Swedish Cardamon Bread Recipe on Food52 (2024)

Serves a Crowd

by: My Pantry Shelf

January29,2011

5

5 Ratings

  • Makes 2 loaves

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Author Notes

Every year when I bake Swedish Cardamom bread for our Christmas morning brunch, I wonder why I reserve it for Christmas alone. It is beautiful, relatively easy to make, and tastes so tender and delicious. This recipe comes from my Swedish grandmother.

This bread features cardamon prominently. The key is to grind the cardamom seeds just before adding to dough. (Do not use pre-ground cardamom powder. It is not the same.) I like to hull the pods, then grind the seeds in a mortar and pestle until they are fine, but still contain some larger chunks (think pre-ground pepper and course pepper ground in your mill for a size comparison). The courser bits add a flavorful crunch when biting the bread.

This bread starts with scalded milk that is mixed with butter, sugar, salt, and cardamon. The milk and butter base makes for an exceptionally tender bread. The dough is left to rise and then braided into beautiful loaves that are then topped with Swedish pearl sugar. —My Pantry Shelf

What You'll Need

Ingredients
  • 3/4 cupmilk
  • 1/3 cupsugar
  • 1 1/2 teaspoonssalt
  • 1/2 cupunsalted butter
  • 1 teaspooncardamon
  • 2 1/4 teaspoonsyeast
  • 4 cupsall-purpose flour
  • 1 egg
  • 1/2 cupwarm water
  • 2 tablespoonsSwedish Pearl Sugar
  • 1 egg white
Directions
  1. Combine sugar, salt, and butter in a medium size bowl. Scald the milk and pour over the mixture. Stir occasionally until butter is melted and mixture has cooled slightly.
  2. Crush cardamon using a mortar and pestle until it resembles course black pepper. Add to the scalded milk mixture.
  3. In a separate bowl, sprinkle yeast on warm water, stir to dissolve.
  4. In a large bowl, combine milk mixture, egg, yeast mixture, and 1 cup of flour. Beat well until smooth. Add remaining flour until dough is still supple, but not sticky. Knead 5 minutes (or less if you are using a mixer).
  5. Remove dough to an oiled bowl. Cover and let rise until doubled (1 hour or so).
  6. Punch down and let rest 10 minutes.
  7. Divide dough into 6 equal parts.
  8. With your hands, make dough balls into ropes approximately 12 inches long. (The key to a nice looking braid is starting with the same amount of dough in each rope and making the ropes the same length and width.)
  9. Take 3 of the ropes and line up parallel to each other. Pinch the tops of the ropes together. Braid the dough from the top down. When you get to the bottom, pinch together the base and tuck under the bread. (If you don’t like the look of the top of the braid, at this point you can go back and redo the top). Redo with last 3 dough balls.
  10. Place braids on a baking sheet, leaving room for them to rise. Cover braids and a let rise 45 minutes. Brush with egg white mixed with 1 Tablespoon of water. This will create a nice shiny crust. Sprinkle with the pearl sugar.
  11. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Bake loaves 40-50 minutes. Cover with foil the last 15 minutes to prevent over-browning.
  12. Remove from oven and let cool on a wire rack.

Tags:

  • Bread
  • Swedish
  • Milk/Cream
  • Grains
  • Serves a Crowd
  • Christmas
  • Easter
  • Thanksgiving
  • Vegetarian
  • Brunch
Contest Entries
  • Your Best Recipe with Cardamom

Recipe by: My Pantry Shelf

The bounty of each season is worth celebrating! Most of the meals I cook for my hungry family of four are based on whatever is fresh and bountiful in our yard or what we can glean from the yards of our friends and neighbors. The seasonal food we have in surplus goes into the canning jars. Even busy families can find time for fresh, homemade foods.

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18 Reviews

Ashley H. December 14, 2018

First time baking bread, and was looking for a recipe with a pretty braid and cardamom. So easy, and a really nice way to use up the last of my Meyer lemon sugar (ready for another harvest)! Thank you for sharing.

Dale P. December 12, 2017

This turned out great! The suggestion of crushing whole cardamom pods made a huge difference!

Kim M. December 19, 2015

I have ground cardamom, and I see your recipe states to grind, so I'm assuming the measurement of 1 tsp is for seeds. Do you know what the measurement is for ground cardamom? Thanks!

Nancy H. December 21, 2017

Did you ever get an answer? I also have ground cardamom.

Cheryl P. December 31, 2018

It's a teaspoon of crushed cardamon.

DanaP May 22, 2014

my grandmother would brush strong coffee over the bread when it came out of the oven and sprinkle sugar on top. sounds strange but it's soooo good.

Derald B. April 20, 2014

The spice is CARDAMOM......not CARDAMON.

Cheryl P. December 31, 2018

Actually both spellings are correct. Cardamom is the Latinization and cardamon is from the original Greek.

Fujibob March 20, 2013

Where do I get Swedish Pearl Sugar? Also can you add Saffron?

My P. March 21, 2013

Fujibob-

I last found Swedish Pearl Sugar at Sur la Table. If you don't have one nearby, I am sure you could order it from them or another online retailer. It is a bit of an uncommon ingredient, but the effect is worth the effort to track it down.
As far as the saffron is concerned, I have not tried it. This bread really sings tribute to cardamom, which is one of the reasons I love it. If you do try adding saffron, let us know how it comes out!

Daisy123 January 29, 2013

Hi- In the list of ingredients you list 1 egg and 1 egg white. I see the the white is for brushing. . .when do you add the 1 egg?

My P. January 31, 2013

Daisy,
Oops, you are right! I edited the recipe to correct the error. Add the egg on step 4.

jenniferp December 5, 2012

Can I make the dough the day before and bake it off in the morning?

My P. January 31, 2013

Jennifer,
I have not tried it, so I can't be sure. I would recommend making the dough and putting it in the fridge after you braid it. Take it out in the morning and allow to rest on the counter for at least an hour to come to room temp and then bake. Another option would be to slightly underbake it the day before and then finish it off in the morning. If you try it, let us know how it works! I love this bread :)

Kitchen B. January 30, 2011

I need to get my baking act together to make some pulla

TheWimpyVegetarian January 30, 2011

Wonderful! Looks delicious!

Sagegreen January 29, 2011

Lovely!

testkitchenette January 29, 2011

Beautifully done!

Swedish Cardamon Bread Recipe on Food52 (2024)

FAQs

Is cardamom good in baking? ›

Many Indian and Indian-inspired dishes call for cardamom, including curry dishes, Kheer (Indian rice pudding), and chai. Indian spice blends such as garam masala also feature cardamom. You'll also find cardamom adds warmth and depth to baked goods such as cookies, bread pudding, and even cheesecake.

What is the traditional bread of Sweden? ›

Gáhkku is a traditional Swedish flatbread originating from the Sámi peoples. In the past, this chewy flatbread was prepared with readily available ingredients such as flour, salt, and milk or water. Nowadays, it's usually enriched with yeast, oil or butter, and light sugar beet syrup (ljus sirap).

Where did Swedish cardamom buns come from? ›

Cardamom is not native to Sweden, but it has become an integral part of Swedish cuisine. During the Middle Ages, traders brought spices from the East to Sweden, and cardamom was one of them. Over time, cardamom became a staple in Swedish baking and cooking, especially in sweet dishes like these buns.

Who should not use cardamom? ›

Pregnancy: Cardamom is commonly consumed in foods. But it is possibly unsafe to take larger amounts of cardamom as medicine when pregnant. There is concern that cardamom might cause a miscarriage. Breast-feeding: Cardamom is commonly consumed in foods.

Is cardamom a blood thinner? ›

7. Blood Thinning. Cardamom may increase the risk of bleeding in people who take anticoagulant medications because it appears to have blood-thinning properties, according to the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. Examples of anticoagulants include warfarin, clopidogrel, and aspirin.

What do you eat with Swedish bread? ›

You'll find dense wholegrain breads are particularly popular in the Nordic countries. They are most commonly served topped with gravad lax , prawns or hard-boiled eggs with a big sprig of dill. Also served for breakfast with a selection of sliced cheese, cold meats and pate.

What is the breakfast of Sweden? ›

Many eat porridge ( mostly oatmeal), typically with milk and jam, applemash, fruit or berries. Many eat yoghurt ( either natural or flavored) or fil ( Cultured buttermilk), with cereal, fruit, berries or jam. Many eat sandwiches, with a variety of toppings; cheese, eggs and various cold cuts are all common.

What is the national cake of Sweden? ›

Sweden's national cake – if there were such a thing officially – is the princess cake ('prinsesstårta'). This globe-shaped layer cake is a well-balanced affair, consisting of a light-as-air sponge cake base topped with vanilla pastry cream and lashings of fluffy whipped cream.

Why are Swedes obsessed with cardamom? ›

Culinary archaeologist Daniel Serra, who co-wrote the book An Early Meal – a Viking Age Cookbook and Culinary Odyssey, believes that cardamom first became of interest in Scandinavia in the 13th Century for both its medicinal and culinary use, as documented in the old cookbook Libellus de Arte Coquinaria.

What is the difference between cinnamon buns and cardamom buns? ›

The cardamom buns are the other version of the Swedish cinnamon buns and the recipe is basically the same except for the fact we use a different spice in the recipe. The traditional recipe involves one single dough that requires yeast and as a result you need to let the dough rise for a while before using it.

What ethnicity uses cardamom? ›

The seeds are ground with a mortar and pestle, then added to South Asian foods such as curry and chai. Cardamom is a characteristic ingredient in Middle Eastern cuisine as well. It also figures in pastries, especially in the Scandinavian countries, where it is also used as a flavouring for coffee and tea.

What does cardamom taste like in cake? ›

If cinnamon is used in fall baking, then think of cardamom as its brighter, spring counterpart. Cardamom tastes of warmth while slightly peppery and with hints of fruit, pine, and citrus. It pairs well with light and fruity recipes as well as chocolate and coffee.

What flavor does cardamom add? ›

Cardamom has a unique and distinctive flavor. It's challenging to describe but has peppery, piney, eucalyptus, and menthol-like notes, but the taste of cardamom is also floral with hints of citrus. This blend of sweet, peppery, pungent, and aromatic flavors actually makes it an incredibly versatile spice.

Which is better cinnamon or cardamom? ›

Cinnamon contains higher carbohydrate and fiber contents, whereas cardamom has more fats and proteins. Cardamom is richer in minerals than cinnamon. But cinnamon has high levels of calcium. Cinnamon contains vitamin B complex and vitamins K, E, and A, whereas cardamom has more vitamin C content.

How to use whole cardamom in baking? ›

If your recipe calls for whole pods, lightly toast them in a pan over medium heat until they're aromatic, and remember to take them out before serving. Other recipes will call for the seeds—break open the pods and grind them up yourself for the best flavor.

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