When making gourmet desserts, you usually don't think of cinnamon raising bread, or anything of the sort. But this delicious treat is certainly something to swoon over.

Ingredients:

• 2 cup raisins

• Water

• 6 3/4 to 7 1/4 cups all-purpose flour

• 2 packages dry yeast

• 2 cups milk

• 3/4 cup granulated sugar

• 1/4 cup butter

• 2 tsp. salt

• 3 eggs

• 2 tsp. ground cinnamon

• Powdered Sugar Icing

In a small bowl, combine raisins with enough hot tap water to cover. Plump for 5 minutes; drain well. Set aside. In a large bowl, combine 3 cups of the flour and the yeast. In a medium saucepan, heat milk, ¼ cup of the granulated sugar, the butter and salt over low heat just until warm (115 to 120 degrees) and until butter is almost melted, stirring constantly. Add to flour mixture; add eggs. Beat with an electric mixer at low speed for ½ minute, scraping the sides of the bowl constantly. Beat 3 minutes at high speed, scraping bowl constantly. Stir in the plumped raisins. Stir in as much remaining flour as can be mixed in with a spoon. Turn out onto lightly floured board. Knead in enough remaining flour to make moderately stiff dough that is smooth and elastic (6 to 8 minutes total). Shape into a ball. Place dough in lightly greased bowl; turn once to grease surface. Cover; let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 1 ¼ hours. Punch dough down; divide in half.

Cover; let rest for 10 minutes. Roll each half into 15 x 7 inch rectangle. Brush the entire surface lightly with water. Combine remaining ½ cup granulated sugar and cinnamon; sprinkle ½ of the sugar mixture over each rectangle. Roll up, jelly roll fashion, starting from a 7 inch side; pinch edges and ends to seal. Place, sealed edges down, in 2 greased 9 x 5 x 3 inch loaf pans. Cover; let rise in warm place until nearly doubled, 35 to 45 minutes. Bake in a preheated 375 degree oven for 35 to 40 minutes or until bread sounds hollow when tapped, covering bread with foil the last 15 minutes to prevent over browning. Remove bread from pans; cool completely on wire racks. Drizzle with powdered Sugar Icing.

Powdered Sugar Icing

In a medium bowl, combine 1 cup sifted powdered sugar, ¼ tsp. vanilla and enough milk (about 1 ½ tbsp.) to make of drizzling consistency.

For more bread recipes, try some of the following:

• Baking Powder Biscuits
• Braided Sesame Ring
• Onion Herb Baked Bread
• Savory Bubbly Cheese Bread
• Golden Apple Boston Brown Bread

A great treat for those with special dietary needs. These bars use Equal sweetener making them a sugar free alternative to regular carrot bars. These diabetic carrot bars are the perfect healthy gifts for your loved ones.

Ingredients:

• 2 eggs

• 1 1/2 tsp. Equal sweetener

• 3/4 cup oil

• 1 cup grated raw carrots

• 1/4 cup raisins (optional)

• 1/4 cup chopped walnuts (optional)

• 1 1/4 cups flour

• 1 tsp. soda

• 1 tsp. cinnamon

• Dash of salt

In a large mixing bowl, blend together the eggs, Equal, oil and carrots (and optional raisins and chopped walnuts). Add the soda, cinnamon and salt mixing well. Add the flour until well mixed. Pour the mixture into a greased and floured 8” square pan. Bake at 350° for 25 minutes or until firm in the center.

For more diabetic recipes, try some of the following:

• Sugar Free Oatmeal Cookies (Diabetic)
• Diabetic Ginger Cookies