• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
All Tastes German
  • All Recipes
  • Christmas
  • Oktoberfest
  • Shop
  • Login
  • Contact Us
  • Nav Social Menu

    • Pinterest
menu icon
go to homepage
  • All Recipes
  • Christmas
  • Oktoberfest
  • Shop
  • Login
  • Contact Us
    • Facebook
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • All Recipes
    • Christmas
    • Oktoberfest
    • Shop
    • Login
    • Contact Us
    • Facebook
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • ×

    Home » Recipes » German Recipes

    Braided Cinnamon Raisin Bread

    Published: Jun 27, 2020 · Modified: Mar 8, 2022 by Angela Schofield · Leave a Comment

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    If an American cinnamon roll and a German Rosinenzopf would have children, then this braided cinnamon raisin bread would be it!

    Cinnamon Hefezopf Collage

    This sweet bread is everything you are looking for; it has the seductive cinnamon flavor from the cinnamon roll combined with the moist and fluffy texture of German braided raisin braid.

    Cinnamon Bread

    How is sweet braided bread called in German?

    Sweat braided yeast bread is called "Hefezopf".

    How to pronounce "Hefezopf"?

    Listen to this audio file to hear how to say "Hefezopf" in German.

    click play button to listen

    How to Make German Sweet Braided Bread from Scratch Video Tutorial

    Step-by-Step Recipe with Images

    Step 1: Start with adding the raisins to a small bowl, cover them with hot water and set the bowl aside.

    Braided Cinnamon Raisin Bread Recipe Step 1

    Step 2: In another small bowl combine yeast and sugar, add the lukewarm milk, mix well, and set it also aside.

    Braided Cinnamon Raisin Bread Recipe Step 2

    Step 3: Place the flour into a stand mixer bowl and form a well.

    Step 4: Then add the milk-yeast mixture, the eggs, vanilla powder, and salt to the dwell. If you don´t have vanilla powder you can use vanilla extract. I am just lately obsessed with vanilla powder and love to use it in all kinds of desserts and cakes.

    Braided Cinnamon Raisin Bread Recipe Step 5

    Step 5: Knead everything on medium-low for about 5 to 7 min. Then add the soft butter, about two tablespoons at a time and knead until well combined, about 3-5 min.

    A little trick is to cut the butter in small cubes if you don´t have soft butter on hand and place them for 15 sec. into the microwave.

    Braided Cinnamon Raisin Bread Recipe Step 6

    Step 6: Drain the raisins well and add them to the dough. Knead the dough for another 1-2 min. until the raisins are well distributed.

    Braided Cinnamon Raisin Bread Recipe Step 7

    Step 7: Shape the dough to a ball, I like to use a spatula as the dough will be a little bit sticky, but this is normal. Then cover the dough with a clean kitchen towel or plastic wrap and allow to raise for about 60 – 90 min.

    Braided Cinnamon Raisin Bread Recipe Step 8

    Step 8: After the proofing time, sprinkle the countertop lightly with flour. Knead the dough briefly and divide it in three equal size pieces.

    Step 9: Roll each piece to a rope of about 10-inch in length.

    Braided Cinnamon Raisin Bread Recipe Step 10

    Step 10: And then flatten each rope with a rolling pin to about ⅛-inch. dough sheets. I like to use a small dough roller but you can use any rolling pin that you have on hand. If you don´t have a rolling pin you could use a smooth glass to roll the dough out evenly.

    Braided Cinnamon Raisin Bread Recipe Step 11

    Step 11: For the filling I mix cinnamon, vanilla powder, brown sugar, and melted butter. And like before you can use vanilla extract if you don´t have vanilla powder on hand.

    Braided Cinnamon Raisin Bread Recipe Step 12

    Step 12: Then evenly spread one third of the filling on each dough piece. I like to drop dollops of the mixture on all dough pieces so I can make sure I have enough on each sheet, and it is equally divided.

    Braided Cinnamon Raisin Bread Recipe Step 13

    Step 13: Now you just need to roll up each rope from the long side.

    Braided Cinnamon Raisin Bread Recipe Step 14

    Step 14: Then braid the ropes, pinch the ends, and tuck them under to seal.

    Braided Cinnamon Raisin Bread Recipe Step 15

    Step 15: Place the braided bread on a with parchment paper lined baking sheet, cover it with plastic wrap and allow to raise for about 30 – 45 min.

    Braided Cinnamon Raisin Bread Recipe Step 17

    Step 16: After the raising time, whisk one egg yolk, salt and heavy whipping cream until well combined. If you don´t have cream, you can use milk.

    Braided Cinnamon Raisin Bread Recipe Step 18

    Step 17: Brush the braided bread with the egg wash and sprinkle it generously with coarse sugar. Alternatively, you could sprinkle it with sliced almonds or a mixture of both.

    Braided Cinnamon Raisin Bread Recipe Step 19

    Step 18: Then place the bread into a 350 degrees F pre-heated oven and bake it for about 35 – 40 min. There will be a little bit of cinnamon-sugar mixture spilling out of the bread. Don´t discard these little crunchy pieces, they are soooo good on vanilla pudding or ice cream.

    Braided Cinnamon Raisin Bread Recipe Step 21

    How to Make German Sweet Braided Bread Video Tutorial

    Authentic German Braided Bread Recipe

    German Sweet Bread Hefezopf Recipe

    Cinnamon Raisin Braided Bread

    Angela Schofield
    5 from 3 votes
    Print Recipe Share on Facebook Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 20 mins
    Cook Time 41 mins
    Total Time 1 hr 1 min
    Course Bread
    Cuisine German-American Fusion
    Servings 1 bread
    Calories 3903 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    Dough:

    • ½ cup raisins
    • 1 cup hot water
    • 1 ¼ cup milk lukewarm
    • ½ cup sugar
    • 2 tsp. yeast
    • 1 egg
    • 2 egg yolks
    • 4 ¼ cups flour
    • 1 tsp. vanilla extract or ¼ tsp. vanilla powder
    • 1 pinch of salt
    • 5 tbsp. butter soft

    Filling:

    • ⅓ cup brown sugar
    • 1 stick butter melted
    • 3 tsp. cinnamon
    • ½ tsp. vanilla powder

    Topping:

    • 1 egg yolk
    • 4 tsp. heavy whipping cream alternatively milk
    • 1 pinch of salt
    • ¼ cup sugar coarse sugar

    Instructions
     

    • Add raisins to a small bowl, cover with hot water and set aside.
    • In another small bowl combine yeast and sugar, add lukewarm milk, mix well and set aside.
    • Beat eggs and egg yolks with a fork until egg yolks and egg white are combined.
    • Place flour into a stand mixer bowl and form a well.
    • Add milk-yeast mixture, eggs, vanilla extract, and salt to the dwell.
    • Knead on medium-low for about 3-5 min.
    • Add soft butter, about two tablespoons at a time and knead until well combined, about 3-5 min.
    • Drain raisins well, add to the dough and knead for another 1-2 min.
    • Shape dough to a ball, cover with a clean kitchen towel or plastic wrap. The dough will be slightly sticky, this is normal.
    • Allow to raise for about 60 – 90 min.
    • After the proofing time, lightly sprinkle the working space with flour.
    • Knead the dough briefly and divide in three equal size pieces.
    • Roll each piece to a about 10-inch long ropes and then flatten each log with a rolling pin to about ⅛-inch.
    • Mix all ingredients for the filling. Spread one third of the filling on each dough piece.
    • Roll up each rope from the long side.
    • Braid the ropes pinching the ends and tuck them under to seal.
    • Place on a with parchment paper lined baking sheet, cover with plastic wrap and allow to raise for about 30 - 45 min.
    • After the raising time, whisk egg yolk, salt and heavy whipping cream until well combined.
    • Brush braided bread with the egg wash and sprinkle with coarse sugar.
    • Place into a 350 F pre-heated oven and bake for about 35 – 40 min.

    Nutrition

    Yield: 1gramsCalories: 3903kcalCarbohydrates: 661gProtein: 86gFat: 103gFiber: 25gSugar: 189g
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

    Variation Tip

    Try this recipe with hazelnut cream i.e. Nutella instead of the cinnamon filling. This is an amazing variation of this recipe.

    Nutella

    More German Recipes

    • Crock Pot Pork & Sauerkraut - Easy Pork Belly Sauerkraut Recipe
    • Gulasch Austrian Beef Goulash Vienna Style
    • Schnitzel and Spaetzle - The Ultimate German Comfort Food
    • Bowle German Wine Punch

    Reader Interactions

    Join the Conversation Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    Angela framed by German landscape

    Guten Tag, I'm Angela,
    Herzlich willkommen! I'm glad you've stopped by.

    It is a joy to share with you some of my all-time favorite authentic German recipes and tell you a little bit about the cultural background of my home country, Germany.

    More about me →

    Latest Recipes

    • Puff Pastry Pinwheels Flammkuchen Style
    • Mulled Beer German Glühbier Recipe
    • 38 Traditional German Christmas Desserts
    • German Rum Balls - Rumkugeln

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    Legal

    • Privacy Policy
    • Disclaimer
    • Terms & Conditions

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    Contact

    • Contact
    • About

    Copyright © 2022 AS Consulting / All Tastes German