Several years back, my niece and her boyfriend came to visit me for a week when I lived in SW Florida. In an effort to make their stay great, I decided to bake them one of my favorite homemade breads.
On the second night of their visit, I served the bread warm from the oven with velvety soft butter. Their eyes lit up as they reached for a piece. I left them alone to watch their movie and hoped the bread would tide them over until dinner.
After I cleaned up the kitchen, I decided to join them. It was then that I discovered these two (small people) ate the entire loaf of bread – it was gone and I couldn’t believe it! They giggled and asked me if I’d make them another one. They skipped dinner and went to bed that night full of bread and butter. (Side note: I made them 4 loaves that week!)
As for the name of my bread…I’m of Swedish descent. My husband tends to be reminded of a playful word-game tied to the mother country of my distant relatives just about every time I make this bread and asks, “are you a Swede, or a Sweet?” This delicious bread has become known in my house as Charlene’s “Sweetish” Bread.
Book Recommendations: Scandinavian Baking
RECIPE: Sweetish Bread
- 1 cup milk
- 1 egg yolk
- 2 tablespoons softened butter
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- ⅓ cup sugar
- 1 teaspoon ground cardamom
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon nutmeg
- 1 envelope active dry yeast
For the top:
- 2 egg whites, slightly beaten
- Pearl sugar, or other decorative sugar
- Place ingredients in the pan of the bread machine in the order recommended by the manufacturer.
- Select dough cycle; press Start.
- When the dough cycle has finished, divide into three equal portions
- Roll each piece into a rope 12 to 14 inches long
- Lay the three ropes side by side, then braid together
- Tuck the ends underneath, and place onto a greased baking sheet, cover loosely with a towel, and allow to rise until doubled in bulk
- Preheat oven to 375° F
- Brush the top of the braid with the beaten egg white and sprinkle with pearl sugar
- Bake in preheated oven until golden brown, 20 to 25 minutes.
Books About Hygge: The Danish Art of Coziness
Tip from the New England Innkeeper:
Make sure you put the ingredients into the machine in the order they are listed. You should always start with the liquid ingredients and then add the dry. Add the yeast last. Make a little groove in the flour for the yeast so it doesn’t make contact with the liquids until the machine starts its cycle.