Finnish Pulla (Coffee Bread)

Place these dough ingredients into breadmaker in this order:
3/4 cup warm milk
2 eggs at room temperature
4 tbsps. butter at room temperature
1/2 cup sugar
2 tsps. ground cardamon
3 1/2 cups bread flour
1 packet or 2 tsps. instant yeast

GLAZE

1 cup confectioners sugar

1/4 - 1/2 cup of milk

2 tbsps. butter, melted

1 tsp. vanilla extract

Mix all ingredients together but add the milk a little at a time until the glaze is smooth, not pasty, not watery but smooth. Cover and set aside

Remember these babies?  I don't see or hear many people using them these days anymore.  Do you have one and use it?  I haven't used mine in over a year since we moved to Spottswood Place.  It feels so great to put this to good use again.

Start by pouring in the 3/4 cup milk 

Add the 2 eggs

 4 tbsps butter

Add the 1/2 cup sugar

Add the 1 tsp. salt

Add the 2 tsps. cardamom.  This spice is SOOOOO amazing.  It's so Christmas-y for me.

Add all 3 1/2 cups bread flour, make sure it covers over all the other ingredients

Finally, sprinkle in the 2 tsps. instant yeast

Set your bread maker to the "dough" feature, sit back and relax.....

....or stand there and watch it but that would be kinda silly

When the ringer goes off, punch the dough down, close the lid and let rise again

When the ringer goes off again, take the dough out and place on floured surface.  Divide the dough in half.  Place one half in a bowl and cover with a damp cloth.  With the other half, divide into three pieces

Take each piece of dough and roll - don't laugh at my rolls, I know I need a kitchen scale and I'll get one someday

With your fingers dipped in water, pinch three ends together so they stick well.  Braid and then repeat the same method with the other ends, fold both ends under.  Brush melted butter over dough.  Now take the other  1/2 of dough and make another braided loaf

Place both loaves on a cookie sheet, cover with parchment paper....

.....as well as with a warm damp cloth, let rise 20 minutes.  Preheat oven to 350F degrees.   Uncover and bake for 17 minutes for two loaves and 12 minutes for one loaf or until golden brown.

Take the glaze, stir if needed and then drizzle over the warm loaves

I like a lot of drizzle. 

I dressed this one up to take to a party.

I really don't want to share this....., would you?

This one ended up being ours.  Wrap and decorate because your family deserves pretty and delicious goodies all dolled up too.

The first time I ever had Pulla Bread was when my sister-in-law made it years ago for Christmas.  I never had it before and I was in heaven and couldn't get enough.  She is Finnish and I believe her parents came from Finland so this is a recipe they make for Christmas.  I may have asked her for the recipe way back then, I don't remember but I know I pulled this one off the internet several years ago and have stuck with it.  When you make this bread, you'll be amazed at the lovely aromas filling up your kitchen and home.  I'm convinced cardamom can be used as an air freshener all by itself.   Hubby came in from the other room and commented on how good the house was smelling and how it was making him hungry.  I think I'm going to make another batch tomorrow.  This makes for a lovely gift to give to others.  I took this to a party today and was immediately complemented on it - what's better than serving a baked goodie fresh out of the oven??  I score!!! :)

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