Vegan Cinnamon Raisin Bread (Bread Machine Recipe)

This vegan-friendly cinnamon raisin bread is made using a bread machine! It’s soft on the inside, crusty on the outside, and sweetly spiced with cinnamon, a little sugar, and chewy sweet raisins. Bread machine cinnamon raisin bread is so easy to make – you just set it and forget it, and before you know it, you have a tender, crusty loaf of warm sweet bread for breakfast or a snack.

Sweet bread machine recipes are so fun and tasty to make. Love cinnamon? Craving a loaf of freshly baked bread? One that’s smothered in (vegan) butter, or jam? You are going to love this bread machine for cinnamon bread! It’s so easy to make and so comforting too!

Vegan bread recipes are fun and easy to make! You just have to find a way to leave out the eggs and dairy - which isn't a challenge for many recipes. One of my top recipes, Olive Oil and Herb Bread is also made in the bread machine and so flavorful without the need of eggs or dairy. And if you are looking for a vegan classic white bread in the bread machine, look no further...and it's so easy too!

This recipe was inspired by this super easy vegan cinnamon swirl bread AND cinnamon raisin no-knead bread. Both are easy and tasty. But what I really wanted was to bring you an equally delightful breadmaker recipe using the same basic ingredients: lots of cinnamon, sweet, and chewy raisins.

Bread makers are a special kind of miracle! Just throw in the ingredients, tell the machine to start, and walk away to enjoy your morning; and before you know it, the aroma of freshly baked bread has filled every corner of your house! Pull out the pan and turn out a freshly baked loaf. Time to enjoy a slice of cinnamon raisin bread slathered in my whipped maple cinnamon butter!

Ingredients needed to make (vegan-friendly) bread machine cinnamon raisin bread

• water – very warm to the touch but not super hot (which will kill the yeast)
• vegan butter – This is a vegan blog so the recipes will include vegan-friendly ingredients. You could also use margarine or salted butter (if you are vegetarian). I don’t recommend using vegetable oil for this bread machine cinnamon raisin bread recipe though as it was not developed for that.
• bread flour
• granulated sugar – Use organic sugar if your heart tells you so…
• rapid yeast – also known as bread machine or instant yeast
• salt
• ground cinnamon
• raisins – Use either golden raisins or regular dark raisins.

A special note about some of the ingredients

The flour, bread flour -vs- all purpose flour

This recipe calls for bread flour rather than all-purpose flour. You could use regular all-purpose flour if that is all you have. BUT!! But the big difference between bread flour and regular flour is that bread flour has more protein which produces more gluten. Gluten is what we need to give our bread dough that nice stretch and elasticity which in turn will produce a chewier more satisfying loaf of homemade bread. Read more about the different types of flour and their best uses in this article by Bon Appetite.

Vegan butter

This is a vegan blog and so the recipes will include vegan-friendly ingredients. You could also use margarine or salted butter if you are not vegan. I don’t recommend using vegetable oil for this bread machine cinnamon raisin bread recipe though as it was not developed for that.

The yeast

This recipe calls for rapid-rise yeast which might also be called quick-rise yeast or bread machine yeast. This is not exactly the same as “active dry yeast”. Active dry yeast might work, but again, this recipe was developed using bread machine yeast so I can’t guarantee the results.

The raisins

Today I used basic regular raisins in my raisin bread. I really do enjoy using golden raisins too because they look so pretty in the loaf and are slightly sweeter.

Have a hankering for dried cranberries instead? They would work as well. BUT, you might want to try Orange Cranberry bread instead to get your sweetened dried cranberry fix.

Make sure to use nice fresh plump raisins for your cinnamon bread recipe. I think the reason people hate raisins in baked goods (and yes, haters gonna hate), is that the raisins used are too dry and hard. You can try soaking them beforehand to see if they plump up. Just make sure to drain the liquid and pat dry before using. Or, leave them out.

Just don’t like raisins? Would you rather just make cinnamon bread without the raisins? Sure, be my guest. Not everyone is a fan.

The sugar

This recipe uses granulated white sugar. If you are an ethical vegan, you might choose to use organic sugar. Brown sugar might also be used but do not use a liquid sweetener such as maple syrup in this recipe as it might mess with the liquid/dry ratios.

A note about the bread machine I use

This recipe was developed using the Compact Cuisinart 2 lb Bread Machine (affiliate link) which I love! Chances are the recipe will work great in any bread machine. This particular bread maker has a few features mentioned in the instructions. Check to see if your bread machine has similar features.

Settings for Different types of breads

I love that this bread machine has settings to make various types of loaves. We will use the “sweet loaf” setting – which is perfect for sweet bread machine recipes. (If your bread machine does not have that then just set it to white bread.)

Add-ins

This bread machine also allows for add-ins after the first knead and rise. If your machine does not have that feature then just make sure to add the raisins before the final kneading cycle. If that will be too complicated to remember, then go ahead and add them at the beginning – but I can’t promise the final result.

Directions for making cinnamon raisin bread machine bread

Step 1: add the liquid ingredients

The wet ingredients should be at room temperature. Make sure the paddle is correctly installed in your bread maker and the loaf pan is properly set in the machine.

Add the warm water and room-temperature vegan butter. You can slice it into small pieces if it isn’t quite at room temperature yet. But it should not be cold and hard right out from the fridge. You can also microwave the cold butter. Even if it is melted in the microwave, that’s okay.

Step 2: Add the dry ingredients

In the order listed, add the dry ingredients. First the bread flour, then the salt, cinnamon, and sugar. You can use table salt or sea salt. Just don’t use coarse salt or kosher salt.

Finally, make a little well at the top and add the yeast.

You’ll notice that we did not yet add the raisins. That will come after it has gone through the first kneading and rising cycle. Please see the directions about adding the raisins below.

Step 3: Set your bread machine and…go!

Set your bread machine on “sweet loaf”, “light”, and “medium-sized loaf”. Press start. You will need to pay attention to when you need to add the raisins so you can’t just walk away…yet.

You will see the cooking timer on your bread machine. Depending on your machine, it will be about three and a half hours from start to finish.

Step 4: Add raisins

If you have the add-in option on your bread machine, it will stop and beep at you after the first kneed and rise. This is your signal to add the raisins.

If you don’t think you are able to pay attention or wait around for that, then add them at the beginning and take your chances. It’s been my experience that the raisins might get too mushed up if added too early. I’ve also heard that it can interfere with gluten development.

Finishing and serving your bread machine cinnamon raisin bread

When the cook cycle has finished, you can carefully remove the loaf pan according to the manufacturer’s directions. Most bread machines have a built-in cooling time before the hot loaf pan is safe to handle. If yours doesn’t, then allow cooling for a few minutes according to the directions that came with your machine.

After taking out the bread machine pan, carefully remove the baked bread. Remove the paddle if you didn’t already remove it before the baking cycle. OR if it didn’t slip out when you were removing the baked bread from the pan. DO always check for the paddle though!

Place the finished raisin bread on a wire rack or cloth to cool enough to cut. Use a cutting board to cut slices as needed. For continued freshness, I like to leave the loaf intact until I need a slice. This load of homebaked cinnamon raisin bread should stay fresh for a couple of days if tightly covered or placed in a plastic bag.

This cinnamon raisin bread recipe makes 10 thick half-slice servings. Now grab a butter knife and slather a slice with my favorite vegan-friendly whipped maple cinnamon butter, delicious pear butter, or blueberry chia seed jam.

It would also be good toasted and spread with a little nut butter for a great flavor and topped with more cinnamon and sliced bananas for breakfast.

The printable recipe card for Bread Machine Cinnamon Raisin Bread