Pulla
A delicious Finnish coffee bread

3/4 cup milk
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup butter
1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom
2 eggs, beaten
1 teaspoon sugar
1 envelope active dry yeast
1/2 cup lukewarm water (100 F.)
5 to 5 1/2 cups all-purpose flour


Scald milk. Pour the milk into a large bowl and add the sugar, salt, butter and cardomon. Stir until butter melts. Cool to lukewarm. Stir in the eggs.

Meanwhile, dissolve the yeast in the warm water. Let stand for 10 minutes. Then stir briskly with a fork. Add softened yeast to lukewarm milk mixture. Stir.

Beat in 2 cups of the flour, beating well until the dough is soft and stretchy. Add another 3 to 31/2 cups of flour

Work in last of flour with a rotating motion of the hand.

Turn dough out on a lightly floured surface and knead 8 to 10 minutes. Shape into a smooth ball and place in a greased bowl, rotating dough to grease surface.

Cover and let rise until doubled (about 2 hours). Punch down, and divide into 3 parts.

Shape each part into three 15-inch rolls and braid together. Place braided loaf on greased baking sheet.

Repeat to make 3 loaves. Cover and let rise again until doubled (about 1 1/4 hours).

Bake in preheated 375o F. oven for 30 to 35 minutes. As soon as bread is removed from oven, brush with a glaze of 2 tablespoons sugar dissolved in 1 tablespoon hot coffee.

Sprinkle with granulated sugar.

After bread is several days old it makes delicious toast - just slice 3/4 inch thick and toast in preheated 350 o oven for 15 to 20 minutes.

Makes 3 loaves.