International Recipes
Scandinavian Christmas Fruit Bread (Julekage)
Ingredients
Bread
- 1 package active dry yeast
- 1/4 cup warm water (105 to 115 degrees F)
- 3/4 cup lukewarm milk (scalded, then cooled)
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom
- 1 egg
- 1/4 cup shortening
- 1/2 cup raisins
- 1/3 cup cut-up citron or mixed candied fruit
- 3 1/4 to 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- Butter or margarine, softened
Glaze
- 1 cup confectioners' sugar
- 1 to 2 tablespoons water
Instructions
- 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: Mix confectioners' sugar and water until smooth and of desired consistency.