Pulla

prep time:: 30 minutes
total time:: 4.5 hours (1.5 in bread machine, 2 rising, 30 minutes baking)

About 15 slices

Connie Reeves

An absolute family favorite--I’ve made it dozens of times. An everyday Finnish sweet bread.

ingredients

Bread dough ingredients

1 egg + 1 yolk
3/4 c. milk
3 Tbsp. butter
4 1/2 Tbsp. sugar
3/4 tsp. salt
1 1/2 tsp. ground cardamom
3 c. bread flour
1 Tbsp. yeast

Glaze ingredients

1 egg white beaten with 2 tsp. water
2 Tbsp. sliced or slivered almonds
1 to 2 Tbsp. sugar

directions

Combine bread dough ingredients

Put all bread dough ingredients in bread machine pan. Set for white or sweet bread, dough stage. Press Start.

Shape dough and let rise

When dough is ready, take out and punch down. Cut into 3 equal pieces. Let it rest 5 minutes. Butter a baking sheet (or spray with Pam). Roll each piece into a rope, about 20 inches long. Braid the ropes, tucking the ends under. Cover dough and put in a warm place to rise until doubled, about 1 to 2 hours.

Apply glaze and bake

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Brush dough with egg-water wash. Sprinkle with almonds and then with sugar. Bake bread until golden, about 30 minutes.

notes

In the days when I made bread everyday and sometimes 2 to 3 times a day, starting in 1995 when I got my first bread machine, I started making this and found it to be a great bread for coffees, for gifts, and just for the family to enjoy.

Source: The Bread Machine Book (Marie Lambert)