How to Make the Granville Inn’s Raisin Bread

While some traditions are best not tinkered with, chef Chad Lavely put a successful spin on the Granville Inn’s signature raisin bread recipe following the Licking County landmark’s 2015 renovation. 

“The old recipe didn’t fit today’s restaurant trend,” says Lavely, who cut the yeast in order to give the bread a more cake-like texture. “We wanted to be more health conscious while still paying tribute to the original recipe.” 

The inn’s second owners, Bob and Joan Kent, introduced the raisin bread, which was traditionally served at the start of each meal at the inn. Today, Lavely’s revamped version is typically paired with the Chintz Room Chicken Salad, but he adds that guests can request his new, quick-style raisin bread at any time. 

“We cater to the generations of families that have been coming to the inn for so long,” he says.

For more information, visit granvilleinn.com.

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Granville Inn Post-Renovation Raisin Bread | Yield: 2 loaves

INGREDIENTS
4 cups all-purpose flour
2 cups sugar, divided
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
2 eggs 
2 cups buttermilk
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1/2 cup raisins
3 tablespoons cinnamon

DIRECTIONS
Preheat oven to 350 F. Combine flour, 1 1/2 cups of sugar, baking soda and salt. Mix eggs, buttermilk and oil together and stir into dry ingredients until just moistened, then fold in raisins. Mix remaining 1/2 cup of sugar with 3 tablespoons cinnamon and set aside. Grease two 8-inch loaf pans, and then line each with parchment paper. Put 1/3 of the batter in the bottom of the two pans and sprinkle with 1/3 of the cinnamon and sugar mixture. Repeat until all batter and sugar mix has been used. Cut through the batter with a knife 3 to 4 times. Bake 30–35 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean. Place on cooling rack while in pan for 15 minutes, then remove from pan and let cool completely.