Big Daddy is baking up some Vetebröd, which is a Swedish Cardamom Bread. It’s slightly sweet and the Cardamom gives it a wonderful taste. I recommend baking some of these and give them to friends and family as gifts—they will be very happy to receive them.
Category
Breads
Time
2 hours 50 minutes
Ingredients:
1 and 1/2 cups milk
1/2 cup butter, cut into pieces
1/2 cup honey
2 large eggs
1 package instant yeast (2 and 1/4 teaspoons)
6 cups bread flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 and 1/2 teaspoons ground cardamom
2 tablespoons sugar (for topping)
2 tablespoons milk (for topping)
Needed:
Mixing Bowl
Whisk
sauce pan
Stand Mixer (or very large bowl)
baking sheet
Instructions
Heat 1 and 1/2 cups milk, butter and honey milk foams along the edge of the pan. Remove from the heat and cool to 110° F.
Pour milk mixture into the bowl of a stand mixer. Add 2 cups flour, yeast, and cardamom.
Whisk until smooth. Add remaining flour (hold back about 1/2 cup) and salt and kneed until a stiff but slightly sticky dough is formed. This will take anywhere from 8 to 10 minutes. This dough can also be kneaded by hand, it will take 10-12 minutes.
Form dough into a ball and place in a greased bowl. Allow to rise for about 1 hour, or until the dough is double in volume.
Punch down dough, and divide into two pieces. Divide each portion into thirds. Roll each piece into 14 inch ropes. Place 3 ropes on a board and braid pinching ends to seal and tuck under. Place on parchment lined backing sheet. Repeat with remaining dough. Cover and let rise until doubled, about 30-45 minutes. Preheat oven to 375° F.
Brush each braid with remaining milk and sprinkle with sugar. If you can find Swedish Pearl sugar, use that...it's really pretty.
Bake for.25-30 minutes, or until the loaves reach 190°.
