Thursday, December 12, 2013

Cinnamon Raisin (Cranberry) Oatmeal Bread ~ #ChristmasWeek


Welcome to Day #4 of Christmas Week, a multi-blogger event co-hosted by Kim of Cravings of a Lunatic and Jen from Juanita's Cocina! Each day we will be celebrating the holidays with a different set of Christmas-themed treats, as well as a fabulous Christmas giveaway. We hope you enjoy this fabulous event. Tune in each day starting today, Monday, December 9th and ending Saturday, December 14th.

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Ahhh... cinnamon!  Wafting through your kitchen it seems to be the aroma of the holidays.  From cookies to cider to steaming French Toast, cinnamon is nearly universally welcomed.  We love our cinnamon treats, but with the cookie and treat overload these past few weeks, I've tried to incorporate holidayish flavors into a hearty and healthy bread.

Personally, I find making homemade bread incredibly fulfilling.  Knowing exactly what ingredients are in my loaf allows me to tweak the bread as I see fit for that day.  Need something more healthy?  We can always add more grains.  Need a bit of a treat?  A nice white loaf usually does the trick.  But want something in between?  We've got the answer right here in this soft, tender Cinnamon Raisin Oatmeal Bread.

Hearty with whole oats, yet sweet with cinnamon and either raisins or cranberries, this bread makes fabulous toast and a mean PBJ.  French Toast becomes extra special with a double dose of cinnamon and a drizzle of pure maple syrup, and with each serving the bread brings servings of heart healthy fiber and whole grains.

So why not join me in a slice and a cup of tea as we visit the rest of today's #ChristmasWeek participants?  I'm certain they have treats to make us swoon!
And that brings us to today's giveaway courtesy of Swissmar.   Le Cordon Bleu has been a worldwide leader in gastronomy and hospitality for over 100 years and is widely considered the guardian of French culinary technique.   Swissmar now combines this culinary expertise with their own knowledge and brand recognition to introduce this fantastic new line.   The Le Cordon Bleu ceramic ovenware from Swissmar is all freezer safe, oven safe, dishwasher and microwave safe.  The French-inspired Charmant Collection 5 qt. Rectangular Roaster has scalloped edges and is beautiful enough to go straight from oven to table.  Want one for yourself??  Enter to win a Swissmar Roaster  with the Rafflecopter below! 


***This giveaway is for one Swissmar Charmant Collection 5 qt. Rectangular Roaster (winner's choice of color: blue, yellow, red, or white).  This giveaway is open to Continental US residents only.  When the contest concludes, the winner will be chosen by random draw.  The winner will be notified through e-mail and they will have 3 days to respond or another winner will be chosen.***

a Rafflecopter giveaway


Cinnamon Raisin (or Cranberry) Oatmeal Bread
Hearty with whole grains, yet sweet with cinnamon and raisins (or cranberries), this bread is a treat toasted or used in a traditional French Toast.  Feel free to use all all-purpose flour in place of the whole wheat... all all-purpose will bring a lighter bread!  My family prefers the "wheatiness" of the whole wheat.  Adjust as desired!
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Ingredients:
1 cup warm water
2 1/2 tsp active dry yeast (we prefer Red Star Brand)
1 Tbs oil or melted butter
1 1/2 tsp salt
3 Tbs pure maple syrup
1 large egg
1 cup rolled oats
1/4 cup oat bran
2 tsp cinnamon (if you like lots of cinnamon add 2 1/2 tsp!)
1 cup whole wheat flour (may use all all-purpose if desired - makes for a lighter bread!)
1 to 1 1/3 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup raisins or dried cranberries

Add the water and active dry yeast to the bowl of a stand mixer.  Add the oil or butter, salt and maple syrup.  Add egg, oats, oat bran and cinnamon and begin mixer.  Mix until combined.  Add the 1/2 cup of whole wheat flour and continue to mix until incorporated.

Switching to dough hook (unless you started with it) now add the remaining whole wheat flour and mix to combine.  Add the all-purpose flour 1/2 cup at a time until the dough forms a ball.  Allow to knead for 6-10 minutes, adding the raisins or cranberries towards the end of the kneading.  Continue kneading until  the dough becomes smooth and supple.

Place dough in an oiled bowl and cover with a clean dish towel.  Allow to rise in a warm place for an hour to an hour and a half.   Punch dough down and place into a lightly oiled 8 1/2-inch by 4 1/2-inch bread pan.  Cover again with the clean dish towel and allow to rise - about 1 hour.

Toward the end of the rising time, preheat oven to 350ºF.  When dough has risen, place pan into the oven and bake until bread is nicely browned and sounds hollow when tapped, about 30 to 40 minutes.

Remove from oven, remove bread from pan onto a cooling rack and allow to cool.  Enjoy!


Liv Life Note:  If your house is anything like mine this time of year, finding a warm place for the bread to rise can be difficult.  I heat 1 cup of water to boiling in my microwave,  push the cup to the side and place covered bread into the microwave (do not turn on).  I'm always amazed at the perfect temp that 1 cup of water makes that little space!

18 comments:

  1. I love the smell of fresh baked bread - love how hearty and healthy your bread is!

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  2. The pan looks perfect for lasagna!

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  3. I adore cinnamon raisin bread and think I'd love it just as much with tart cranberries. It looks so, so good.

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  4. Bread is my weekness. I cant wait to try this.

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  5. This is a gorgeous pan!!! I love all things Swiss because I was lucky enough to study there. I believe I would pick the blue pan because it is so striking.... and I know I would make scalloped potatoes in it all the time and I have several recipes for sausage and pasta that would be perfect in there also! Thank you for this opportunity. If I don't win, could you tell me where I might be able to obtain the Swissmar Charmant Collection?

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  6. One of my favorite things for breakfast is Cinnamon Raisin Toast but I think I would love it even more with cranberries. Nicely done!!

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  7. Mmmm....I would LOVE this toasted and smeared with butter! I'd definitely make mine with whole wheat and dried cranberries....and I wouldn't want to share!

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  8. I love raisin bread, and I know I'd love this one! <3

    Happy day #4!

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  9. Love the looks of this bread so much! Now I'm craving a big, thick slice toasted and slathered in butter. :-)

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  10. You sure do make a gorgeous loaf of bread! This would make some killer French toast. I'm not a fan of raisins but I overlook it when they're hidden inside of a good bread! Heehee.

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  11. Perfect size for prime rib for Christmas dinner!

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  12. I love cinnamon raisin bread. This is seriously gorgeous Kim. I love the smell of fresh bread wafting through the house.

    Thanks again for joining this week. So happy to have you. xx

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  13. a nice loaf of bread - perhaps even this one

    fruitcrmble AT Comcast DOT net

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  14. You know, with all the sweet stuff floating around my house right now, I am looking at that roaster and thinking of lasagna. :)

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  15. Your loaf of bread looks delicious--and what a plus that it's a little healthier. I can smell the cinnamon here! :)

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  16. Gorgeous bread! I still haev yet to tackle homemade bread :)

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  17. Love your cinnamon raisin oatmeal bread - I will try it with Energee egg replacer !

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