Cardamom Braided Loaf || Pulla
Makes 4 large 4-braid loaves
INGREDIENTS
Dough:
0.5 lb unsalted butter
2 c milk
3 eggs
0.5 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
Finishing:
1 egg
pearl sugar (at least 0.25 cup)
DIRECTIONS
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)!
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 of the dough parts and divide into 2 equal parts.
11. Roll dough part into two long ropes.
12. Braid the loaf as shown in diagram.
13. Tuck the ends of the dough underneath the loaf to secure them.
14. Turn on the oven, so that it can preheat to 400˚F.
15. Let the pulla loaves rise until almost doubled again and then coat in egg wash with a basting brush.
16. Sprinkle loaves with pearl sugar.
17. Once oven is preheated, put the loaves in.
18. After 10 min, turn the oven temp down to 375˚F.
19. Bake approximately 15-20 min more until brown and internal temp is at least 190˚F for 30 sec or more.
20. Best enjoyed warm with coffee and good company!
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