Christmas Bread (Jule Kaga)

Chef LauraMD's Note:

This is a moderately sweet cardamom flavored bread. Excellent for the holidays - or any special day! We like this lightly toasted with either peanut butter or butter and orange marmalade.

• Total Time: 2 hrs 30 mins
• Prep Time: 2 hrs
• Cook Time: 30 mins

Ingredients:

Serves: 40

Yield: 4.0 loaves

• 10 cups flour
• 1 tablespoon yeast, plus
• 1 1/2 teaspoons yeast
• 1/2 cup warm water
• 3 cups scaled milk
• 3/4 cup shortening
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 2 eggs
• 1 -2 tablespoon cardamom
• 1/2 cup plumped raisins
• 1/2 cup candied cherry
• 1/2 cup chopped walnuts

Directions:

1. Plump raisins by placing them in a microwavable container adding 1 c water for 3 minutes.
2. Dissolve yeast in 1/2 c warm water, set to the side. Mix together shortening, milk, sugar, salt, eggs, cardamom. Add in proofed yeast mixture and slowly add flour and reserve about 1/2 cup. If using Kitchen Aid with dough hook, mix for 5 minutes, if not, knead by hand for 3 minutes. Chop cherries, raisins and nuts mixed with the remaining flour and then work into bread.
3. Place in a large greased bowl and let raise for one hour in a warm area. Punch down bread and place into greased bread pans - should make 3 large loaves or 4 medium. Let raise one hour.
4. Preheat oven to 325. Cook bread for 30-40 minutes until golden brown.

Reviews

[Sydney Mike]

Cut the recipe in half but will certainly be making this TASTY BREAD again later nearer the end of the year when candied cherries are available ~ This time around I plumped 1/2 cup of dried cherries as I did the raisins! Also used 2 tablespoons of cardamom! Very good just with an orange flavored butter, too! [Tagged, made & reviewed for one of my adoptees in the current Pick-A-Chef]