Finnish Nisu - Sweet Bread

Total Time: 3 hrs Preparation Time: 2 hrs 30 mins Cook Time: 30 mins

Ingredients

• 2 packages active dry yeast
• 3/4 cup warm water
• 1 (13 ounce) can undiluted evaporated milk, heated to 110 degrees
• 1/2-1 cup sugar
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 1 teaspoon crushed cardamom, seed
• 4 eggs, beaten
• 1/2 cup softened butter
• 8 -9 cups all-purpose flour
• egg, mixed with
• milk, for glaze
• pearl sugar or sliced almonds or plain sugar, for decoration

Recipe

• 1 dissolve the yeast in the warm water.
• 2 stir in the milk, sugar, salt, cardamon, eggs and enough flour to make a batter (approx. 2 cups).
• 3 beat until dough is smooth and elastic.
• 4 add about 3 cups of flour and beat well.
• 5 dough should be smooth and glossy in appearance.
• 6 add remaining flour 1 cup at a time until dough is stiff.
• 7 add the butter; beat until dough looks glossy again.
• 8 turn out onto floured board, cover with inverted bowl.
• 9 let rest for 15 minutes.
• 10 knead until smooth and satiny.
• 11 place in lightly greased bowl, turn dough to grease top, cover lightly and let rise in warm place- until doubled in size.
• 12 punch down; let rise again.
• 13 turn out onton a lightly floured board, divide into 3 parts, and divide each part into 3.
• 14 shape each piece of dough into a strip 16 inches long by rolling between palms and board.
• 15 braid 3 strips together into a straight loaf and pinch ends together and tuck under.
• 16 repeat for second and third loafs.
• 17 place on lightly greased baking sheets.
• 18 let rise until puffy (1/2 to 1 hour).
• 19 glaze loaves with a mixture of beaten egg and milk.
• 20 sprinkle with sugar and sliced almonds.
• 21 bake at 400 degrees for 25-30 minutes.
• 22 do not overbake- or bread will be dry.