To Make the Dough:
In a small bowl, mix yeast and some tablespoons of lukewarm water to activate the yeast. The yeast will bubble and froth and also you’ll comprehend it’s alive and able to bake with. Within the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a bread hook, measure your flour precisely by weighing it or by spooning it right into a measuring cup and leveling it off.
Combining dough substances: begin with the flour, salt, and sugar. Adopted by butter, milk powder, mashed potato and the activated yeast combination. Combine and knead on medium pace till the dough is easy and elastic. On a mixer, this may take about 7-8 minutes. Should you’re making this by hand, a stable 8 minutes of kneading. Add water or flour as wanted to realize the best consistency – the dough shall be fairly cheesy. It ought to keep on with the underside of the bowl, collect principally across the dough hook, however keep on with the perimeters of the bowl a bit too. Add extra flour as essential, however go simple—an excessive amount of, and your bread would possibly really feel a bit like a doorstop. As soon as close to the tip of kneading, add the raisins and proceed to knead till totally blended.
Place the dough in a evenly greased bowl, cowl it, and let it rise at room temperature till it’s puffed and almost doubled in measurement. This could take about an hour, however if you happen to kneaded by hand, it’d want a bit of additional love (aka time).
To Make the Filling:
Whereas the dough rises, stir collectively the sugars, cinnamon, cocoa powder, and flour in a small bowl.
To Fill and Form the Bread:
As soon as the dough has risen, switch it to a evenly floured work floor. Knead to easy. Reflour the floor and pat and stretch it right into a 6” x 20” rectangle—suppose yoga for dough.
Brush the dough with the overwhelmed egg. Sprinkle the filling evenly over the floor such as you’re sprinkling magic mud. It is going to really feel like loads of filling which… it’s.
Beginning at one quick finish, roll the dough tightly right into a log. Pinch the ends and the seam to seal. Place the dough seam-side down right into a greased 8 1/2” x 4 1/2” loaf pan. Cowl loosely with greased plastic wrap.
Let the dough rise till it crests about 1” over the rim of the pan. This would possibly take about an hour, or a bit of longer in case your kitchen is chilly. Cue up podcast or a cup of tea whilst you wait.
To Bake the Bread:
Preheat the oven to 350°F whereas the dough does its factor.
Bake the bread for 40 to 45 minutes. Regulate it, and tent it with foil after the primary half-hour to keep away from a too-tan crust. The bread’s crust must be golden brown, and the within ought to register 190°F on a thermometer (a bit of bread tech second).
Take away the bread from the oven. Loosen the sides with a butterknife, then flip the loaf out of the pan onto a cooling rack. Should you’re feeling fancy, brush the highest with butter for a smooth, shiny crust.
Permit the bread to chill utterly on a wire rack earlier than slicing. And sure, the ready is difficult, however it’s value it.
Wrap the bread tightly and retailer it at room temperature for a number of days (if it lasts that lengthy!). For longer storage, freeze it—future you’ll thanks.
