Sweet Yeasted Bread (Vetebröd)

By JDARK

Ingredients

• 2-1/2 cups milk
• 1-1/2 cups melted butter
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 teaspoons salt
• 2 teaspoons freshly ground cardamom (from 25 cardamom pods)
• 2 packages dry active yeast (4-1/2 teaspoons)
• 9 cups all purpose or bread flour
• 1 egg plus 2 tablespoons water, lightly beaten together into an egg wash
• Pearl sugar (or crushed sugar cubes)
• Slivered almonds

Details

Servings 2
Adapted from scandinavianfood.about.com

Preparation

Step 1

1. Heat milk to a light boil, turning off heat when it reaches the scalding point (with small bubbles across the top).
2. Stir in melted butter, sugar, salt, and ground cardamom.
3. Let mixture cool until “finger-warm” (still quite warm, but just cool enough to touch).
4. Stir in yeast and let sit for 10 minutes.
5. Add flour into mixture 1/2 cup at a time until dough is firm and pulls away from the side of your mixing bowl (Tip: If using a stand mixer, exchange the mixing paddle for the dough hook after you’ve added the first 5 cups of flour. Use the dough hook to mix and knead the dough as you add the remaining 3-4 cups of flour).
6. Cover the dough in the mixing bowl with a clean towel and let rise until doubled, about an hour.
7. Punch down the dough, then remove from bowl.
8. On a floured counter, knead dough lightly until smooth and shiny.
9. Divide dough into two halves.
10. Divide each half of the dough into three equal portions. 12. Roll each portion into a long, thin “snake” (about 18 inches long).
11. Braid three of the “snakes” together, folding and pinching outer edges under to form a loaf shape.
12. Repeat for second set of three dough “snakes.”
13. Place the two braided loaves (or the single braided wreath) on a greased baking sheet, cover with a towel, and let rise until doubled, about 45 minutes.
14. Preheat oven to 375º.
15. When loaves have doubled, brush with egg wash and sprinkle with pearl sugar and almonds.
16. Place in the middle of a preheated oven and bake for 25 minutes, or until done.