Norwegian Christmas Bread (Julekake)
A traditional Norwegian Christmas bread, Julekake, offers a delightful holiday treat that can be easily prepared at home.
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Instructions
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Preheat the oven to 375 F with a rack in the center.
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Dissolve yeast in water.
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Heat milk and butter or margarine in a saucepan until melted, then cool to warm (no higher than 120 F).
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Combine 4 cups flour, sugar, salt, and cardamom in a large bowl.
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Add the yeast and butter mixtures; beat with an electric mixer until the batter forms sheets.
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Fold in candied fruit, then gradually add the remaining 4 cups of flour.
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Knead dough for 6-8 minutes until smooth and elastic.
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Shape dough into a ball, place in a greased bowl, cover, and let rise in a warm spot (80-85 F) for about 1 hour until doubled.
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Punch down dough and transfer to a lightly floured surface.
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Shape into two equal loaves and place each in a greased 9x5x3-inch loaf pan.
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Brush loaf tops with milk.
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Cover and let rise again for 45-50 minutes until doubled.
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Bake loaves for 30-40 minutes until golden brown.
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Remove from pans and cool completely on a rack before slicing.