Julekake/ Julekaga ~ Norwegian Cardamom Scented Bread
Servings 4 -6
Ingredients
- 1/2 tsp active yeast
- 1/8 cup lukewarm water
- 1/4 cup lukewarm milk
- 1/8 cup sugar
- A pinch of salt
- 25 gm butter at room temperature
- 1 large egg
- 1 1/2 cup all purpose flour refer notes
- 3/4 tsp cardamom powder
- 1/3 cup raisins
- 1 tsp milk
- 2 tbsp chopped almonds
- 1 tbsp granulated sugar
Instructions
- Break the egg and lightly beat it. Set aside.
- In a mug, add the milk, water, yeast and 1 tsp sugar. Mix well and allow it to froth for around 10 minutes.
- In a bowl, combine the soft butter, salt, half the beaten egg and the yeasty mixture.
- Add in the flour and cardamom flour and start kneading into a soft and elastic dough. Add more flour or water to reach the desired consistency.
- Spread out the dough on a surface, sprinkle the raisins and roll it out like a swiss roll. This way the raisins will get incorporated into it. Knead briefly again.
- Keep in an oiled bowl, covered for an hour or so till the dough doubles.
- Punch down the dough and knead one more time. Shape it like a ball or loaf, depending on the pan that you are using.
- Leave it on your greased baking pan/ loaf tin for another 45 minutes.
- Meanwhile, preheat your oven to 180 degrees.
- Mix the 1 tsp milk into the remaining egg and brush it generously all over the bread. Sprinkle the chopped almonds and the granulated sugar on the top.
- Bake for 25 to 30 minutes. If the top is browning, then cover lightly with an aluminium foil - I didn't do that so had a hard top.
- Allow to cool on a wire rack completely before slicing and serving with a cup of tea. We didn't even wait for the tea - we just straight away gobbled it! Hehe...
Notes
1. Adjust the flour. Start by putting in 1 1/4 cup and kneading. If it is sticky, then add the remaining 1/4 cup of flour. I added the extra flour to get the desired dough.
2. You can skip the egg completely and use milk alone for the wash.
3. You can definitely add 1/4 cup of candied orange peel or tutti frutti to this bread. I only used raisins.
4. This bread can be made with an icing. Then add no sugar into the bread if doing so. For the icing, combine 1/8 cup of icing sugar, 1 tbsp cream or milk and 1/4 tsp almond extract into pouring consistency (adjust on the cream/ milk) and pour over the bread. I skipped this step.
2. You can skip the egg completely and use milk alone for the wash.
3. You can definitely add 1/4 cup of candied orange peel or tutti frutti to this bread. I only used raisins.
4. This bread can be made with an icing. Then add no sugar into the bread if doing so. For the icing, combine 1/8 cup of icing sugar, 1 tbsp cream or milk and 1/4 tsp almond extract into pouring consistency (adjust on the cream/ milk) and pour over the bread. I skipped this step.