So lets just say that I love pulla. Get it out in the open, when it comes to Finnish pulla cardamom bread, I love it! I eat it plain, with butter, toasted, toasted with butter and jam, toasted with butter and cheese and if it gets a little old, dip it in coffee.
Finnish pulla cardamom bread is usually baked as a loaf, however for special occasions the Finn’s or Swedes will braid it into a ring and add a glaze or almonds to the top.  This dough is very versatile. You can use it for small single buns or cinnamon buns. I like to make 2 batches and use one for the traditional loaves and one for cinnamon buns.

What is pulla?

Pulla is also called Nisu, which simply means” wheat” or depends on who you ask “this bread”. The word Pulla simply put means “bun”.  Finnish pulla bread is typically served at most coffee tables throughout Finland. The Finn’s enjoy their coffee at a prepared coffee table that is set with napkins, cookies, pulla and of course coffee in cute cups.  There is a saying in Finland “Parempi leipä kuin kulta” which translates to “better bread then gold” I think I would agree.

Directions

For better results make sure all your ingredients are at room temperature before you start. Also I like to use whole cardamom seeds that I crush with a mortal and pestle or a coffee grinder. It gives much better flavor then the cardamom you buy in the spice section already ground.
Dissolve yeast and 1 teaspoon of sugar in water  fairly hot to touch.  Mixture will be light brown in color and foamy.

Cardamom

Pour the milk that has been scalded and cooled to room temperature into the bowl. Mix in eggs, sugar, cardamom and salt.
Add 5 cups of flour. Mix until smooth. Add melted butter. Then add remaining flour 1 cup at a time until dough is smooth to the touch.

Dough

Place dough in a greased bowl. Cover with a tea towel and let rise until doubled.
Divide risen dough into 3 equal parts.

Divide each 1/3 into 2 equal parts and roll out until approx 30″.

Fold 1 of the rolled pieces of dough over the other. See photo above

Braiding with 4

Follow the guide above for the traditional braiding. The pulla can also be braided with 3 strands and you just braid as you would a regular braid.

Egg wash

Place braided dough onto a parchment lined cookie sheet. Let rise about 20 min. Brush loaves with a beaten egg and sprinkle with pearl sugar.  In the photo above I used raw sugar. I have also used a cinnamon sugar mix.

Baked

Bake at 375 degrees for 25 min. Cool on racks.

Making rolls

Cutting the cinnamon bun dougn

Each 1/3 can be rolled out flat and sprinkled with cinnamon and sugar.  Roll up the dough length wise and cut at an angle. See photo.

pressing the bun

Place each bun onto a parchment lined cookie sheet and press down in the center with your index finger. See photo

ready to bake

Brush with beaten egg and sprinkle with your choice of sugar. Bake at 375 degrees for 15 min.

Baked cinnamon bun

Enjoy!

Finnish Pulla Cardamom bread

Amazing, slightly sweet coffee bread

5 from 4 votes

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Prep Time 2 hours hrs

Servings 24 slices

Equipment

• 2 10 by 15 inch pans

Ingredients

  

• 2 cups scaled milk
• 1/4 cup warm milk
• 1 tbsp yeast plus 1 tsp granulated sugar
• 3/4 cup granulated sugar
• 2 whole eggs beaten
• 2 tsp crushed cardamom pods ground caramom
• 1 tsp salt
• 7 cups all purpose flour
• 1/2 cup melted butter
• 1 whole egg beaten
• 2 tbsp pearl sugar

Instructions

 

• Measure milk and scald. Cool to lukewarm. Dissolve yeast and 1 tsp sugar in warm water. Add to milk.

  In a large mixer bowl, pour in the milk. Add sugar, cardamom, beaten eggs and salt. Mix well.

  Add 5 cups of flower, mix well then add the melted butter. Mix until incorporated.

  Add additional 2 cups of flour 1/2 cup at a time.

  Knead until dough is shiny and clinging to hook.

  Cover and let rise until doubled in size.

  Sprinkle some flour on the counter and dump out the dough. Divide into thirds.

  Divide each third into thirds or fourths. Roll out each piece into a long snake. Braid together. Put braid on greased pan. Brush with beaten egg and sprinkle with pearl sugar. Let rise 30 minutes

  Bake at 375 degrees for 20-25 minutes.

I hope that you enjoy this Finnish treat as much as I do. It makes a great gift!

More Finnish recipes

If you liked this recipe, here are a few more of my favorites
Finnish Kiisseli this berry sauce is sooo good.
Lettu, this is one of our favorite.
This cake is a great one to serve coffee company.
Go, bake and enjoy the Finnish pulla cardamom bread.