Learn how to make the perfect homemade Cinnamon Raisin Swirl Bread with a soft, tender crumb and a rich cinnamon-cocoa filling. This cozy, nostalgic recipe is made with mashed potato for extra moisture and warmth—perfect for chilly days!
Growing up in Los Angeles, a city known more for its endless sunshine than its frigid temperatures, you might think I’ve never truly been cold. But cold is all relative, right? I was raised in what we lovingly called a “Go Put On A Sweater” household. The heater? It was a last resort, reserved for those rare, bone-chilling mornings when the windows frosted over—which, in Southern California, meant anything below 60 degrees. Before we could even think about adjusting the thermostat, we had to layer up: a sweater first, then socks, and if we were still shivering, a jacket. Even now, decades later and states away, I can still hear my mom’s voice gently reminding me, “Do you have socks on?” before I’d even finish saying I was cold.
Fast forward to life in Bellville, Texas, where we’re experiencing a rare and wondrous snowfall. The kind of snow that feels like a gift, delicate and fleeting, but with it comes a particular kind of chill that seeps into the bones of my old, drafty house. Also ice – I’m bound to slip and fall. There’s no insulation in these wooden walls, no buffer against the creeping cold, and so I find myself leaning into old habits. I have a sweater on indoors—and a jacket, too. Will keeps the fire burning in the living room, and I’ve been keeping the oven on for an added touch of warmth, using it as an excuse to bake bread and roast chicken and generally just hang out by the oven door.
Today’s bake is a loaf of Cinnamon Raisin Swirl Bread, a recipe that feels as much like a cinnamon roll as it is a loaf of bread. This bread is more than just second breakfast; it’s a small joy, a tangible warmth on a cold winter day.
If you’re like me, wrapped up in layers and seeking comfort wherever you can find it, I hope you’ll let this bread be a little warmth in your home, too. Let’s preheat the oven, pour a cup of tea (into an insulated cup for heaven’s sake), and watch the snow fall from the kitchen window nearest the warm oven.
Here are the ingredients you’ll need to make this Cinnamon Raisin Swirl Bread:
• all-purpose flour
• active dry yeast
• boiled and mashed potato
• dry milk powder
• granulated sugar
• lukewarm water
• butter
• kosher salt
• raisins
• ground cinnamon and unsweetened cocoa powder
• brown sugar
• a large egg



Let’s talk about the dough for this Cinnamon Raisin Swirl Bread. This