Jule Kaga Swedish Christmas Bread Recipes

CHRISTMAS BREAD (JULE KAGA)

Steps:

• Plump raisins by placing them in a microwavable container adding 1 c water for 3 minutes.
• Dissolve yeast in 1/2 c warm water, set to the side. Mix together shortening, milk, sugar, salt, eggs, cardamom. Add in proofed yeast mixture and slowly add flour and reserve about 1/2 cup. If using Kitchen Aid with dough hook, mix for 5 minutes, if not, knead by hand for 3 minutes. Chop cherries, raisins and nuts mixed with the remaining flour and then work into bread.
• Place in a large greased bowl and let raise for one hour in a warm area. Punch down bread and place into greased bread pans - should make 3 large loaves or 4 medium. Let raise one hour.
• Preheat oven to 325. Cook bread for 30-40 minutes until golden brown.

JULE KAKA

Steps:

• Dissolve yeast in water.
• Scald milk, and add melted butter or margarine, salt, sugar. When lukewarm add to yeast and water. Stir in 4 cups flour. Cover, and place in a warm place. Let rise for about 2 hours, or till doubled in bulk.
• Punch down. Stir in cardamom, cherries, raisins and citron. Work in remaining flour until soft dough forms. Let rise in warm place for 2 to 3 hours, or until doubled.
• Knead slightly, and form into 4 round loaves. Place on greased cookie sheets. Let rise for 1 to 2 hours, or till doubled. Brush loaves with beaten egg white.
• Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 30 to 40 minutes, or until golden brown.

JULEKAKE

Steps:

• In large bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water. Stir in warm milk, sugar, shortening, salt, cardamom, egg, raisins, fruitcake mix and 1 1/2 cups of the flour. Beat with spoon until smooth. Stir in enough remaining flour to make dough easy to handle.
• Place dough on lightly floured surface. Knead about 5 minutes or until smooth and springy. Grease large bowl with shortening. Place dough in bowl, turning dough to grease all sides. Cover; let rise in warm place about 1 hour 30 minutes or until double in size. (Dough is ready if indentation remains when touched.)
• Grease 9-inch round pan with shortening. Gently push fist into dough to deflate. Shape into round loaf. Place in pan. Cover; let rise in warm place about 45 minutes or until double in size.
• Heat oven to 350°F. In small bowl, beat egg yolk and 2 tablespoons water; brush over dough. Bake 30 to 40 minutes or until golden brown.

NORWEGIAN CHRISTMAS BREAD

Steps:

• In a bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water. Add sugar, egg, butter, salt, cardamom and 2 cups flour; mix well. Stir in raisins, citron and enough remaining flour to form a soft dough., Turn onto a floured surface; knead until smooth and elastic, about 6-8 minutes. Place in a greased bowl, turning once to greased top. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 1 hour., Punch dough down; divide in half. Shape each portion into a flattened ball. Place in two greased 9-in. round baking pans. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 1 hour., Bake at 350° for 30-35 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from pans to cool on wire racks.

SCANDINAVIAN CHRISTMAS FRUIT BREAD (JULEKAGE) RECIPE

Steps:

• Dissolve yeast in warm water in large mixer bowl. Add milk, sugar, salt, cardamom, egg, shortening, raisins, citron and 2 cups of the flour.
• Beat on low speed, scraping bowl constantly, 30 seconds.
• Beat on medium speed, scraping bowl occasionally, 2 minutes.
• Stir in enough remaining flour to make dough easy to handle.
• Turn dough onto lightly floured surface; knead until smooth and elastic, about 5 minutes.
• Place in greased bowl; turn greased side up. Cover; let rise in warm place until double, 1 to 1 1/2 hours. Dough is ready if indentation remains when touched.
• Punch dough down; shape into round loaf. Place in greased 9-inch round layer pan. Brush top lightly with butter; let rise until double, about 45 minutes.
• Heat oven to 350 degrees F. Bake until loaf is golden brown, 35 to 45 minutes. Brush with butter. Spread with Glaze. Cool on wire rack.
• Glaze:.
• 1 cup confectioners' sugar.
• 1 to 2 tablespoons water.
• Mix confectioners' sugar and water until smooth and of desired consistency.

JULEKAKE - CHRISTMAS BREAD

Steps:

• Heat milk with sugar and butter.
• Let milk mixture cool.
• Mix together flour and cardamom and dried yeast.
• Add flour mixture to milk mixture.
• Mix well.
• Cover dough with a clean cloth, let stand in a warm place overnight.
• In the morning, work raisins and chopped citron into the dough.
• Form into loaves.
• Let rise until doubled in bulk.
• Bake at 350*.
• 45 minutes or until done.