Auntie Maureen's Finn Coffee Bread

Total Time: 4 hrs 25 mins Preparation Time: 4 hrs Cook Time: 25 mins

Ingredients

• 4 tablespoons yeast
• 1/2 cup water, lukewarm
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 1/2 cup butter, melted
• 1 cup sugar
• 3 eggs
• 1 tablespoon cardamom seed, crushed
• 1 3/4 cups milk, evaporated
• 2 1/2 cups water, warm
• 9 cups flour, divided

Recipe

• 1 set the yeast in 1/2 cup lukewarm water with 1 teaspoons sugar in a small bowl, cover with saran wrap to rise, about 15 minutes.
• 2 in a large bowl, put butter, 1 sugar, eggs, and cardamon, mix together.
• 3 add yeast mixture, evaporated milk (this is not the sweetened condensed milk but rather evaporated milk, like carnation), add the 2 1/2 cups of warm water (use the empty can from the evaporated milk to measure. stir well, and then stir in 3 cups of the flour, stirring until a batter if formed.
• 4 cover with wax paper and a towel. put in a warm place and let rise until bubbly, about 1 - 1 1.2 hours.
• 5 stir in more flour, a bit at a time, and keep adding until a soft dough is formed. usually will take about 6 cups more.
• 6 cover again and put in warm place for second rising. when doubled put on floured board and knead 5 to 10 minutes.
• 7 divide and braid into 3 or 4 coffee braids, depending on the size you would like. raise until double. then brush lightly with beaten egg and sprinkle with sugar.
• 8 bake at 375°f for 20 - 25 minutes.