on top of the butter. If adding raisins, scatter desired amount over surface. Roll up dough and form into a loaf.

8. Place into a buttered 5x9-inch bread pan, seam side down. Cover with a clean dish towel and let rise in a warm place until doubled in size, about 30 minutes.

9. Preheat oven to 375 F.

10. Score risen dough in the pan by cutting 3 slashes diagonally across the top of the loaf with a sharp knife. Bake bread for 35 to 40 minutes, or until golden brown.

11. Turn out bread onto a wire rack and let cool.

*To make into French Toast, mix 2 eggs with 2 tbsp milk and 1 tsp vanilla. Coat 1/2 inch slices of Cinnamon Swirl Bread in egg mixture and fry in a light amount of butter until golden brown. Dust with icing sugar to make it fancy :)

Do you have a favourite bread recipe? I would love to hear it!