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Nisu - Finnish sweet bread

A sweet bread you can share with your friends, or freeze and bring out for the holidays.
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Course Breakfast, Brunch
Cuisine Finnish

Ingredients
  

  • 2 packages active dry yeast or 2¼ teaspoons per packet
  • ¾ cup warm water
  • 1 can evaporated milk 110 ℉
  • 1½ cup granulated sugar
  • 2 teaspoons salt
  • 1 teaspoon ground cardamom
  • 4 large eggs beaten
  • ½ cup butter softened
  • 8-9 cups all-purpose flour

glaze for top just before baking

  • 1 egg beaten
  • milk

glaze for top after cooling

  • powdered sugar
  • milk

Instructions
 

  • dissolve the yeast in the warm water
  • In a stand mixer or large bowl add the milk, sugar, salt, cardamon and eggs mix together and then add 2 cups of flour to make a batter. Beat until smooth and elastic.
  • Add 3 cups of flour and beat well. The dough should be smooth and glossy in appearance. Add the flour one cup at a time until the dough is stiff. Add the butter and beat until the dough looks glossy again.
  • Turn the dough onto a floured surface and invert the bowl over it to let it rest for 15 minutes or so.
  • Knead the dough until it is smooth and satiny. Place it in a large lightly greased bowl and cover it lightly, let it rise in a warm place until it doubles in size. Punch it down and let it rise again.
  • Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and divide it into 3 equal parts. Working with one loaf at a time. Divide it into 3 equal parts again, using the palm of your hands, roll each into 3 long strips about 16 inches long. Take the 3 long strips and place one end together and then braid them, pinch both ends together and turn them under. Place on a baking sheet and repeat with the remaining dough two more times.
  • Cover the loaves with a clean tea towel and let set in a warm place to rise. about and hour or hour and a half. Preheat oven to 400 ℉. Glaze each loaf with a beaten egg and milk. Sprinkle some sugar bake for 20-30 minutes. Careful not to overbake or the bread with be dry.
  • after the bread has cooled, take a little powdered sugar and a drop or two of milk to make a paste for the top as desired.
Keyword Finnish Sweet Bread, Nisu, Sweet Bread