National Raisin Bread Month is celebrated throughout November from November 1 to 30. Raisin bread is a tasty treat enjoyed with several toppings. Once done, toast a slice of bread, add some butter on top, and enjoy! Raisin bread is also frequently made with swirls of cinnamon, making it a popular breakfast, lunch, and even dessert choice. Let us take a look at the mouth-watering treat.
History of National Raisin Bread Month
Raisin bread has a long and illustrious history in the kitchen. Traditional antecedents of panettone include the stollen (a German fruit bread flavored with spices and candied fruits), the kulich (a tall Easter bread served in Russian and Slavic regions), and the panettone (an Italian tall, raisin-filled fruit cake). All of these fruit breads are enjoyed around the Christmas season and have subsequently extended to other parts of the world, such as England, where it has contributed to the rise in popularity of raisin bread. The treat quickly rose to prominence in areas of England and the provinces, eventually making its way to American homes as a common element of people’s breakfasts as the colonial era progressed.
However, according to Henry David Thoreau, a major legend has spread about the origins of this sweet and delectable bread, which has since been proven false. It is thought that the myth was hatched by a group of Concord housewives who were amused by Thoreau’s mischief.
This idea was furthered by a 1943 article in the “Ladies Home Journal,” which claimed that Thoreau was the inventor of the culinary creation. Fortunately, biographer Walter Harding was able to dispel the idea in the “Thoreau Society Bulletin,” stating that raisin bread, also known as plum cake at the time, was first made during the Elizabethan era, not the Renaissance.
National Raisin Bread Month timeline
Even though it takes many hundred years before discovering which grape variety produces the greatest raisin, history texts indicate that raisins are sun-dried from grapes throughout this period.
Recipes for bread with raisins are published in Concord, Massachusetts, according to local mythology and tradition.
An article in Blackwood’s “Edinburgh Magazine” has the first recorded use of the phrase ‘raisin bread,’ according to the Oxford English Dictionary.
The California Associated Raisin Company embarks on a century-long mission to disseminate the sweetness of raisins throughout the world.
National Raisin Bread Month FAQs
How long should you soak raisins before using them in bread?
Using room temperature liquid, cover the raisins and allow them to soak for 30 minutes.
Does raisin bread keep for a longer period?
Raising the temperature of the storage container to regular room temperature will keep the raisin bread fresh for approximately four to five days. Raisin bread should not be stored in the refrigerator since it will dry out and grow stale much more quickly than if it were stored at room temperature.
What is the purpose of the two wraps on raisin bread?
To extend the shelf life of baked goods and protect them from unsanitary conditions and other contamination, double sheet or tight wrapping is used to wrap bread and other consumer products, primarily food products. To prevent any air from passing through the bread, it is sometimes wrapped twice in plastic wrap.
National Raisin Bread Month Activities
Bake raisin bread
What’s a better way to celebrate than by baking raisin bread? The delicious treat can be eaten at any time. Just try out one of the delicious recipes and have fun with it.
Eat raisin bread
Enjoy your raisin bread with some toppings. You can try butter, peanut butter, honey, and bananas to tantalize your taste buds.
Share on social media
Don’t keep your love for raisin bread to yourself. Share your recipes online using the hashtag #NationalRaisinBreadMonth to find fellow lovers of raisin bread and get people talking about it.
5 Recipes With Raisins
Oatmeal raisin cookies
This oatmeal raisin cookie recipe is soft, chewy, and tender, and it is a classic using a variety of raisins, including large plump golden raisins.
Challah
Light, fluffy, delicate, tender, croissant-like in texture, and exceedingly simple to produce, challah has become a favorite among many.
Baked honey dinner rolls
These dinner rolls are moist and soft with just enough crunch to sink your teeth into.
English muffin bread with cinnamon raisins
If you’ve never baked bread before, this recipe is a foolproof, no-knead recipe that’s excellent for the first-time bread maker.
Oatmeal raisin roll
The perfect combination of raisins and oats, these oatmeal raisin rolls are a satisfying snack or breakfast.
Why We Love National Raisin Bread Month
It’s a delicious treat
Raisin bread is a very delicious treat. It can be eaten at breakfast or as a dessert, making it a truly versatile treat.
Ultimate nostalgia
Raisin bread offers the ultimate nostalgia. The treat has been around for years, so it has been a favorite for a long time.
Enjoy as a quick bite
The great thing about raisin bread is that you can have it on the go. Cut a slice, toast, or butter it, and enjoy it as a quick bite for breakfast before you head out the door.
National Raisin Bread Month dates
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | November 1 | Saturday |
| 2026 | November 1 | Sunday |
| 2027 | November 1 | Monday |
| 2028 | November 1 | Wednesday |
| 2029 | November 1 | Thursday |
