I make Ma her annual Christmas bread the day before Christmas Eve…that being today.
Three cups of flour
3/4 cup of warm milk
2 eggs
4 tbsp of butter
1/2 cup of sugar
1 tsp salt
2 tsp ground cardamom
1 package of dry yeast
3/4 cup of candied fruit or to taste
Mix the yeast and a scant 1/4 cup of warm water together and set aside.
Mix the sugar, butter, salt, eggs, cardamom and milk in a large bowl and beat for one minute. Add 1/2 of the flour and beat well until smooth, then add the yeast mixture and beat again for one minute longer. Add fruit and mix by hand until incorporated well and add the remaining flour and mix by hand until well blended.
Turn the dough out on a floured surface and knead for 5 minutes, adding flour to keep the dough manageable. Grease the bowl and put the dough back in it and place in a warm area to raise for an hour.
After raising, divide the dough into two rounds, kneading each one separately for about three minutes, then set on a greased cookie sheet. Raise again until doubled, then bake in a pre-heated 375 degree oven for 35 minutes. After 20 minutes in the oven reduce the heat to 350 for the final 15 minutes.
When the loaves are cool, frost with a simple white frosting of milk and powdered sugar and a splash of vanilla. Or you can add some orange zest to the frosting instead of the vanilla. Great either way and its a treat the ladies love.
