Finnish Coffee Bread (Pulla)
2 1/2 cups whole milk 1 egg, lightly beaten 2 teaspoons salt 1 cup sugar 1 tablespoon cardamom seeds crushed into a powder 1 ounce package of dry yeast 7 1/4 cups flour 7 1/2 ounces butter at room temperature 1 egg, beaten, and sugar for glaze
Warm the milk to 107 degrees and pour into a large bowl. Add the egg, salt, sugar, cardamom, yeast and half of the flour. Mix with large wooden spoon until well blended. Continue adding the flour cup by cup, gradually mixing it together. Add the butter last. Place a towel on top of the dough and keep in a warm place for 30 minutes while it rises and doubles in size. Sprinkle some flour on a board or table and on your hands while working with the dough. Punch down the dough, turn it onto a board, and shape it into small buns, or roll out long strands and braid three together to form loaves. Cover buns or loaves with a towel and let rise for 15 minutes. Glaze top of each bun or loaf with beaten egg and sprinkle with sugar. Bake in a 400 degrees oven 12 to 15 minutes for buns, and 25 minutes for loaves, until golden brown. Serve with cold milk or coffee. Makes 40 buns or 3 loaves. |