Finnish Coffee Bread For The Bread Machine Recipes

Steps:

• 1. This recipe is for the bread machine. I have the "Breadman Ultimate" machine, used for this recipe. Add the yeast to the warm water. Stir until dissolved. Add milk and stir. In a separate bowl, beat one of the eggs with the sugar. Stir in the yeast mixture, salt and cardamom. Pour all this into the bread machine.
• 2. Add the flour. Pour your raisins into the "Extras" compartment. Set your machine on the "Fruit and Nut" setting for a 2 lb. loaf with Extras. Crust setting should be Medium. Turn machine on. Watch as it mixes. You will probably have to add more flour because the dough will be a bit runny. Add enough flour to make it a little thicker than cake batter consistency. It will not form a ball around the paddle!
• 3. Beat the other egg and brush the loaf with this mixture when it comes out of the machine. You may sprinkle some sugar over the top also, if you wish. Serve with butter, jam, honey - your preference. Enjoy.

Steps:

• Beat eggs with sugar. In a small saucepan (or in the microwave), warm the milk, and melt the butter in the warm milk. Add cardamom, vanilla and salt. Mix above ingredients until well blended and pour liquids in bottom of the bread machine pan. (Note: Follow your individual bread machine instructions as to adding ingredients. But do not mix salt with yeast. Salt will negate the action of the yeast.) Add the flour, make a small dent in flour and place yeast in dent. Set machine on dough setting. Preheat oven to 350°F. When cycle is finished, remove dough and cut into two pieces. Cut each of the two pieces into three pieces for braids. Braid dough and shape. Let rise until about double. Brush on Eggbeaters and sprinkle with coarse sugar. (make an egg wash by beating one egg with one teaspoon of water. Brush on, then sprinkle with sugar.) Bake 15 to 20 minutes, until bread has risen and the loaves are golden brown. Transfer to a wire rack to cool.

Steps:

• Warm the milk in a small saucepan until it bubbles, then remove from heat. Let cool until lukewarm.
• Dissolve the yeast in the warm water. Stir in the lukewarm milk, sugar, salt, cardamom, 4 eggs, and enough flour to make a batter (approximately 2 cups). Beat until the dough is smooth and elastic. Add about 3 cups of the flour and beat well; the dough should be smooth and glossy in appearance. Add the melted butter or margarine, and stir well. Beat again until the dough looks glossy. Stir in the remaining flour until the dough is stiff.
• Turn out of bowl onto a floured surface, cover with an inverted mixing bowl, and let rest for 15 minutes. Knead the dough until smooth and satiny. Place in a lightly greased mixing bowl, and turn the dough to grease the top. Cover with a clean dishtowel. Let rise in a warm place until doubled in bulk, about 1 hour. Punch down, and let rise again until almost doubled.
• Turn out again on to a floured surface, and divide into 3 parts. Divide each third into 3 again. Roll each piece into a 12 to 16 inch strip. Braid 3 strips into a loaf. You should get 3 large braided loaves. Lift the braids onto greased baking sheets. Let rise for 20 minutes.
• Brush each loaf with egg wash and sprinkle with sugar.
• Bake at 400 degrees F (205 degrees C) for 25 to 30 minutes. Check occasionally because the bottom burns easily.

Steps:

• Put all the ingredients in the bread machine on the dough setting, in the order specified for your machine.
• When the dough cycle completes, remove, divide in half and then split each part into 3 equal pieces.
• Roll into long strands (18" long), and braid strands into 2 loaves.
• Put loaves on greased cookie sheets.
• Let rise until doubled in size (30 minutes). Brush with second egg and sprinkle with sugar.
• Bake at 375°F for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown.
• Immediately after taking them out of the oven, remove from pans. Cool on racks.

Steps:

• Dissolve yeast in warm water in a large bowl.
• Stir in milk, sugar, salt, cardamom, 4 eggs, and 2 cups of flour.
• Stir until dough is smooth.
• Add 3 cups of flour and stir well.
• Stir in melted butter or margarine.
• Stir in 2-3 cups more flour or until you have a stiff dough.
• Turn dough out onto a floured bread board and cover with inverted bowl.
• Let rest for 15 minutes.
• Knead dough until smooth and satiny (8-10 minutes).
• Place dough in large lightly greased bowl, turning to grease top.
• Cover with plastic wrap and/or towel.
• Let dough rise in a warm place until doubled (1-2 hours).
• Punch dough down.
• Let dough rise again until almost double (30 minutes- 1 hour).
• Turn out onto floured board.
• Divide dough into thirds, working with only one third at a time.
• Divide (one- third of dough) into three parts.
• With your hands roll each part into one 18"strand.
• Braid the three stands together to form one braid, tucking ends under.
• Place on lightly greased cookie sheet.
• Let rise 20-30 minutes until puffy.
• Repeat with other two parts (each one-third of original dough).
• You will have three braids when finished.
• Brush braids with beaten egg and sprinkle with sugar.
• Bake in 400°F oven for 20-30 minutes or until braids are light brown.

Steps:

• Heat the milk in a small saucepan until it bubbles, then remove from heat. Stir in the margarine, sugar and salt until melted. Let cool until lukewarm. In a small bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water. Let stand until creamy, about 10 minutes.
• Pour milk mixture into a large bowl. Beat in eggs, 1 1/2 cup flour, cardamom and yeast mixture. Cover and let stand for 20 to 30 minutes, or until bubbly.
• Stir in the remaining flour, 1/2 cup at a time, beating well after each addition. When the dough has pulled together, turn it out onto a lightly floured surface and knead until smooth and supple, about 8 minutes. Lightly oil a large bowl, place the dough in the bowl and turn to coat with oil. Cover with a damp cloth and let rise in a warm place until doubled in volume, about 1 hour.
• Deflate the dough and turn it out onto a lightly floured surface. Divide the dough into three equal pieces and then divide each piece into thirds. Roll out with your hands until the pieces are long enough to braid. Braid three pieces together to form a loaf; repeat twice to make three loaves. Place on lightly greased baking sheets and let rise for 40 minutes, until nearly doubled. Meanwhile, preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Bake in preheated oven for 30 minutes, until golden brown. Move to a wire rack to cool completely.
• In a small bowl, mix together butter and confectioners' sugar. Stir in vanilla and 2 teaspoons milk to make a spreadable frosting. Spread the frosting over the cooled bread.