Catholic Recipe: Finnish Coffee Braid
Also Called: Pulla
This Coffee braid is flavored with cardamon.
DIRECTIONS
Add yeast to warm water; stir until dissolved. Add lukewarm milk. Beat 1 egg and sugar together. Add milk mixture, salt, and some of the flour; stir to mix. Add cardamom and enough more flour to make soft dough. Knead vigorously until thoroughly mixed. Add butter or margarine; knead until dough no longer sticks to sides of bowl. Cover; let rise in warm place (85°) until doubled in bulk — about 45 minutes. Punch down; divide into 3 equal portions. Shape each portion into long strand. Braid strands to form a loaf. Cover; let rise again until doubled in bulk. Brush with a slightly beaten egg. Sprinkle with almonds. Bake at 350° about 30 minutes or until golden brown and done. Cool, then frost, if desired, with Confectioners' Sugar Icing (see recipe).
Recipe Source: Cook's Blessings, The by Demetria Taylor, Random House, New York, 1965
