Finnish Cardamom Bread (Pulla)

A sweet, braided bread perfumed with cardamom — the heart of Finnish fika.

Ingredients

• 3.5 cups flour
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 2 tsp cardamom (freshly ground is best)
• 1 tsp salt
• 2 tsp instant yeast
• 1 cup warm milk
• 1/4 cup butter, melted
• 1 egg
• Egg wash, pearl sugar for topping

Method

1. Mix flour, sugar, cardamom, salt, yeast. Add milk, butter, egg. Knead 8 min until smooth.

2. Rise 1 hour until doubled.

3. Divide into 3 pieces. Roll each into a long rope. Braid together. Place on parchment-lined sheet.

4. Rise 30 min. Brush with egg wash, sprinkle pearl sugar.

5. Bake 375°F for 25-30 min until golden.

What You're Practicing

• Freshly ground cardamom (crush the pods, grind the seeds) is dramatically more aromatic than pre-ground.
• Pearl sugar on top is traditional and adds a satisfying crunch.