Description
A unique bread with a sweet flavor that makes a wonderful holiday gift! It takes about 4 hours to make, so allow yourself plenty of time.
Ingredients
- 2 cups milk
- ½ cup warm water (110 degrees F/45 degrees C)
- 1 (.25 ounce) package active dry yeast
- 1 cup white sugar
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon ground cardamom
- 4 eggs, beaten
- 9 cups all-purpose flour
- ½ cup butter, melted
- 1 egg, beaten
- 2 tablespoons white sugar
Instructions
- Warm the milk in a small saucepan until it bubbles
- then remove from heat. Let cool until lukewarm.
- Dissolve the yeast in the warm water. Stir in the lukewarm milk
- sugar
- salt
- cardamom
- 4 eggs
- and enough flour to make a batter (approximately 2 cups). Beat until the dough is smooth and elastic. Add about 3 cups of the flour and beat well; the dough should be smooth and glossy in appearance. Add the melted butter or margarine
- and stir well. Beat again until the dough looks glossy. Stir in the remaining flour until the dough is stiff.
- Turn out of bowl onto a floured surface
- cover with an inverted mixing bowl
- and let rest for 15 minutes. Knead the dough until smooth and satiny. Place in a lightly greased mixing bowl
- and turn the dough to grease the top. Cover with a clean dishtowel. Let rise in a warm place until doubled in bulk
- about 1 hour. Punch down
- and let rise again until almost doubled.
- Turn out again on to a floured surface
- and divide into 3 parts. Divide each third into 3 again. Roll each piece into a 12 to 16 inch strip. Braid 3 strips into a loaf. You should get 3 large braided loaves. Lift the braids onto greased baking sheets. Let rise for 20 minutes.
- Brush each loaf with egg wash and sprinkle with sugar.
- Bake at 400 degrees F (205 degrees C) for 25 to 30 minutes. Check occasionally because the bottom burns easily.
Prep Time: 30 mins
Cook Time: 30 mins
Total Time: 3 hrs 20 mins
Servings: 36