Cinnamon Loaf

Ingredients:

• ¼ Cup of Shortening or Butter (I used butter)
• 1 Cup of Sugar
• 2 Cups of Flour
• 2 Eggs
• 1 Teaspoon of Baking Powder
• ½ Teaspoon of Baking Soda
• 1 Teaspoon of Vanilla
• 1 Teaspoon of  Salt
• 1 Cup Sour Milk (To sour fresh milk, just add a  tablespoon of vinegar or lemon juice)
• 3.4 cups of raisins (optional)
• Vanilla Sugar (optional)

Topping Mix:

• 1 Tablespoon Cinnamon
• 3 Tablespoons Brown Sugar

Mix in a small bowl

Cream shortening or butter with sugar in a large mixing bowl

Add eggs, beating until fluffy.

Cream sugar and butter first, then add eggs and beat until fluffy - it only takes a few minutes

Mix your dry ingredients together in a separate bowl, then add them alternately with milk to creamed butter and sugar.
Mix until thoroughly blended.

Adding mixed dry ingredients alternatively with milk - I used wooden spoon, since I didn't want my raisins to get chopped up by electric mixer

Put half of the mixture into loaf pan that you have greased with butter and lightly floured to prevent sticking.
Sprinkle about 1/2 the topping over the batter.

I chose to use half of the cinnamon/brown sugar mix after putting the batter into baking pan and the other half on the top - you can do it either way

Add rest of the mixture on top and swirl through with a spoon or a butter knife.
Sprinkle with vanilla sugar if desired

I used glass loaf pan to be able to take picture showing the cinnamon mixture half way in the batter

Alternatively, you can put all the cinnamon.brown sugar in after the first half of batter, top with remaining batter and swirl with a spoon of butter knife. I chose to create a bit of a cinnamon.vanilla crust, that is why I topped the loaf with remaining topping.

Putting some of the cinnamon.brown sugar mix on top and adding vanilla sugar will create a delicious crust - but you can put all the mixture after first layer of batter and then just swirl with a spoon or a butter knife.

Bake at 350 F for about 1 hour or until a toothpick inserted into the centre comes out clean.

In the oven - let the baking begin and let that wonderful aroma fill the house!

Cool for about 10-15 minutes in the pan, then invert onto a rack and cool