Best 4 Julekake Norwegian Christmas Bread Recipes
In the heart of Norwegian Christmas tradition, Julekake, a sweet and aromatic bread, takes center stage. This iconic treat is a culinary masterpiece, a symphony of flavors that captures the essence of the festive season. Baked with love and adorned with a glistening glaze, Julekake is a feast for the senses, a testament to the enduring spirit of Norwegian heritage. Discover the magic of Julekake through a collection of carefully curated recipes, each offering a unique twist on this beloved classic. From the traditional cardamom-scented bread to the modern variations infused with citrus zest or almond extract, these recipes will guide you on a culinary journey that celebrates the joy and warmth of Christmas in Norway.
Let's cook with our recipes!
JULE KAKE NORWEGIAN CHRISTMAS BREAD
Provided by Food Network
Time 5h40m
Yield 4 servings
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- Fit a stand mixer with the paddle attachment. Combine the flour, sugar, cardamom and salt in the mixer bowl. Combine the milk, butter, yeast and 2 eggs in another bowl, then incorporate into the dry ingredients with the mixer at low speed, 2 minutes. Increase the speed to medium and beat until the dough is sticky but will not stick to your hand, about 12 minutes.
- Add raisins and citron on slow speed to incorporate, about 1 minute (do not overmix).
- Let the dough relax in the mixing bowl, covered, for 10 minutes.
- Mix to knock down, then remove to a flour-dusted table.
- Divide into four pieces and let rest, covered, 1 1/2 hours.
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
- Form dough into desired shapes, such as round loaves. Beat remaining egg and paint dough with egg wash. Transfer dough to a pan. Let rise again, covered, until doubled, 1 to 2 hours. Paint again with egg wash. Bake until the loaves are deeply brown and sound hollow when tapped, 25 to 30 minutes. Let fully cool.
JULEKAKE - NORWEGIAN CHRISTMAS BREAD
Christmas for people of Norwegian descent wouldn't be Christmas without sweet gjetost, havarti cheese, smoked fish and flatbrød accompanied by glögg; lefse and limpa bread or julekake, with butter, sugar, fresh lingonberry sauce and cloudberries and some combination of cookies like fattigman bakelse, krumkake, sandbakkels, rosettes, berlinerkranser. From the Minnesota Scandinavian chapter of the United States Regional Cookbook, Culinary Arts Institute of Chicago, 1947.
Provided by Molly53
Categories Yeast Breads
Time 4h
Yield 3 loaves
Number Of Ingredients 14
Steps:
- For the glaze: mix ingredients together and brush over bread before baking.
- Soften yeast in water; add milk.
- Blend in 3 cups of flour and beat until smooth.
- Cream the shortening, sugar and salt toether; add to this the beaten eggs and cardamom.
- Add to batter along with remaining flour.
- Knead until smooth, adding more flour as necessary.
- Dust fruit with a little flour and add to dough.
- Cover and let rise until doubled; punch down and let rise again until doubled.
- Divide dough into three portions and shape into loaves.
- Place in greased bread pans and dust lightly with flour.
- Cover and let rise until doubled.
- Lightly brush tops of loaves with glaze.
- Bake at 350F for 50 to 60 minutes, or until golden and done.
- Remove from oven, cool briefly in pan, then turn out onto cooling rack.
NORWEGIAN CHRISTMAS BREAD
When my husband became a minister for a church in an area populated with Norwegians, my father-in-law was delighted because I had easy access to recipes he enjoyed as a child. This is a traditional Christmas bread, but I make it for any holiday we get together. -Deborah Petersen, Princeton, New Jersey
Provided by Taste of Home
Time 55m
Yield 2 loaves.
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- In a bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water. Add sugar, egg, butter, salt, cardamom and 2 cups flour; mix well. Stir in raisins, citron and enough remaining flour to form a soft dough., Turn onto a floured surface; knead until smooth and elastic, about 6-8 minutes. Place in a greased bowl, turning once to greased top. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 1 hour., Punch dough down; divide in half. Shape each portion into a flattened ball. Place in two greased 9-in. round baking pans. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 1 hour., Bake at 350° for 30-35 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from pans to cool on wire racks.
Nutrition Facts :
YULEKAKE - NORWEGIAN CHRISTMAS BREAD
This recipe has been in my husband's Norweigan side of the family for generations. It was passed on from his great grandmother to his grandmother and so on. I noticed two recipes already posted in Recipezaar (julekake), but this one is prepared a bit different. It's a very dry fruit bread. Definitely used for dunking in your coffee or slathered with butter. I am not a big fan of it, but I make it at Christmastime for my husband as he adores it.
Provided by Lulu 280529
Categories Yeast Breads
Time 4h30m
Yield 2 loaves, 24-30 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 15
Steps:
- in a heatproof bowl, put all raisins together and cover with approximately 5 cups of boiling water to soften. set aside.
- mix the 2 packages of dry yeast with 1/2 cup of warm water. mix well and let sit.
- boil 2 cups of milk until scalded. turn down heat to medium and add the 3/4 cup of butter until melted. remove from heat and set aside.
- in a large bowl measure 3/4 cup granulated sugar, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 of the container of cardamom. mix well.
- add the two beaten eggs to the dry mixture. then add the milk/butter mixture. gradually add 6 of the 8 cups of flour and the dissolved yeast.
- drain the raisins. add the raisins and citron to the mix. now add the remaining 2 cups of flour.
- time to knead the bread! i use my heavy-duty mixer as it is easier on my hands and back. if manual knead, place dough on floured breadboard and knead completely.
- once the bread is kneaded, place into a large pre-floured bowl and cover with a dish towel or cloth allowing it to rise for 1 hour.
- after the dough has risen, cut it into two loaves. place each into a pre-greased, pre-floured baking loaf pan.
- again, cover each loaf pan and allow to rise for another hour.
- before placing the loaves into a pre-heated 300 degree oven, cut the top of each loaf with an X design, or a fancy cut design of your choice, and brush with 1 beaten egg.
- bake the loaves for 45 minutes at 300 degrees. increase the heat to 325 degrees for the next 30-45 minutes (test after 30 minutes with a toothpick for doneness - make take longer, make take less depending on your oven temperature).
- remove the loaves from the oven and brush with 2 tablespoons of melted butter.
- let loaves cool completely before removing from pans.
- note: if you choose to omit the citron, which i do often, use 2 cups each of the golden and regular raisins instead.
Tips:
- For the best flavor, use high-quality ingredients, including fresh cardamom and orange zest.
- To ensure the bread is cooked evenly, use a loaf pan that is no larger than 9x5 inches.
- If you don't have any candied orange peel, you can substitute dried cranberries or raisins.
- To make sure the bread is cooked through, insert a toothpick into the center. If it comes out clean, the bread is done.
- Let the bread cool completely before slicing and serving.
Conclusion:
Julekake is a delicious and festive bread that is perfect for Christmas morning. With its rich flavor and moist texture, this bread is sure to be a hit with your family and friends. So next time you're looking for a special holiday treat, give Julekake a try.
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