Today´s recipe for the Tuesdays with Julia group is Finnish Pulla.
This recipe for a Finnish sweet dessert bread is by contributing baker Beatrice Ojakangas. Most sweet breads are made with a yeast-based dough that gives rise to a lighter and fluffier texture than that of traditional breads. This recipe like any other basic recipe, calls for the flour and yeast to be combined with an amount of liquid (warm milk) to form a soft dough mixture, which is then left to rise. The soft, pliable, aerated dough is then separated into three strands of dough that get braided first and then formed into a ring, or wreath and then left to rise again before baking. This Pulla dough is flavored with one teaspoon of freshly crushed cardamom seeds, brushed with an egg wash and topped with slivered almonds and pearl sugar just before baking.
The Pulla smelled heavenly when baking and looked pretty – I used a large vintage pie baking pan from my collection of old bake ware and it was the exact right size for this large Finnish sweet bread wreath. And since I had some dough left over, I used a mini springform pan to bake a small version.
The Pulla is wonderful served fresh with some really good butter and jam or local honey and a nice cup of tea or coffee for dunking. This recipe is just fabulous! And will certainly make numerous reappearances at our house. We really liked the addition of the almonds and pearl sugar on top of the wreath, not only did it make for a nice presentation, it also tasted just wonderful since the bread itself is not overly sweet.
Breads like this Pulla can quickly go stale if exposed to air. So, ideally, you should allow the bread to cool properly and then wrap any left overs in saran wrap or aluminium foil and keep them stored in airtight containers for up to three days.
On the occasion of the approaching Christmas, I would like to take the opportunity to wish you all
A Christmas full of love, joy and health and many happy moments in the coming 2013 year! – Ich wünsche allen frohe und besinnliche Festtage und alles Gute für das kommende Jahr 2013!
To see all the other Finish Pulla by the talented members of the Tuesday with Dorie group, please do click here.
The recipe can be found at Erin´s delightful blog Thedailymorsel.com - "Thank you" so much for being such a gracious host, Erin!
Of course I like the small one, so cute! This was such a hit, I plan on making it a lot too, so many flavor ideas. It´s my new favorite sweet dough! Beautiful pulla Andrea!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Paula - the mini Pulla was for the girls - they love everything miniature, especially when it is baked and sweet.
DeleteThose loaves are just gorgeous, Andrea, and I love your Christmas decorations - so sweet. Have a very merry Christmas!
ReplyDeleteThanks so very much, Teresa! Maybe I will "see2 you on Friday for the "Cheese Crackers" - hopefully I will be able to make them tomorrow...
DeleteAndrea, your photos are delightful and so well staged! The miniature pulla is adorable. Wishing you a very joyful Christmas!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much - I just decided that instead of a bow, I would bake a mini Pulla for one of the girls to take to her best friend.
DeleteAlthough I've never had a chance to have this beautiful Pulla, I bet this is so delicious, and I'm a huge cardamom fan too! Also I want to say I'm enjoying looking at your Christmas decorations. So nice to see some handmade stuff when our life is filled with plastic things! :)
ReplyDeleteNami, thank you! Lots of wooden decorations at our house - and they seem to accumulate quite a bit but it is fun to put them on display for Christmas,they add a nice festive touch.
DeleteThese loaves were definitely gorgeous! And your photos are absolutely lovely!
ReplyDeleteThank you very much for the lovely comment - always so nice to hear from you!
DeleteGreat looking wreath. The slivered almonds with the sugar you used just look wonderful! And how fun to make a mini! Happy Holidays!
ReplyDeleteGretchen thanks so much for stopping by. We can never seem to have too many almonds on cakes and sweet dessert bread at our house. And it makes for a nice presentation to have almonds and pearl sugar on top of this bread wreath.
DeleteSimply beautiful looking bread, Andrea!! I froze mine so that I can serve it Christmas morning! Merry Christmas and a healthy happy New Year to you and your family!! I received your card…thank you!!
ReplyDeleteKathy, thanks for the lovely comment - and you are quite welcome for the card! Will you manage to bake the cheese carckers for the FFwD?
DeleteHappy Christmas to you! Love your baby version. I used a large deep dish pizza pan for mine and it was perfect too. Your Christmas themed photos are so beautiful.
ReplyDeleteKaren, thanks so much - you are quite right, the deep dish pizza pans are fantatsic for baking these kinds of wreaths - just the right size and format!
DeleteLovely! I have to try to remember the almonds next time. I agree that this one will have to make another appearance soon. Happy Christmas!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for stopping by - ah, the almonds, my kids go crazy over almonds in any shape or form so I can never put enough of them in or on any of my baked goods!
DeleteI like the idea of baking in springform pans -- great pictures and wonderful post!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much, Catherine!
DeleteI love the pic of your bread all puffed up and peeking out from the top of the pan!! beautiful bread Andrea!! here's wishing you and your family a Happy and magical Christmas and New year!! See you in the new year!!
ReplyDeleteSarwani, thank you - I let the bread rise for two hours on the second rise - I think I liked it better this way and it did look quite nice in the end, I believe I will bake one tomorrow to give as a gift to one of the breadlovers in my life.
DeleteYour bread looks fabulous. And I so want the red reindeer in the background!
ReplyDeleteThank you very much - I bought that red reindeer at one of the many Christmas bazaars that we attended this year - hand-made by some very crafty kids.
DeleteI wanna cook this SOON!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much - this was a recipe that everyone seems to have enjoyed eating and baking tremendously!
DeleteI love that you made a smaller one too. They both look great. And your pics are wonderful! I really loved making this bread as it was my introduction to cardamom (my new found joy). Can't wait to make it again.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the nice comment - these mini baked goods are always a hit with the kids and they are fun to bake and give as gifts.
DeleteAbsolutely gorgeous, Andrea!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Jessica!
DeleteYour post has such a great Christmas spirit! Beautifully done again. I told one of my kids about your blog and all the pretty Christmas things you post. He is artsy and loves to write and he too enjoyed your blog. This bread, I think, fits nicely into your life...it reminds me of you...I actually thought about you while baking my wreath. Merry Christmas!
ReplyDeleteKrissy, what a very lovely thing to write - thanks so very much, you really put a smile on my face today. Wishing you all the best for the Holidays as well!
DeleteLovely bread and photos.. Definitely a keeper for me too, loved it with strawberry jam, yummy.. Happy christmas!
ReplyDeleteFerda, thanks for the lovely comment - strawberry jam sound awfully delicious with this dessert bread.
DeleteBeautiful pulla, Andrea! I wish I had a second smaller version tucked in my freezer :)
ReplyDeletePS...I love your polka dot reindeer!
Liz, what a good idea to store some smaller versions in the freezer. Will remeber that for the next time!
DeleteWhat a beautiful pulla, Andrea. Looks absolutely delicious. Especially love your Christmas decorations in the background - they are so sweet. Wishing you a very Merry Christmas and all the best wishes for the coming year. All the best, Inge and Gillian
ReplyDeleteInge and Gillian - thanks s o much - hope you will have time to develop even more of your amazing gf recipes over the holidays!
DeleteWhat a beautiful loaf of bread!
DeleteBest wishes to you, too, Andrea for a merry Christmas, and much time spent with family and friends.
Beth, thank you so much - all the best to you and your family for the coming year as well and thank you for all your lovely comments this year!
DeleteBeautiful Pulla! Love the santa decorations. ~Happy Holidays!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Cathleen! Happy Holidays to you as well!
DeleteGorgeous pictures and beautiful bread, as always! Happy Holidays to you and your family.
ReplyDeleteMarlise, thank you so much - hope you will spend wonderful holidays with your lovely family as well!
DeleteYumm! This pull bread looks absolutely delicious! Was wanting to make something like this in the next few days and I think I have just found the perfect recipe!
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year!
Chloe & Sarah
Thank you, Chloe and Sara! I would like to take the opportunity to send you both the very best wishes for the new year!
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