Recipe: Cardamom Bread, Cardamom Christmas Braid

Cardamom Bread

2 Tbsp active dry yeast
1/2 cup warm water (110-115 degrees)
1 Tbsp warm honey
4 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp salt
2 tsp ground cardamom
1/2 cup melted butter
2 eggs, room temperature
1 cup warm milk
1/2 cup warm honey
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

Proof yeast in water with honey. Combine flour, salt and cardamom in a large mixing bowl. Combine butter, eggs, milk and honey and add to dry ingredients. Fold in yeast mixture. Add enough flour to form a soft dough. Turn out on floured board, and knead until dough is no longer sticky. (5-10 minutes). Place in a large buttered bowl, lightly butter top of dough, cover and let rise until double in size. Punch dough down and knead briefly. Cover and let rest 15 minutes. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and grease pans. Form into 2 loaves or into rolls, lightly grease hands, squeeze dough through thumb and forefinger, producing a ball. Twist off and put in greased muffin tin. Let rise until double in size and bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes for rolls or 35-45 minutes for loaves, until light brown.

Cardamom Christmas Braid

2 1/4 c. flour
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. ground cardamom
1 pkg. dry yeast
2/3 c. warm milk
2 tbsp. sugar
1 egg, beaten
1/4 c. butter, melted

FROSTING

1 c. sifted confec. sugar
2 tbsp. milk
1/4 tsp. vanilla
1/4 c. blanched almonds

Mix flour, salt and cardamom; set aside.

Sprinkle yeast over milk in large sauce pan; stir until dissolved. Stir in sugar, egg, and flour mix; mix well. Add 2 tbsp butter, mix thoroughly.

Turn dough onto lightly floured surface; knead until smooth. Turn into lightly greased bowl. Cover with damp towel; let rise in warm place about 1 hour.

Punch down dough; cut into 3 equal parts. Roll each part into a 24 inch long rope.

On lightly greased cookie sheet, braid the ropes. Join ends to form a circle. Brush with rest of butter. Cover with damp towel; let rise until double about another 45 minutes.

Preheat oven 425(F. Bake braid 12 minutes or until nicely browned. Cool on wire rack.

Make Frosting: Combine confectioner's sugar, milk, and vanilla in small bowl, stirring until smooth.
Drizzle frosting over braid; let dry 10 minutes then decorate with almonds.