Sally M's Swedish Coffee Bread

StevenHB's Note:

As prepared by my mother-in-law.

• Total Time: 4 hrs 30 mins
• Prep Time: 4 hrs
• Cook Time: 30 mins

Ingredients:

Serves: 8

Yield: 2.0 loaves

• 1 cup milk
• 6 tablespoons butter or 6 tablespoons margarine
• 2 eggs
• ½ cup sugar
• 1 ½ teaspoons salt
• 2 (¼ ounce) packages active dry yeast
• 1 teaspoon crushed cardamom or 6 whole cardamom seeds , crushed
• 4 ½-5 cups flour

Directions:

1. Combine milk and butter in a saucepan and heat until lukewarm (105-115F). Pour into mixing bowl.
2. Add eggs, sugar, salt, yeast, cardomon and 1 cup flour.
3. Beat for 2 minutes with electric mixer.
4. Gradually add flour, stirring by hand until the dough no longer sticks to the sides of the bowl.
5. Place dough on a floured board and knead for 8-10 minutes.
6. Transfer to a greased bowl and allow to rise until doubled in size.
7. Punch dough down and divide in half then divide each half into 3 pieces.
8. Roll each piece into a rope and create two braided loaves, each with three pieces.
9. Place loaves in two greased bread pans, brush tops with melted butter and sprinkle with a mixture of cinnamon and sugar.
10. Preheat oven to 350°F.
11. Allow loaves to rise until doubled.
12. Bake in oven, approximately 30 minutes.