Easy to Make Homemade Cinnamon Raisin Bread

Add warm water to a small bowl and sprinkle yeast over the top along with a pinch of sugar. Let sit until the yeast has dissolved and is foamy. About 2-3 minutes.
Add yeast, milk, ¼ cup sugar and butter to the bowl of a stand mixer with the paddle attachment. Mix to combine. Add the flour and salt and mix on low until it forms a dough. Then remove the paddle attachment and replace it with the dough hook.
Knead on medium-low until the dough is smooth, about 5-6 minutes.
Place the dough in a lightly buttered bowl, cover with plastic wrap, and put in a warm place to rise for about 1 hour, until it has doubled in size.
In a small bowl combine the cinnamon, ¼ cup sugar, and raisins and set aside.
Punch down the dough and use a rolling pin to form it into a 9 x 9-inch square. Sprinkle the raisin mixture over the top, leaving a 1-inch border. Gently roll it into a log, pinching the dough along the seam to keep it together.
Place the log in a greased 9 x 5 inch loaf pan. It will not fill the entire pan.
Cover the pan with plastic wrap and let rise in a warm place for about 1 hour until the dough rises to the top and fills out the pan.
Preheat the oven to 350º. Brush the dough with 2 tablespoons of melted butter. Bake for 35-40 minutes until golden brown. Let cool on a wire rack in the pan for 10 minutes then remove to a wire rack. Let cool for 30 minutes before slicing.