Swedish Kardemummakrans

Total Time: 3 hrs 40 mins Preparation Time: 3 hrs Cook Time: 40 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 8
• 1/4 ounce active dry yeast
• 1/4 cup warm water
• 2 1/2 cups milk, warm
• 3/4 cup butter (melted and cooled)
• 1 large egg
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 1/2 teaspoons cardamom (ground)
• 8 cups all-purpose flour (approx.)
• green glazed cherries, garnish
• 2 cups powdered sugar
• 1/4 cup milk
• 1 teaspoon lemon extract

Recipe

• 1 preheat oven to 350 degrees f.
• 2 in a large bowl, sprinkle yeast over warm water and let stand for about 5 minutes to soften.
• 3 stir in milk, butter, egg, salt, sugar, and cardamom until blended.
• 4 with spoon, stir in 7 cups of the flour or enough to form a stiff dough knead about 10 minutes until smooth and elastic, adding more flour as needed to prevent sticking.
• 5 place dough in greased bowl, grease top, cover and let rise in a warm place until almost doubled (1-1/2 to 2 hours).
• 6 punch dough down and knead briefly on floured board to release air.
• 7 divide into 6 equal portions; pull each into a rope about 24 inches long place 3 ropes on a greased baking sheet, pinch tops together, and braid loosely.
• 8 form braid into a ring, pinching ends together.
• 9 repeat to make a second braided wreath.
• 10 cover and let rise until almost doubled (about 40 minutes).
• 11 bake in a 350 oven until loaves are medium brown (35 to 40 minutes) transfer loaves to a rack and let cool for 10 minutes, then serve warm.
• 12 or, if made ahead, let cool completely, then wrap airtight and freeze; thaw unwrapped.
• 13 to reheat, wrap in foil and heat in a 350 degree oven for about 20 minutes.
• 14 to serve, spoon half the lemon icing around top of each wreath, letting it drizzle down sides.
• 15 decorate with cherries, if desired.