Mamas Finnish Coffee Bread Recipes

FINNISH COFFEE BREAD (TRADITIONAL)

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.

FINNISH COFFEE BREAD (BREADMAKER RECIPE)

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.

FINNISH NISU - SWEET BREAD

Steps:

• Dissolve the yeast in the warm water.
• Stir in the milk, sugar, salt, cardamon, eggs and enough flour to make a batter (approx. 2 cups).
• Beat until dough is smooth and elastic.
• Add about 3 cups of flour and beat well.
• Dough should be smooth and glossy in appearance.
• Add remaining flour 1 cup at a time until dough is stiff.
• Add the butter; beat until dough looks glossy again.
• Turn out onto floured board, cover with inverted bowl.
• Let rest for 15 minutes.
• Knead until smooth and satiny.
• Place in lightly greased bowl, turn dough to grease top, cover lightly and let rise in warm place- until doubled in size.
• Punch down; let rise again.
• Turn out onton a lightly floured board, divide into 3 parts, and divide each part into 3.
• Shape each piece of dough into a strip 16 inches long by rolling between palms and board.
• Braid 3 strips together into a straight loaf and pinch ends together and tuck under.
• Repeat for second and third loafs.
• Place on lightly greased baking sheets.
• Let rise until puffy (1/2 to 1 hour).
• Glaze loaves with a mixture of beaten egg and milk.
• Sprinkle with sugar and sliced almonds.
• Bake at 400 degrees for 25-30 minutes.
• Do not overbake- or bread will be dry.

FINNISH "COFFEE BREAD" FOR THE BREAD MACHINE

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.