Finnish Cardamom Sweet Bread (Coolock) (Original video)

Ingredients:

• Cardamom pods
• 1 cup lukewarm milk
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1 packet yeast
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 egg
• 2 teaspoons crushed cardamom
• 5 cups flour
• 1/2 stick melted butter
• Filling: butter, sugar, cinnamon
• Optional: peeled apples

Instructions:

1. Crush cardamom pods to a fine powder.
2. Mix lukewarm milk and sugar, then add yeast. Whisk.
3. Add salt, egg, crushed cardamom, and whisk well.
4. Gradually add 2 cups of flour, then melted butter. Mix with a wooden spoon.
5. Add 2 more cups of flour, mix, then add the final cup of flour until dough is smooth.
6. Let dough rise covered in a warm place for about an hour.
7. Roll out dough into a rectangle on parchment paper.
8. Cut strips along the sides and spread filling in the middle third.
9. Braid the dough by folding strips over the filling.
10. Pinch the ends together to seal.
11. Apply an egg wash on the dough.
12. Preheat oven to 375°F and bake the bread for about 25 minutes until golden brown.