Cinnamon Swirl Raisin Bread

This cinnamon sugar-swirled brioche loaf, studded with raisins, has a tender and light crumb. With an overnight rise, you'll have homemade cinnamon raisin bread ready in time for a special occasion breakfast.

By
Sally Vargas
Sally Vargas
Sally Vargas

Sally is the author of four cookbooks and is a regular correspondent for the Boston Globe Wednesday Food Section. She also is a food photographer.

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Published November 01, 2022
Sally Vargas
Slices of Cinnamon Swirl Raisin Brioche Loaf on a Small Plate with Some Butter on a Butter Knife, Next to a Cutting Board with the Remaining Loaf and a Small Bowl with More Butter

Simply Recipes / Sally Vargas

A loaf of brioche permeated with raisins and swirled with a thick layer of cinnamon sugar is like ordinary raisin bread gone deluxe. The bread is soft and eggy, with a tender and light crumb. It begs to be toasted and eaten for breakfast with your morning tea, but you probably won’t be able to wait until the toaster pops to eat it.

This loaf is a bit of a project, but well worth it for a special occasion. But something for a special occasion. The buttery dough needs an overnight rise in the refrigerator to render the soft, sticky dough into a manageable shaping consistency (the long rise adds extra flavor, too.) It’s a true labor of love and you will probably cry when you’ve devoured the last slice, but your effort will be lauded to the hilltops by any lucky duck you share it with.

Slices of Cinnamon Swirl Raisin Brioche Loaf Next to the Remaining Loaf and a Bread Knife on a Cutting Board

Simply Recipes / Sally Vargas

Cinnamon Raisin Bread, Step by Step

The process of making this raisin loaf is similar to making any cinnamon raisin swirl bread with one major difference: the bread dough is brioche rather than straight yeast bread. Here are a few helpful tips:

  • Start with a sponge. A sponge (aka pre-fermentation) is a very wet mixture of water, yeast, and flour that is left to rise, after which the rest of the dough ingredients are added. It gives the dough a boost that results in a more complex flavor with faint sourdough overtones and a light and airy texture. 
  • Prepare for two rises. The first rise takes place in the refrigerator overnight, from 8 to 10 hours—this gives you some flexibility. It also allows the dough to go from sticky to firm but still slightly soft. The second rise takes about 2 hours at room temperature once you have shaped the loaf and put it in the pan. 
  • Shape the loaf well. Brushing the dough with milk before sprinkling cinnamon sugar on top helps the sugar adhere to the dough, keeping large gaps from forming between the layers of cinnamon and dough in the baked loaf. Roll the dough up tightly like a jelly roll and pinch the bottom seam with your fingers.
  • Bake it just right. Cover the top of the loaf loosely with foil if it browns too quickly. To help determine if the loaf is fully baked, tip the loaf out of the pan and poke an instant read thermometer into the center on the bottom. It should register between 190ºF and 200ºF. As tempting as it may be, don’t slice the loaf until it is fully cooled. The temperature still ticks up a few degrees after the bread comes out of the oven, so the bread is not really fully set until it has cooled.
Cinnamon Swirl Raisin Brioche Loaf (Cross Section Cut)

Simply Recipes / Sally Vargas

Cinnamon Spice and Everything Nice

Cinnamon Swirl Raisin Bread

Prep Time 35 mins
Cook Time 40 mins
Rising Time 12 hrs
Total Time 13 hrs 15 mins
Servings 14 servings
Yield 1 loaf

Baking time ranges from 35 to 40 minutes. Rising time ranges from 10 to 12 hours.

Ingredients

For the dough

  • 1/2 cup warm water (about 110°F)

  • 1 tablespoon instant yeast 

  • 3 1/4 cups (390g) unbleached all-purpose flour, divided

  • 3 large eggs

  • 1 large egg yolk

  • 1/4 cup sugar

  • 1 teaspoon salt

  • 8 tablespoons (113g) unsalted butter, room temperature

  • 1 1/4 cups raisins

For the cinnamon filling

  • 1/4 cup sugar

  • 4 teaspoons cinnamon

  • 2 tablespoons milk

For the topping

  • 1 egg beaten with 1 tablespoon water (for the egg wash)

Special Equipment

  • 1 (9x5-inch) loaf pan

Method

  1. Make the sponge:

    With the paddle attachment in the bowl of a stand mixer on low speed, mix the water, yeast, and 1/2 cup of the flour until well blended. Cover the bowl with a plate and let rise at room temperature for 45 minutes, or until the dough looks puffy and small bubbles appear.

    Flour, Yeast, and Water Whisked Together in a Mixer Bowl for Cinnamon Swirl Raisin Brioche Loaf Recipe

    Simply Recipes / Sally Vargas
  2. Mix the dough:

    With the paddle attachment on medium speed, beat in the eggs and egg yolk one at a time , incorporating each egg into the dough before adding the next one. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as necessary. Beat in the sugar, salt and 1 1/2 cups of the flour and mix until smooth. 

    Switch to the dough hook. On medium-low speed, gradually sprinkle in the remaining 1 1/4 cups flour until incorporated (about 3 minutes.) Knead on medium speed for about 10 minutes, or until smooth and elastic. Stop to scrape down the dough hook occasionally.

    Eggs and Egg Yolks Added to Mixer Bowl for Cinnamon Swirl Raisin Brioche

    Simply Recipes / Sally Vargas
    Flour Slowly Added to Mixer Bowl for Cinnamon Swirl Raisin Brioche Recipe

    Simply Recipes / Sally Vargas
    Cinnamon Swirl Raisin Brioche Loaf Dough Mixed Together Using a Dough Hook

    Simply Recipes / Sally Vargas
    Cinnamon Swirl Raisin Loaf Dough Scrapped Off the Sides of the Mixer Bowl

    Simply Recipes / Sally Vargas
  3. Add the butter and raisins:

    On medium speed with the dough hook, mix in the butter 1 tablespoon at a time, mixing until each addition is incorporated. Scrape down the sides of the bowl from time to time. When all the butter has been thoroughly absorbed, the dough will be very soft and sticky. Take your time (about 4 minutes for this step.)

    Add the raisins to the dough bowl and mix until incorporated.

    Raisins Added to Brioche Loaf Dough in Mixer Bowl

    Simply Recipes / Sally Vargas
  4. Refrigerate overnight for the first rise:

    Scrape the dough into a clean bowl and pat it into a ball. Place a piece of plastic wrap directly on the surface of the dough and let rise for 8 or up to 12 hours in the refrigerator.

    Cinnamon Swirl Raisin Brioche Loaf Dough Resting in a Glass Bowl

    Simply Recipes / Sally Vargas
    Cinnamon Swirl Raisin Brioche Loaf Dough after Rising in the Refrigerator

    Simply Recipes / Sally Vargas
  5. Make the cinnamon sugar:

    In a small bowl, thoroughly mix the sugar and cinnamon.

  6. Shape the loaf:

    Grease a 9x5-inch loaf pan with baking spray. Turn the dough onto a lightly floured work surface and pat it flat to form a rectangle approximately 8 1/2x6 1/2 inches.

    Brush the dough with the milk and sprinkle with the cinnamon sugar.

    Place the short side of the rectangle parallel to the countertop. Starting with the edge nearest you, roll the dough tightly into a log. Pinch the seam and roll again to form a uniform log shape.

    Drop the log into the oiled loaf pan with the seam side down. Tent the pan with a plastic bag, leaving 3 to 4 inches of headroom and tucking the open end of the bag under the pan.

    Cinnamon Swirl Dough Patted Flat into a Rectangle on Wooden Cutting Board and Brushed with Milk. Next to the Dough, a Bowl of Cinnamon Sugar and a 1/2 Measuring Cup with Milk

    Simply Recipes / Sally Vargas
    Cinnamon Sugar Mixture Added to Cinnamon Swirl Raisin Brioche Rectangle and Rolled on a Cutting Board

    Simply Recipes / Sally Vargas
    Seam for Rolled Cinnamon Swirl Raisin Brioche Loaf Pinched Closed

    Simply Recipes / Sally Vargas
  7. Let the shaped loaf rise:

    Let rise for about 2 hours, or until the dough is puffy and springs back slowly when gently poked with a finger. Your finger should leave a slight impression. Precise rising time depends on the temperature of the dough and the room it is in.

    Cinnamon Swirl Raisin Brioche Loaf Resting in a Baking Pan

    Simply Recipes / Sally Vargas
  8. Preheat the oven: 

    About 1/2 hour before the dough has finished rising, set a rack in the middle position and preheat the oven to 400ºF.

  9. Bake the loaf:

    Brush the loaf with egg wash. Set the pan in the oven and turn down the oven to 375ºF. Bake for 35 to 40 minutes, or until the top is golden brown. To check for doneness, tip the loaf onto a cooling rack and insert an instant-read thermometer into the bottom of the loaf. The loaf is done when it registers about 190ºF. If it is not quite done, return the loaf pan and bake for 5 more minutes. If it has already turned a deep brown, set a piece of aluminum foil loosely on top of the loaf.

    Egg Wash Applied to Cinnamon Swirl Raisin Brioche Loaf Using Pastry Brush in Baking Pan

    Simply Recipes / Sally Vargas
    Baked Cinnamon Swirl Raisin Brioche Loaf in a Loaf Pan

    Simply Recipes / Sally Vargas
  10. Cool the loaf: 

    Set on a rack to cool completely before slicing.

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    Slices of Cinnamon Swirl Raisin Brioche Loaf on a Small Plate with Some Butter on a Butter Knife, Next to a Cutting Board with the Remaining Loaf and a Small Bowl with More Butter

    Simply Recipes / Sally Vargas
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
261 Calories
9g Fat
41g Carbs
6g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 14
Amount per serving
Calories 261
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 9g 11%
Saturated Fat 5g 24%
Cholesterol 90mg 30%
Sodium 179mg 8%
Total Carbohydrate 41g 15%
Dietary Fiber 2g 7%
Total Sugars 16g
Protein 6g
Vitamin C 0mg 2%
Calcium 34mg 3%
Iron 2mg 11%
Potassium 174mg 4%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate. In cases where multiple ingredient alternatives are given, the first listed is calculated for nutrition. Garnishes and optional ingredients are not included.