Art of Natural Living

Cinnamon Currant Bread

By Inger Aug 2, 2012 Breads & Muffins, Cooking & Recipes, Dried Fruit 26 Comments
PinYummly

One of my CSAs has a fun option this year–a breadshare, which provides a loaf of artisan bread every week along with the veggie box.  When we discovered that last week’s selection was a cinnamon currant bread, I thought my kids had gone to heaven.

Cinnamon Currant Bread

Cinnamon Currant Bread

Of course this had implications for me.  It meant that I would need to bake again–in the summer heat.  Luckily I had a planned trip “up north” where my oldest is working–and where the temperatures are holding slightly below this year’s “don’t turn on the oven” levels.

Temperature solved, the next concern was technique.  Can you believe that a baking addict like me has never rolled up a loaf?  Well, no worry, it wasn’t hard!  Even in a vacation home kitchen with no real mixer, no Tupperware pie sheet (my first choice for “rolling” it out),and a missing rolling pin (if I were a rolling pin, where would I be…).  I quickly learned that patting works as well as rolling (at least for bread), wax paper is a fine rolling patting surface and I was excited to discover that I had (and could actually locate) a fancy brush for the egg wash!

The basis of the loaf came from James Beard’s Beard on Bread, made slightly easier and healthier.  The swirl part came from a King Arthur recipe.  Here’s what I did:

Cinnamon Currant Bread

Bread Ingredients   (Makes 2 loaves)

  • 1/2 c butter
  • 1 cups milk
  • 1 cup water
  • 1/2 c plus 1 T sugar
  • 2 pkgs yeast (or equivalent)
  • 3 c wheat flour
  • 3 c all purpose flour (approximate)
  • 1 1/2 c currants soaked for 1 hour in rum  (substitute raisins if currants are not available, water if you must)

Filling

  • 1 egg, beaten with 1 T water
  • 1/2 c sugar mixed with 1 T cinnamon

Directions

1.  Melt butter.  Add milk & water to pan and heat to approximately 110 degrees.  Add 1 T sugar and yeast and stir to dissolve.  Let rest until bubbly, about 5-10 minutes.  (Note: there is controversy about whether you really need to “proof” yeast anymore.  Having had only a couple failures ever (despite hundreds of loaves baked), the rational answer is probably “no” but I continue to do so given the ease of proofing, the suggestion it may produce a lighter loaf and the terrible sadness of a loaf that never comes to life)

2.  Blend liquid with whole wheat flour and 1/2 cup sugar until well mixed.

3.  Stir in currants, then add the all purpose flour a little at a time until the dough is soft and just a little sticky.  Knead on floured surface, adding flour as needed, until dough “pushes back.”

4.  Place dough in large bowl, spray dough with oil, and cover with a damp towel.  Let rise in a warm place until doubled, about an hour (time will vary with temperature).

5.  Punch down dough and divide into two pieces.

6.  Roll (or pat) out half of the dough into a 6 x 20 inch rectangle.  Brush with egg wash and sprinkle with half of the sugar cinnamon mixture.

7.  Roll up loaf and pinch sides and seam together to close.  Place in greased loaf pan with seam side down.

8.  Repeat with the remaining the dough for 2nd loaf.

9.  Let rise in pans until a bit less than doubled (should be rounding above the top of the pans).

10.  Bake at 350 about 40-45 minutes.  Check periodically and tent with aluminum foil if loaves are browning too much.  Fully cooked loaves will sound hollow when tapped, or you can test for an internal temperature of 190 using an instant read thermometer.

11.  Remove from pan and cool on wire rack.

These sweet, fragrant loaves filled the house with a warm, cinnamon-y smell throughout the baking process.  Afterwards I was delighted to discover that this could be recreated by simply popping a slice into the toaster.  Enjoy!

Yeast baking newbie?  Check out King Arthur Flour for a really nice set of instructions!

Tagged on: , ,

26 thoughts on “Cinnamon Currant Bread”

    1. Inger Post author

      I am so glad you enjoyed this–that sounds like a really fun innovation! Thanks for sharing!

      Reply ↓
  5. Louise

    Heavenly Inger…I can just imagine the aroma from here. Someday I too will bake a loaf of bread and I will remember how well you did while “roughing it up,” lol.

    Thank you so much for sharing…

    Reply ↓
    1. Inger Wilkerson

      Ohhhh thank you! I was hoping for a more distinct & even swirl so I was a bit disappointed. Next time I think I’ll need to spread my cinnamon sugar mixture more evenly!

      Reply ↓
  9. Freeda Baker Nichols

    This looks wonderful, like something I will try with raisins and water. Oh, by the way, I made the “no cook, no churn ice cream” with only the vanilla flavor and it turned out nicely.

    Reply ↓
    1. Inger Wilkerson

      The original Martha Stewart ice cream flavor was vanilla, so you are in good company! I am happy this worked for you — we certainly all deserve more ice cream this hot summer!

      Reply ↓
  10. Promenade Claire

    Oh that photo of the bread looks outrageously tempting and delicious! And isn’t it amazing ho wwe can cope in a much reduced kitchen, we improvise and make do. But where did that rolling pin get to 😉

    Reply ↓

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.

css.php