Britta Berry Meringue Cake || BritaKakku

INGREDIENTS

Cake batter:

.5 lb unsalted butter

2 c milk

3 eggs

.5 c regular sugar

cardamom (at least 1.5 tablespoons ground - fresh or otherwise)

4 tsp yeast (or 2 packets)

6.5 c bread flour (or 4 c bread flour and 2.5 c AP flour)

1 tsp salt

Meringue:

1 egg

pearl sugar (at least .25 cup)

Filling:

Sliced strawberries or other fruit

whipped cream

1. Melt butter on stove and once melted, add milk.

2. Combine yeast, sugar, cardamom, salt and eggs in mixing bowl and mix.

3. Add warm (not hot) melted butter and milk to the mixing bowl.

4. Mix well and add the flour gradually until a silky dough forms.

5. Keep adding the flour and mixing/kneading until the dough is only slightly sticky.

6. Butter/grease another large bowl and put the pulla dough into the bowl. Flip the dough over to prevent it from drying out.

7. Cover bowl with towel and allow to rise until at least doubled (about 30min-1hr) — this is a great time to wash the original mixing bowl and to make the filling!

8. Once dough has risen, turn it onto a hard clean surface and knead it by hand some more.

9. Divide the dough into 4 equal parts (use a food scale, if you want to get technical).

10. Take one section of dough and divide into 2 parts.

11. Braid according to diagram.

12. Tuck ends of braid under loaf to secure them.

13. Turn on the oven, so that it can preheat to 350˚F.

14. Let the loaves rise until almost doubled again and then coat in egg wash with a basting brush.

15. Sprinkle loaves with pearl sugar.

16. Once oven is preheated, put the loaves in.

17. After 10 min, turn the oven temp down (without opening the door and to let out steam) to 325˚F.

18. Bake approximately 20-25 min more until brown and internal temp is at least 190˚F for 30 sec or more.

19. Best enjoyed warm with coffee and good company!