Pulla Yeast Coffee Bread
Do not expect pulla to be light and fluffy; it is a moist rich coffee bread. It is served without butter and is a delight when it is hot. The Finnish housewife usually bakes on Saturday so there will be fresh pulla for Sunday morning coffee.
A straight braid is the standard form for pulla, but the braided pulla dough is often shaped into a wreath for special occasions such as name days, birthdays, anniversaries, or other honor celebrations. (In Finland, one's "name day" or saint's day-the day that bears the name of the saint after whom one is named-is celebrated by adults instead of the birthday. Children, however, do celebrate birthdays.)
Note: Observe carefully the order of combining the ingredients. The melted butter is added after about half of the flour.
1 package active dry yeast
1/2 cup warm water
2 cups mik, scalded and cooled to lukewarm
1 cup (or less) sugar
1 teaspoon salt
7-8 whole cardamom pods, seeded and crushe