Makes four loaves.
Ingredients:
1/2 cup warm water
1 tablespoon yeast
2 cups milk
1 cup butter
5 eggs
3 teaspoons salt
1 cup sugar
1 tablespoon cardamom
9-10 cups flour
1 egg for egg wash
cinnamon sugar or turbinado sugar for dusting
Method:
Add butter and milk to a microwave safe bowl and warm until the butter is soft and the mixture is warm. Add warm water and yeast to the bowl of a mixer. Add sugar, eggs, salt and cardamom. Make sure the milk mixture is room temperature, then add that as well. Add 8 cups of flour and combine with the dough hook. Once it is all combined, knead for 1 more minute. Check the stickiness of the dough. If the dough sticks to your finger, it needs more flour. Add 1/2 cup and mix again. Continue until the dough is tacky. Now knead for 5 minutes.
Cover the dough and let it rise until about twice the original volume.
Flour a flat surface and dump the dough out onto it. Divide the dough in four and braid each section using the 6 strand method. There are lots of videos online for this! I find the king arthur video very helpful.
Line baking sheets with parchment. Place two loaves on each baking sheet. Cover and let the dough rise to double.
Heat an oven to 350 degrees. Brush the tops of each loaf with egg wash and sprinkle with cinnamon sugar or almond slices. Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until they are a deep golden color.
I love it toasted with lots of butter and a glass of milk. My husband and kids love it best plain dunked in hot chocolate.
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