In a large mixing bowl, take sugar and warm water. Add yeast and mix it lightly. Cover the bowl with a clean and dry kitchen towel and let it sit for 10 minutes.
After 10 minutes, now, because yeast is active, the mixture will be frothy and bubbly. If the mixture is not foamy, that means the yeast is not active. In that case, discard it and start all over. Otherwise, continue with the next steps.
Add butter, milk, raisins, and salt into the yeast mixture. Mix well.
Add flour gradually and keep mixing with a wooden spoon or spatula. First, add 2 cups of flour and then slowly add the remaining flour, ½ cup at a time. You may need 3 to 3 & ½ cups of flour, depending on the type of flour. The dough will come together but will be very soft and sticky.
Take some flour onto a clean surface and place dough on it. Knead the dough with your palm and take some more flour if needed. The dough should be soft and hydrated and not dry. So while kneading, add flour very little by little.
Continue kneading the dough until it is soft but not sticky, smooth, and supple.
Lightly grease a large bowl and transfer the dough into it. Cover the bowl with a clean kitchen towel. And let the dough rise until double in size for about an hour to 1 & ½ hours.
The dough will be double in size after 1 to 1 & ½ hours, depending on the kitchen’s temperature.
Lightly punch down the dough to release the air.
Grease 9 X 5-inch loaf pan with oil. Roll the dough into a thick and large rectangle about 8 inches long, then roll it up and make a log. Place the log into a prepared loaf pan.
Cover the loaf pan with plastic wrap or a clean kitchen towel. Let it rise until doubled, and the dough is about 1 inch above the loaf pan for about an hour.
The dough will be double in size in an hour.
Preheat the oven to 350° F.Bake the bread for 32-35 minutes until golden brown on the top. Remove from the oven and immediately brush the top of the loaf with melted butter.
If the bread starts browning too much on the top after 20-25 minutes, take it out of the oven and loosely cover it with aluminum foil. Then Place it back into the oven and continue baking for the remaining time.
Let the bread cool completely before slicing. This bread will stay at room temperature for three days and more days into the refrigerator.