These pretzels are soft and chewy. The aromas are of cozy times indoors on chilly days, but the ingredients are not especially tied to a particular season. Try this raisin cinnamon swirl pretzel recipe anytime you want a warm bite of nostalgia.
Okay, so it’s possible that you could search really hard and find somewhere to buy a decent loaf around where we live, but up until now we still haven’t. As far as I can tell, they don’t make raisin swirl bread anywhere near my little town. What a shame, I know.
I’ve been trying to bridge over into “Cold Weather Food” territory with my recent recipes and I thought this one was a really great fit for that. It’s got all the warm fuzzy flavors of home and nostalgia but I don’t feel like it’s completely confined to a specific season either. It’s still versatile enough to make year round since the ingredients aren’t too seasonal. 
I don’t know about you, but it’s almost indescribable how happy the smell of these wafting through the house can make me. MMMMMmmm! All that warm yeasty goodness mixed with cinnamon spice is enough to make me giggle with childish glee! It’s an aroma of favorite childhood memories. (Note to self; figure out how to bottle and sell the stuff as a perfume ’cause it would be dynamite!)
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Raisin Cinnamon Swirl Pretzels
- Total Time: 50 minutes
- Yield: 8 pretzels 1x
Description
These pretzels are soft and chewy. The aromas are of cozy times indoors on chilly days, but the ingredients are not especially tied to a particular season. Try this raisin cinnamon swirl pretzel recipe anytime you want a warm bite of nostalgia.
Ingredients
Pretzel Dough:
- 1 tablespoon active dry yeast
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 1 cup water
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 tablespoons neutral oil
- 1 egg yolk
- 3 1/3 cups all-purpose flour (additional for work surface)
Cinnamon Raisin Filling:
- 1/4 cup (4 tablespoons) butter, softened
- 1 1/2 tablespoons cinnamon
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/3 cup raisins (or craisins)
Pretzel Wash:
- 2 tablespoons baking soda
- 1/2 cup hot water
Instructions
- Yeast Mixture Preparation: In a bowl, dissolve yeast and sugar in water. Let it sit for about 5 minutes until the yeast is dissolved.
- Dough Mixing: In a large mixing bowl, combine the yeast mixture with egg yolk and oil. Gradually add flour and salt, mixing until a dough forms.
- Kneading the Dough: Turn out the dough onto a floured surface and knead, adding more flour as necessary, until it’s smooth and elastic.
- First Rise: Place the dough in an oiled bowl, cover with plastic or a damp towel, and let it rise in a warm place until doubled in size.
- Prepare the Filling: Mix butter, sugar, cinnamon, vanilla, salt, and raisins in a medium bowl until combined.
- Shaping the Pretzels: Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C). Roll out the dough into a rectangle, spread the filling evenly, and roll up lengthwise. Cut the log in half, twist each half into a rope, and cut each into 4 pieces. Shape each piece into a pretzel.
- Apply Pretzel Wash: Combine hot water and baking soda. Brush the mixture over each pretzel and place them on a parchment-lined baking tray.
- Baking: Bake the pretzels for 18-20 minutes until golden brown.
- Serving: Enjoy the pretzels warm, optionally dipped in vanilla frosting.
Notes
- Ensure the yeast is fresh for the best rise.
- Let the dough rise in a warm, draft-free area.
- The dough should be smooth and elastic after kneading.
- For a deeper flavor, you can soak the raisins in warm water or juice before adding.
- The pretzels are best served fresh and warm.
- Prep Time: 30 min
- Cook Time: 20 min
- Category: Bread
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
