Vanilla Raisin Bread

This is my favorite raisin bread. I got the recipe from a bread machine recipe exchange years ago. It is not spiced, but it is a very rich tasting white bread with vanilla flavored plump raisins throughout. It's a high riser too, very soft and light! The prep time is only as long as it takes you to measure the ingredients. My machine's raisin cycle beeps after a little over 1 hour so I get everything started, then start soaking my raisins. They are always ready to go when the machine beeps.

• Ready In: 4 hrs 5 mins
• Yields: 2 lb. loaf

Ingredients

• 2⁄3 cup raisins
• 3  tablespoons vanilla extract
• 1 1⁄8-1 1⁄4 cups buttermilk or 1 1⁄8-1 1⁄4 cups  sour milk
• 1  egg, lightly beaten
• 1  teaspoon salt
• 3  tablespoons butter
• 2  tablespoons sugar
• 3 1⁄2 cups bread flour
• 2  teaspoons active dry yeast

Directions

1. Measure all ingredients except for the raisins and vanilla into your bread machine according to the manufacturer's directions.
2. Set your bread machine to bake in the raisin mode.
3. Light crust would work well with this bread.
4. After starting the machine, place the raisins in a bowl or cup and add the vanilla extract.
5. Soak raisins for 1 hour; drain.
6. Add the raisins when your machine beeps or signals to add additional ingredients.
7. Continue with the baking cycle.