Finnish Christmas Bread

Total Time: 3 hrs 20 mins Preparation Time: 3 hrs Cook Time: 20 mins

Ingredients

• 2 (1/4 ounce) packages active dry yeast
• 1/2 cup warm water (105 -115 degreesf.)
• 1 1/2 cups milk, lukewarm
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon ground cardamom
• 4 eggs, beaten
• 8 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup melted butter

Recipe

• 1 sprinkle yeast on the warm water, let stand for a few minutes; stir to blend.
• 2 stir in milk, sugar, salt, cardmon, eggs, and 2 cups of the flour; beat until smooth.
• 3 add 3 more cups of flour; beat until smooth.
• 4 stir in melted butter.
• 5 add enough of the remaining flour to make a soft dough which can be handled.
• 6 cover and let rest 15 minutes.
• 7 turn out on a floured board;knead until smooth and elastic.
• 8 place in greased bowl; turn greased side up. cover with a damp towel.
• 9 let rise in a warm place until double in bulk - about 1 hour.
• 10 punch down.
• 11 cover and let rise again until almost doubled - about 1/2 hour.
• 12 turn out onto floured board and punch down again.
• 13 preheat the oven to 375 degrees f.
• 14 divide into 3 equal parts to make 3 coffee cakes. place coffee cakes on greased and floured cookie sheet to rise. important! after shaping breads, let rise about 20 minutes until puffy, not doubled!
• 15 bake at 375 degrees f. for 20 to 25 minutes or until lightly browned.