BBA Challenge: Cinnamon, Raisin, Walnut Bread

This weeks BBA Challenge was Cinnamon, Walnut, Raisin Bread. I was very happy with how it turned out. The one thing I would do different next time is to toast my walnuts before adding them to the dough to give them better flavor-I spaced that out today.

The recipe in the book calls for using a paddle first-I have found that I am just going to stick with dough hook as the paddle gets filled with dough and it is hard to get it off. I mixed the dough to almost full window then I added the raisins and nuts. It was quite the task to get the raisins and nuts distributed into the dough. I had to hand mix and use the hook for about 10 more minutes. I have a picture of the window pane with the nuts and raisins.

I put the dough in an oiled bowl and allowed it to rise.

I scaled the dough out into 2 equal pieces.

I was rushed today to get my bread done so I invented a home proof box. I usually run my dishwasher and leave my bread onto of the counter over the dishwasher for warmth but I had this idea of once the dishwasher was done and slightly cooled I put my bread into the dishwasher to get a proof box like rise. I know, I know, proof box use is not the best but I was in a hurry.

When my bread came out of the oven I brushed the loaves with melted butter and sprinkled cinnamon sugar over them.

I am very pleased with how my bread turned out. Here is the crumb shot. Thank you Chris from http://www.akuindeed.com/ for hosting our BBA challenges!!