Swedish Cardamom Bread (Pulla)
📜 Collection: GC | ✍️ Attribution: Unknown | 📂 Category: Bread A traditional, aromatic yeasted sweet bread heavily spiced with cardamom and studded with raisins. This large-batch recipe creates multiple loaves of beautifully braided bread, perfect for holidays and special occasions.
| Prep Time | Cook Time | Inactive / Chill Time | Yield / Servings |
|---|---|---|---|
| 30 mins | 1 hr | 4 hrs | 2-3 loaves |
🔪 Key Equipment
- Saucepan
- Small bowl
- Very large mixing bowl
- Floured surface
- Greased loaf pans
- Oven
Ingredients
| Measurements | Ingredients | Prep / Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2 ½ to 3 Cups | Milk | scalded and cooled to lukewarm |
| ½ Cup | Water | warm |
| 2 packets | Yeast | active dry |
| 6 Cups | Flour | sifted all-purpose |
| 1 to 1 ¼ Cups | Sugar | divided |
| 3 Heaping Tbsps | Cardamom | ground |
| 2 tsps | Salt | none |
| ¼ Cup + 1 Tbsp | Butter | melted |
| 1 ½ Cups | Raisins | none |
Instructions
Step 1: Prep and Proof
- In a saucepan, heat the 2 ½ to 3 cups milk until small bubbles form around the edge, but do not let it boil. Remove from heat and let it cool until it’s lukewarm.
- In a small bowl, dissolve the 2 packets yeast in the ½ cup water. Let it stand for about 5 minutes until it becomes foamy.
Step 2: Mix and Knead Dough
- In a very large mixing bowl, combine the cooled scalded milk and the proofed yeast mixture. Stir in the 1 to 1 ¼ cups sugar, 2 tsps salt, ¼ cup + 1 tbsp butter, 3 heaping tbsps cardamom, and 1 ½ cups raisins.
- Gradually add the 6 cups flour, mixing until a soft dough forms.
- Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead for about 5-8 minutes, until the dough is smooth, elastic, and no longer sticky.
Step 3: Rise and Shape
- Place the dough in a buttered, warm bowl, turning it over to grease the top. Cover with a cloth and let it rise in a warm, draft-free place for 3 hours until doubled in size.
- Punch down the dough. Divide it into two or three equal portions. For each portion, divide it into three smaller pieces and roll them into long ropes. Braid the three ropes together and tuck the ends under. Place each braided loaf into greased loaf pans.
- Cover the loaves and let them rise again for 1 hour.
Step 4: Bake
- Preheat your oven to 400°F. Place the loaves in the oven and bake for 15 minutes.
- Reduce the oven temperature to 350°F and continue to bake for an additional 45 minutes, or until the bread is golden brown and sounds hollow when tapped.
💡 Make-Ahead & Storage: Store sliced bread in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days, or freeze the baked loaves wrapped tightly for up to 2 months.
Original Recipe Scan
