Pulla:
   Finnish Coffee Bread


     2 cups milk (scalded)
     1 Tbsp. crushed cardamom seeds
     2 yeast cakes
     ¼ cup warm water
     1 cup sugar
     ½ cup melted butter (or margarine)
     1 tsp. salt
     4 eggs, beaten
     8-9 cups all-purpose flour

Dissolve yeast in warm water.  Add milk, sugar, salt, eggs, and enough flour to make a batter.  Beat.  Add about 3 cups flour; beat well.   Add butter; stir.  Add flour ‘til a stiff dough. 

Knead on slightly floured board.  Grease bowl.  Turn dough to grease both sides.  Cover; let rise until doubled in size.  Punch down.  Let rise an additional 30 minutes.

Divide dough into three parts.  Divide again into thirds.

Roll dough to make braids 1½ inches wide.  Braid three strips into a long loaf.  Repeat for the second and third loaves.  Grease baking sheets (a pan with low sides allows browning of the sides of the loaves), and place dough on sheets. 

Let rise 20 minutes.  Glaze with beaten egg.  Bake at 400° for 20-30 minutes.  Yields three braided loaves.


 Courtesy of Ruth Ahola