Making Cinnamon Raisin Bread in your bread machine is definitely the way to do it! This slightly sweet cinnamon raisin bread bakes up beautifully, with your bread maker doing all the work for you. All you have to do is add the ingredients! Buying cinnamon raisin bread from the grocery store is really expensive, and since there's nothing better than homemade bread, why not make your own? Even the aroma of this warm baked bread will make you swoon...
Cinnamon raisin bread is popular all year long. I love that I can make this in the summer and it won't heat up my house! This bread machine cinnamon raisin bread was inspired by my love for cinnamon raisin anything, including my Cinnamon Raisin Oatmeal cookies, my Cinnamon Raisin Tortilla Sushi , and my Cinnamon Raisin Oatmeal Cookie overnight oats.
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This Cinnamon Raisin Bread Machine recipe took me a lot of tries to get right! I had the same bread machine for about 30 years (it still works!) but my Mom gave me a new one (I needed something that looked nice for photos), and for some reason, I've had a tough time adapting some of my older recipes. But I finally nailed it!
Tips for Success
- Make sure your bread machine yeast is fresh (or at least not expired!)
- Measure all ingredients precisely (bread machines are very finicky when it comes to exact measurements)
- Follow the directions exactly (add ingredients in the order given) and never let the yeast touch the liquid!
- Use a serrated knife (bread knife) when cutting the bread (it's best to wait until it cools). If you prefer it warm, I suggest toasting it afterwards, for best results
- Select the lightest color crust, if you have the option on your bread machine (it makes it easier to cut).
🥘Ingredients
You don't need bread flour for this recipe- all-purpose flour works great. You will need the following ingredients for this bread machine recipe:
- 13 oz water
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 4 cups all-purpose flour
- ¾ teaspoon salt
- 3 tablespoons white sugar
- 2 tablespoons dry milk * I use skim milk
- 3 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1 ¾ teaspoon bread machine yeast
- 1 cup raisins
🔪Instructions
- Step 1: Measure and add liquid ingredients to the bread machine pan, then add the softened (NOT melted) butter (butter is not shown)
- Step 2: Measure and add dry ingredients (EXCEPT YEAST) to the bread pan *Add the flour, then pour the other dry ingredients along each side of the pan, so you can keep some space in the middle clean for adding the yeast .
- Step 3: Use your finger to form a well (hole) in the flour (where the yeast will go). *The yeast must never come into contact with the liquid! and try to keep it away from the other ingredients, as well. Measure the yeast and carefully pour it into the well
- Step 4: Put the baking pan into the bread maker and close the lids. Depending on the type of bread machine you have, select 'normal' or 'basic' mode and and size (this is for a 2lb loaf). If you have the option, select crust color (I use LIGHT, as it's easier to cut after) Then press the start button.
It will take anywhere from 2 ½ - 3 ½ hours, depending on your bread machine. When the timer goes off, remove it from the machine and let it cool for 10 minutes before taking it out of the pan. Then move the loaf to a wire rack to continue cooling.
Hint: Use oven mitts when removing the loaf pan from the bread machine, as the handle is hot! You'll also want to remove the paddle with oven mitts (it's hot too!) If it gets stuck in the bottom of the bread, wait until it cools, then gently remove it.
📖 Variations & Substitutions
- Dry Milk - you can use skim or regular dry milk
- Butter - if you want to use salted butter, cut the salt in this recipe to ½ tsp
- Raisins - you can use whatever raisin you have on hand (golden raisins, Thompson raisins or sultanas)
- White sugar - you could substitute brown sugar
- Cinnamon swirl raisin bread- you won't get the swirl with this bread, unless you only make the dough on the dough cycle and do the rest manually. OR you can make my easy Brown Sugar Cinnamon Swirl Bread quick bread and add raisins!
🍽Equipment
You will need a bread machine, a serrated knife, and a cutting board for this Cinnamon Raisin Bread recipe. If you don't have a bread machine and are looking for one, I have an Oster Express Bake similar to this one (affiliate link). It's a good economical bread maker and the one I recommended that my Mom buy (she did and gave it to me 🙂 ). However, if you have the budget, the Zojirushi Home Bakery Virtuoso Bread Maker (affiliate link) is the Cadillac version that I recommend! *See recipe card for other recommended equipment links and photos
🌡️Storage
Bread can be stored at room temperature for up to 5 days. It can be stored in the freezer for up to 3 months. *See Top Tip for the best way to store this bread and make it last the longest.
👪 Serving Size
This Homemade Cinnamon Raisin Bread is a 2 lb loaf , which is about 10 servings/slices. *The photo above is what it looks like as a whole loaf. Each slice is long and pretty big, so you can cut them in half, especially if you want to fit it into your toaster.
You can also make a 1 lb loaf of this Raisin Cinnamon Bread (see NOTES in recipe card). *I tested this a couple of times, as well.
Top tip
If you want your bread to last longer, store it in the freezer, sliced.
Once it's cooled I put it in the freezer for a couple of hours, then pull it out and slice it with a serrated knife in pieces that will fit in the toaster, then store it in the freezer. This way you can take it out, once slice at a time. You can either defrost it in the microwave for 10 seconds or pop it right in the toaster!
If your bread maker offers you the choice of crusts to use, use the light crust color, as it's easiest to cut through.
🥗 Pairing
I love to eat this bread toasted, with butter and jam, or make it into delicious French toast or a French Toast Casserole! These are also my favorite dishes to serve with it:
Did your family❤️this recipe? Did you know that commenting and⭐rating recipes is one of the best ways to support your favorite recipe creators? If you LOVED this recipe, please comment and rate it in the recipe card or share photos on social media using the hashtag #foodmeanderings or tagging @foodmeanderings !
So if you're looking for a bread machine cinnamon-raisin bread, you'll love this recipe!
If you love cinnamon raisin, be sure to try my Cinnamon Raisin Oatmeal Cookie Overnight Oats (shown) and my Cinnamon Raisin Pinwheels!
📋 Bread Maker Cinnamon Raisin Bread
Equipment
- wire rack
Ingredients
- 13 oz water
- 3 tbsps unsalted butter softened
- 4 cups all - purpose flour
- ¾ teaspoon salt
- 3 tbsps white granulated sugar
- 2 tbsps dry milk *I use dry skim milk
- 3 tsps cinnamon
- 1 ¾ tsps bread machine yeast
- 1 cup raisins
Instructions
- Measure and add wet ingredients to the bread pan.13 oz water
- Then add unsalted butter, softened NOT melted (not shown)3 tbsps unsalted butter
- Measure and add dry ingredients (EXCEPT YEAST) to bread pan. For best results, pour the salt, sugar, dry milk and cinnamon along the edge of the pan on different sides (avoiding the middle of the pan)4 cups all - purpose flour, ¾ teaspoon salt, 3 tbsps white granulated sugar, 3 tsps cinnamon, 2 tbsps dry milk
- Use your finger to form a well (hole) in the flour (where the yeast will go). *Don't dig too deep because you don't want the water to seep through ***The yeast must never come into contact with the liquid! ***
- Measure yeast and carefully pour it into the well1 ¾ tsps bread machine yeast
- Put the baking pan into the bread maker and close the lid.
- At the fruit signal, add raisins, but just a small amount at a time. *you have to be very patient1 cup raisins
- Depending on the type of bread machine you have, select 'normal' or 'basic' mode and and size (this is for a 2lb loaf). *See NOTES for 1 lb loaf
- If you have the option, select crust color. *I recommend the lightest crust color setting (it makes it easier to cut the bread when it's baked)
- It will take anywhere from 2 ½ - 3 ½ hours, depending on your bread machine. When the timer goes off, remove it from the machine and let it cool for 10 minutes before taking it out of the pan. Then move the loaf to a wire rack to continue cooling.
Notes
- 6.5 oz water
- 1.5 tablespoons butter
- 2 cups all - purpose flour
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1.5 tablespoons white sugar
- 1 tablespoon dry milk
- 1.5 teaspoons cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon bread machine yeast
- ⅔ cup raisins
-
Measure and add liquid ingredients to the bread pan.
-
Measure and add dry ingredients (EXCEPT YEAST) to bread pan
-
Use your finger to form a well (hole) in the flour (where the yeast will go).
-
***The yeast must never come into contact with the liquid! ***
-
Measure the yeast and carefully pour it into the well
-
Put the baking pan into the bread maker and close the lids
-
Depending on the type of bread machine you have, select 'normal' or 'basic' mode and size of loaf
-
If you have the option, select crust color.
Nutrition
📋More Bread Machine Bread Recipes
Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:
Samantha Tucker
What if my bread machine doesn't have a fruit signal? When should I add the raisins?
Terri Gilson
Hi Samantha,
I think it would be at about 15 minutes.
Hope that helps!
Terri
Terri Gilson
My family loves this so much that I need to make a loaf at least once a week!