Recipe - Scandinavian Coffee Braid

2 pack Active dry yeast
One half cup Warm water; (105oF to 115oF)
2 cup Milk; scalded and cooled
1 cup Sugar
2 teaspoon Salt
1 teaspoon Freshly crushed cardamom
4 Eggs; slightly beaten
8 cup Flour; (up to 9)
One half cup (1 stick) butter; melted
1 Egg beaten with 2 tbsps.
milk
One half cup Sliced almonds
One half cup Pearl sugar or coarsely
crushed sugar cube

In large bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water. Let stand for 5 minutes until
the yeast bubbles. Stir in milk, sugar, salt, cardamom, eggs, and 4 cups of
flour. Beat until smooth. Add the butter. Gradually stir in enough of
remaining flour to make a stiff dough. Turn out onto a floured board. Cover
and let stand for 15 minutes. Wash and greased bowl and set it aside. Knead
dough, adding flour as necessary, until it is smooth, about 10 minutes.
Place dough in prepared bowl, turning the dough to grease it on all sides.
Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled in bulk, 1 One half to 3 hours.
Punch down. Turn the dough out onto an oiled surface and divide it into 3
parts. Divide each part into 3 or 4 portions. Roll each portion into a
30inchlong rope. Braid 3 or 4 ropes together to make a loaf. Pinch the
ends together and tuck them under the loaf. Place on a lightly greased
baking sheet and repeat with the remaining portion of dough. Let rise in a
warm place, until almost doubled, about 45 minutes. Preheat over to 375oF.
Brush the loaves with the eggmilk mixture and sprinkled with the almonds
and/or sugar. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes or until lightly browned. do not
over bake. Cool on racks. Makes 3 loaves

NOTES : MAILING LIST 1995

Recipe by: Scandinavian Feasts

Posted to recipeludigest Volume 01 Number 441 by ctlindab@mail1.nai.net on
Jan 3, 1998