Sultsina - Finnish Cinnamon Raisin Bread

Ingredients

• 500g (4 cups) all-purpose flour 500g (4 cups) all-purpose flour
• 7g (2 ¼ tsp) instant yeast 7g (2 ¼ tsp) instant yeast
• 50g (¼ cup) granulated sugar 50g (¼ cup) granulated sugar
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1 tsp salt 1 tsp salt
• 250ml (1 cup) warm milk 250ml (1 cup) warm milk
• 60g (¼ cup) unsalted butter, melted 60g (¼ cup) unsalted butter, melted
• 1 large egg 1 large egg
• 150g (1 cup) raisins 150g (1 cup) raisins

Nutrition

• Calories (kcal / KJ): 280 kcal / 1172 KJ
• Fat (total, saturated): 6g, 3g
• Carbohydrates (total, sugars): 50g, 15g
• Protein: 7g
• Fiber: 2g
• Salt: 0.6g

Preparation

1. 1.
   In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, instant yeast, sugar, ground cinnamon, and salt.
2. 2.
   In a separate bowl, whisk together the warm milk, melted butter, and egg.
3. 3.
   Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and mix until a dough forms.
4. 4.
   Knead the dough on a lightly floured surface for about 5-7 minutes, until it becomes smooth and elastic.
5. 5.
   Place the dough in a greased bowl, cover with a clean kitchen towel, and let it rise in a warm place for about 1 hour, or until doubled in size.
6. 6.
   Punch down the dough and knead in the raisins until evenly distributed.
7. 7.
   Shape the dough into a loaf and place it in a greased loaf pan.
8. 8.
   Cover the pan with the kitchen towel and let the dough rise for another 30 minutes.
9. 9.
   Preheat the oven to 180°C (350°F).
10. 10.
    Bake the Sultsina for 30-35 minutes, or until golden brown and hollow-sounding when tapped on the bottom.
11. 11.
    Remove the bread from the pan and let it cool on a wire rack before slicing.

Treat your ingredients with care...

• Raisins — Soak the raisins in warm water for 10 minutes before adding them to the dough. This will help them plump up and prevent them from drying out during baking.

Tips & Tricks

• For an extra burst of flavor, sprinkle some cinnamon sugar on top of the bread before baking.
• If you prefer a sweeter bread, you can increase the amount of sugar to your liking.
• Toast slices of Sultsina and spread them with butter for a delicious breakfast treat.
• This bread freezes well, so you can make a double batch and store some for later.
• Experiment with different types of raisins, such as golden raisins or sultanas, to add variety to your Sultsina.

Serving advice

Serve slices of warm Sultsina with a generous slather of butter or cream cheese. It pairs perfectly with a cup of hot coffee or tea.

Presentation advice

To enhance the presentation, dust the top of the Sultsina with powdered sugar before serving. This adds a touch of elegance and highlights the golden crust.