cinnamon raisin bread recipe

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christmas morning

I tend to go all-out on the holiday feasts, and as I'm taking meal suggestions, organizing the menu, and planning many-days worth of food prep, I'm usually brimming with excitement. It'll be fine, I reassure myself, because I'm not doing nearly as much this year as I did last. When I burned myself out. And vowed never to do it again. Because even though I can temporarily pretend otherwise, it's absolutely going to be just as much work this year as it was last. Sometimes, even more. Like when I get the ridiculous idea to make something special for breakfast, too (a loaf of this cinnamon raisin bread always makes the cut, which is why my mind traveled to the holidays!).

But then Christmas season rolls around and, without fail, I scrap my vow of holiday abstinence and do it all again. Because the eating part is just so spectacular, especially when it includes all of our mouthwatering favorites in one glorious spread. Things did get significantly easier when my youngest decided she loves to cook and so helps with everything—from start to finish. But still. I must be a glutton for punishment. Because we're only in August but sharing this cinnamon raisin bread recipe has already sparked my mind into feast planning... ;P

If you don't already have a sourdough starter resting in your refrigerator, then you'll need to get that going before you can tackle this recipe. And if, like me, you can't always do chia seed, then I've included a chia-free recipe variation further down. Either way, the bread is delicious! Especially as a Christmas morning treat. In August, even ;)

cinnamon raisin bread recipe

Bread Ingredients

• 2½ cups organic rolled oats

• ¼ cup organic chia seeds

• ¼ cup organic coconut flour

• 1¼ cups water

• ¼ cup chia egg

• ½ cup sourdough starter

  
  

Filling Ingredients

• 1 teaspoon organic ground Ceylon cinnamon

• ½ - 1 cup organic raisins

• 5 tablespoons date paste or 2 tablespoons organic maple syrup

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 425°F

2. Using a small coffee grinder, grind the rolled oats, chia seeds, and/or millet into flour (depending on which recipe you’re using).

3. Add the flours, sourdough starter, water, and chia egg to a mixing bowl; stir well to combine. If using the chia-free version, the dough will need 5 minutes or so to thicken enough to work with.

4. In a separate bowl, mix together the cinnamon and date paste.

5. On a piece of parchment paper or a well-floured surface, roll the dough flat  into a thick, rectangular shape.

6. Spread the cinnamon/date mixture evenly over the dough, followed by the raisins.

7. Slowly roll up the dough with the raisins on the inside, pinching the ends shut and flattening them slightly. Gently place the loaf into a greased bread pan, cover with a  wet towel, and let rise for up to 24 hours. (The longer the loaf rises, the stronger the sourdough flavor.)

8. Bake, covered, for 30 minutes. Uncover (being careful of the steam!) and bake for an additional 20 minutes.

chia egg recipe

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon chia seed

• ½ cup water

Directions

1. Using a small coffee grinder, grind the chia seeds thoroughly and pour them into a small bowl along with the water; whisk immediately.

2. Let the mixture sit for 5 minutes to thicken.

3. Store any extra chia egg in a covered container in the refrigerator for up to one week.

date paste recipe

Ingredients

• 10 Medjool dates (pitted & soaked)

• 1 cup water

  
  

Directions

1. Once the dates are nice and soft, add them to the blender or Vitamix and blend until smooth.

2. Store leftovers in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.

chia-free recipe

Bread ingredients

• 2½ cups organic rolled oats

• 1 cup organic millet

• 1¼ cups water

• 2 tablespoons organic arrowroot powder + 3 tablespoons water

• ½ cup sourdough starter

Filling ingredients

• 1 teaspoon organic ground Ceylon cinnamon

• ½ - 1 cup organic raisins

• 5 tablespoons date paste or 2 tablespoons maple syrup

Directions

1. Same as above

2. Make sure to thoroughly mix together the arrowroot and water before adding immediately to the recipe

And that'll do it for today! Hope your day is a beautiful one :)

Much love and many thanks for reading,

Melinda